Page 59 of Playing with Seduction

“Have you always been this confident?” She crooked an eyebrow as she studied him.

For a moment, he was sure she could see right through him to the scared little boy wearing hand-me-downs at a boarding school filled with children of the rich and famous. “I had to learn. Survival of the fittest, you know?”

She nodded. “I was one of only a handful of minority kids at my entire private school. The only one there on scholarship. So, I worked hard to prove that I was this perfect little girl. That I belonged there as much as anyone else. Still, there’s always this part of me that wonders deep down if I’m really good enough.” Bree stood quickly and swiped dampness from the corner of her eyes. “It’s late. I need to get ready for bed.”

Wes sighed as she disappeared behind the bathroom door. If only he could tell Bree the truth. It was him who wasn’t good enough for her.

* * *

Wes lay awake, more than an hour after they’d gone to bed, watching Bree as she slept. He cared for her more than any woman he’d ever known. And he wanted to believe he deserved her. That they could be happy together forever.

He turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling, trying to quiet the voice that implored him to trust her with the truth.

That he wanted her, and only her.

He had his rules. Rules designed to keep him from ever needlessly hurting anyone again. He was determined not to break those rules by falling for her.

And yet…he already had.

He’d tried to pretend that what they shared was a symbiotic fusion of sex and friendship. One they could both easily walk away from.

But Bree had changed the game.

She’d shown him how gratifying it was to forge a deep connection with someone who knew him in ways no one else did.

But if he truly cared for her, he’d stick to the plan.

He wouldn’t take a chance on disappointing her the way his father had disappointed his mother. Or the way he’d once disappointed someone who’d loved him more than he deserved.

Wes glanced at Bree again. They’d had an incredible time in London. It would be hard to return to this flat without thinking of her in his home, in his bed and in his life. And how happy it made him.

But he’d been playing a dangerous game with Bree’s heart. Fooling himself into thinking they could do this without either of them getting hurt.

He did love Bree. And because he loved her, he would let her go.

He’d never hurt anyone that way again. The price was far too steep.

CHAPTER 19

Brianna had broken the rules of their little game, and now Wes was making her pay.

They’d both downplayed her misstep the previous night. However, the next morning, he was polite, but withdrawn. At the very least, distracted. Though they’d both slept during much of it, their nonstop flight home had been uncharacteristically quiet.

Bree silently cursed herself again for saying those three little words their final night in London. It was the perfect way to ruin a sublime trip and kill the mood with her no-strings-attached lover.

Wes put the last of her luggage upstairs and returned to the living room, where she sifted through a stack of mail and a few postcards. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze not quite meeting hers.

“Look, I know you must be tired. Why don’t I stay at my place tonight?”

A stab in the heart would’ve been less painful.

“Of course. I’ll see you… I’ll guess you’ll let me know when.”

She put down the mail and went to the kitchen. Bree opened the fridge, pulled over the trash can and tossed spoiled and expired food into it.

“Bree, I don’t want to hurt you. You know that. But maybe this was a mistake.” Wes made his way to the kitchen.

“I know we agreed not to let things get serious, and I’m the one at fault here. I made the mistake of thinking you had, you know…feelings. Like a regular human.” Bree poured the remainder of a half gallon of milk down the drain, rinsed the bottle and tossed it in the recycle bin.

“You think I’m saying this because I don’t have feelings? You couldn’t be more wrong.”

“Then level with me. What’s this really about?”

“I am leveling with you, but you won’t believe me.”

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