Page 104 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

“You’re right.” She nods. “I mean… you’re right that I didn’t treasure you. There’s nothin’ I can do to change that. But you’re asking me why and that’s the reason.” She blows out a breath. “I love you, and that terrifies me, Eli. I don’t know how to love. I don’t know what it’s supposed to be. I never have.”

My heart kicks my sternum, and I step closer. “Bullshit. It was supposed to be us.”

She stumbles at my advance, the back of her legs pressing against the desk. Her necklace jostles from under her shirt, catching my eye as it glimmers against her collarbone.

#1 Player.

My heart kicks into overdrive.

“I was scared,” she whispers. “I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

I’m on her now, her breasts heaving against my chest with every inhale. My mind screams to back away. But I can’t.

“You’re a coward,” I spit.

She nods, her eyes holding my gaze, causing heat to flare low in my gut.

Her tongue jets out to wet her lips and my eyes track the movement, my body coiling tighter with each passing second.

She sucks in a breath, her eyes dilating as she watches me war against my emotions.

I lose the battle.

My head drops, my nose skimming along the length of her throat, inhaling her scent. My tongue darts out because I can’t be this close and not taste her, so I torture myself, my cock thickening from the tease of her flavor.

I rest my forehead in the junction of her neck, my teeth clenching against the urge to sink into her skin, my fingers coming up to tangle in the chain of the necklace I bought her when she was mine.

“If you loved me…” My voice breaks. “How could you leave?”

Her breath hitches. “I’m a fool.”

My heart stutters, aching at the memory of how she broke me.

I lift my head, synapses firing from the heat of her gaze.

The silky fabric of her blouse bunches under my palm as I glide my hand up her side. My eyes trail over every single freckle until I finally meet her stare, searching for verity in her eyes.

I cup her face. “I don’t believe you,” I breathe.

And then I give in to the pull.

Fireworks burst in my chest when our lips collide. She moans, her hands gripping my shirt, dragging me into her. My cock jumps, straining against my zipper, desperate to dip into her after going so long without.

My hands leave her face, sliding back down her curves and pushing up her skirt, kneading the flesh of her ass.

I groan into her mouth. She feels so fucking good in my hands.

She nips at my bottom lip and I hoist her onto the desk, spreading her legs, and glancing at the thin scrap of lace between her thighs.

Goddamn.

My dick pulses, my mouth watering at the sight. I surge forward, trailing my tongue along her collarbone.

She leans on her elbows, her head falling back. Want spirals through my insides, making me dizzy.

Working my way back up, my tongue tangles with hers, trying to savor every moment, not knowing which one will be our last. I push her back with my body until she’s splayed on top of the desk, my lips attached to hers and my cock weeping for the same.

She moans into my mouth when I dip my fingers inside her, pumping them twice.

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