Page 120 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

He shakes his head, lip curling up on one side. “Whew, boy. I must have an angel lookin’ out for me with the way you waltzed in here right when I needed ya.” He glances at his phone one more time and answers, nodding at Becca as he leaves.

There’s a tap, tap, tap against the court floor from the toe of Becca’s heeled foot. Her arms are crossed and she’s watching me.

Analyzing me.

“What?” My brow arches.

Her eyes narrow slightly. “I ain’t sure yet.”

“You aren’t sure yet? About what?”

“I just told you, I ain’t sure.”

Annoyance pricks my chest. Christ, she’s difficult. “Well, when you figure it out, be sure to let me know.”

“What are we doin’?” she spouts.

My stomach twists. “What do you mean?”

She sighs, tugging on a curl. “Are we… ya know… you keep askin’ me questions and then you go and fuck me stupid and I just don’t know what that means.”

I cross my arms. “Well, Rebecca, I’m pretty sure it means I want to fuck you and I want some damn answers. I think it’s the least you can give me on both accounts.”

Her eyes flare and it sparks a match low in my gut.

She scoffs. “It’s not like you’ve been givin’ me a chance to talk with the way you accost me after every question.”

I take a step forward, that goddamn mouth of hers making my blood heat and my cock hard. “If the cum on your thighs and the smell of your pussy on my fingers is any indication, you liked the way I accosted you just fine.”

“I never said I didn’t.” She smirks.

“So what’s the problem?”

She shrugs. “You said I was yours. That I belonged to you.”

My heart speeds up. She is mine, but I shouldn’t want her to be. “I say a lot of things in the heat of the moment.”

Her eyes dim and her body sways slightly, like my words are a physical blow to the chest. I resist the urge to grimace at their impact. Anger flickers through my veins at the fact she’s making me feel guilty. “No, you don’t get to do that.”

Her eyes widen. “Do what?”

“Act like I’m hurting you. That’s not how this works.”

Her shoulders stiffen, her jaw locking in place.

My chest tightens with expectation. I expect to see what I’ve always seen—that wall of defense she builds up, one barb at a time until no one can break through to see the truth.

But it never comes.

Instead, she nods, biting on her lip. “Okay. I get that.”

“Do you?” The surprise flowing through me shows itself in my question.

“Yeah, I do. But I’m entitled to my feelin’s too, big head.” Her hand presses against her chest. “I told you I loved you, then you try and dick me down every time we talk... and now you’re actin’ like it’s no big deal.” She waves her hand between us. “It’s confusin’. You’re like one big walkin’ contradiction.”

“Look.” I sigh, dropping my head. “Clearly I can’t control myself around you. I think that’s been obvious for a while.” I glance at her, our eyes locking. “But it has to stop. I can’t… I can’t do this with you, okay? I wish I could. Fuck, I wish more than anything that I had something capable of loving you again, but it’s not there.” I smack my chest. “You broke it, and it’s been useless ever since.”

She flinches and my heart jumps into my throat, trying to stifle my speech.

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