Page 22 of Prince of Tides
“Would you prefer vulgar?” I asked.
She giggled. “Maybe. What do you mean?”
“I could cheers to honor,” I suggested.
“What? How is that vulgar?”
“Well,” I said, purposefully clearing my throat. “Here’s to honor. Once you get on her, stay on her, and if you can’t come in her, come on her.”
Laurie stared at me.
“I …” I said, starting to plead a case I knew was a loser from the start. What the hell had I been thinking?
Then she lost her shit and started howling with laughter until tears streamed down her face. She was shaking so bad I had to take her drink from her, holding it for safekeeping while she recovered.
“Oh my god,” she muttered. “Thank you. That was—oh, goodness. That just hit the right funny bone tonight. I needed that.”
She wiped the tears away with the hem of her sweater, glancing up at me once she was done. I met her eyes and smiled back, reaching out to hand her the drink back.
As she took it, our fingers brushed one another, and energy coursed up my arm, a shockwave of lust and ardor that threatened to overwhelm the flimsy walls that separated respectful from feral inside me. I wanted it, and I knew I could have it. All I had to do was reach out and take it.
Take her.
She wouldn’t resist. Any hesitation she had would crumble away the moment I got her closer. I could feel it,smellit, and see it written on her face as she stared back at me, caught up in the wave of warm arousal that had blood stiffening my cock, making it throb for her.
Something like worry entered her eyes as she looked at me, and her hand withdrew from the glass with alacrity.
Cursing, I knew what had happened. In that one instance, she’d seen the beast inside me. I had let it come too close to the surface, and now, it would drive her away.
“I shouldn’t be here,” she said, pulling her gaze away from me. “I should go.”
Chapter Thirteen
Laurie
Ihurriedly grabbed my jacket off the coat rack, trying not to think about what I’d just seen in Rip’s eyes.
The shiver that tortured my spine with the reminder didn’t help, and against my will, I once again saw the ferocity and darkness that had risen like a tsunami. The way he’d looked at me, withhunger, was enough to set my nerves on edge. I almost didn’t turn my back on him as I went for the door, so nervous of the predator hidden within.
What was I thinking, coming up here with him? I barely know him. Not to mention things aren’t adding up. There’s nowayhe could afford this penthouse on my father’s salary. It’s not that good. So, just what is he doing being a part of the hired help?
Confusion reigned supreme in my mind, made all the worse by the furnace between my legs. Somehow, despite the fear and worry that Rip had instilled in me, I wanted to stay.Longedto stay. A not-so-small part of me craved far more than just a brush of his fingers against my skin.
I wanted to surrender to his desires, to his darkness. Perhaps I could show him a better way, bring him some light. He’d been so kind to me, after all. There was no way he could beallbad.
Thoughts like that continued to ruin my underwear and chafe my nipples, which rubbed against my bra with every movement, something that was happeningfartoo frequently around Rip. Like he had a button that turned me on with just a touch any time he pressed it.
No man I am this unfamiliar with should have such control over my body. I don’t even know his last name, yet I want him to tear the clothes from me and make me his own? This is madness!
“Laurie.”
I was at the door, my hand reaching for the handle, when he called for me. There was no way it was a coincidence that he’d waited until the very last second to say my name. All I had to do was twist the handle and be gone. Or wait and stick around. The choice, he made clear, was mine and mine alone.
Or was it?
“Yes?” I heard myself say, not turning around but also not wanting to be rude. I did owe himsomegratitude for dealing with Eric. The least I could do was not ignore him. Even if it meant delaying my departure. But I could leave any time I wanted. The door was right there. He couldn’t stop me.
“I’m sorry,” he said, coming up behind me.
