Page 71 of Don't Make Me Beg
But every time I look back at her, all I see are green lights as her hazel eyes sparkle with curiosity and a healthy mix of fear. It’s an intoxicating combination, and knowing she’s scared but still not resisting brings me more joy than I care to admit. I can see it in the way she obeys me, the way she seems to hang on my every word—she trusts me.
She shouldn’t… But she does.
“Wait. We’re doing thisnow?” Scout hangs loosely over my shoulder now. She must’ve realized her attempt at fighting was pointless and has accepted her fate.
“Hell yeah, we’re doing this now. You think I don’t know you’ll change your mind the minute you sober up and start overthinking this?”
I carry her down the hallway. But when I reach the door to the basement, I stop in my tracks before turning her back the way we came.
“Luka, where are we going? Why are you walking around in circles?” Scout asks, attempting to lift herself up to see.
I ignore her question, taking a moment to consider my options. I could take her upstairs to my bedroom, but that feels too intimate. The same goes for her room. The living room could work, but I catch sight of the Library French doors out of the corner of my eye and turn on my heels, making my way inside.
Large windows span across one wall as shelves of books fill the others. The dark, cloudy sky flickers with lightning, providing just enough light to see.
I make a quick assessment of the space and nod. Dim lighting, the heavy rain rattling against the windows, limited distractions… This is perfect.
When I finally set her down, my hands instinctively reach out to steady her. A shockwave of heat shoots through my fingertips as they graze her exposed skin where her denim shorts hang low on her hips.
This, I decide, is my favorite look of hers. Her face is free of any makeup, and she is wearing those cute glasses that are almost too big for her face. She’s simultaneously the cutest, prettiest, and sexiest woman I’ve ever seen, and she has no idea the effect she has on me.
She sways on her feet as she looks around, and maybe it’s the weed, but it seems like she looks more excited than afraid.
I, for one, am thankful to have the excuse of being high, even though I’m pretty sure I’ve got all my cognitive abilities at this point. But it makes it that much easier not to talk myself out of it.
It’s not that I’m afraid to be the bad guy. But it’s clear that Scout wants this, too. She just needed an excuse to admit it to herself. The way I see it, even if she hates herself in the morning for acting on her desires, it’s a win-win for me either way.
Besides, it’s just a bet. It doesn’t have to mean anything.
“So, here’s how this is going to go…”
She crosses her arms and quirks a brow in challenge. “You may as well hand over your precious comic book collection now and walk away with your dignity if you really think this is going to work on me.”
I reach up to cup her jaw and drag my thumb along her bottom lip. “That’s some big talking you’re doing. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were starting to change your mind.” I lean down and whisper against the shell of her ear, “Are you more afraid of being vulnerable in front of me or are you afraid that you might like it?”
She sucks in a breath, her body going completely still as I drag my finger down the column of her neck, her pulse beating so hard I can see it.
But she doesn’t say anything, just narrows her eyes, and I swear if looks could kill, I’d be a pile of ash by now.
A slow, satisfied smirk tugs at my mouth as I tilt my head toward the curved leather bench in the center of the room. “That’s what I thought. Now sit your pretty little ass down.”
The lightness of before is gone, swallowed by a thick, pulsing anticipation that hums in the air between us.
“Would it kill you to ask? Or do you get off on bossing people around?” She fires back, but I don’t miss the fact that even though she’s questioning me with her words, her body obeys without hesitation.
I slowly begin to stalk toward her. “Why don’t you drop the good girl act and stop pretending like you don’t love it?” I tilt my head as I drag a finger over her neck, “You know, if I had to guess, I’d even bet that it turns you on, doesn’t it, Girl Scout? Tell me, am I wrong?”
Her eyes flash, hot and daring, but she doesn’t correct me.
“You’re so desperate for someone to make the decision for you, someone who knows what’s really best for you. You need permission from someone who’s in charge, so you don’t feel guilty about choosing the things you want. You need someone to hide behind and take the blame, someone who isn’t afraid to be the bad guy. Isn’t that right?”
Her response is a single nod, and that simple admission from her feels like I’ve already won whatever game we’re playing. It’s both vindicating and terrifying knowing my suspicions about her were right. But how far does the darkness inside of her really go? And will she let herself play along to find out?
I guess I’m finally going to find out…
I drag my fingers down her neck before grabbing her hair and draping it over to one side. I section it into three pieces, pulling taut as I carefully braid it.
She breathes out a shocked gasp, keeping her watchful eyes trained on me.
