Page 30 of Dirty Rock

“Hey. Look, I’m hard as hell right now. Do you have any idea how much willpower that took to—”

“Turn me down?” Her eyes snapped to mine.

“I didn’t turn you down.” I sighed, shoulders sagging, and my hands hanging limply by my sides.

She gripped her glass, letting her lips hover over the rim of it. There wasn’t even a full mouthful of alcohol left, but she clutched it like it held the blood that would keep her alive.

“Maybe I should have gone to Hawk.”

I pulled my chin back and raised my brows. “Hawk?”

“He would have fucked me. He would have seen what I needed.”

“Wait. You were just looking for sex… with anyone?”

“I thought I could rely on you for at least one thing, Rhett.”

My hand flew up to my heart, and I gripped my shirt tightly. “Are you serious right now?”

“You couldn’t even do that right.”

“I didn’t wantyouto regret anything.”

“Well, now I’m full of regrets. So, thanks.” She drained the last of her glass and slammed it down on the table.

“You wanted to use me?”

“What’s the matter? Don’t like the way your own medicine tastes?”

“I’m… speechless.” I stared.

“Thanks for nothing.” She started to march towards the door, but fuck that. I grabbed her by the elbow and spun her around to me. She stumbled, and our bodies came flush together. Her tits pressed against my hard chest, and her swollen lips shone under the light from our kiss.

Fuck me—I wanted those lips again. I wanted to watch her as I sank inside her, never looking away from pretty brown eyes and that intoxicating pink blush.

“You’re beautiful, Julia.”

“Go to Hell.”

“So beautiful,” I whispered.

“I hate you.”

“I’m okay with that. I’d rather you hate me now than hate me in the morning,” I told her quietly. Damn it. I could still taste her on my tongue. I could still feel the sharp sting of her nails in my hair. Visions of how she might look naked ran through my mind as I held her gaze. But her grief shone back, commanding the majority of my attention.

“I’m sorry about your sister,” I whispered. “I’m sorry about your niece. What I’m not sorry for is putting your best interests before my need to lose myself inside you. Believe me… I wanted that. Iwantthat. Maybe one day I’ll get it… but not like this. And isn’t that a revelation for the both of us? I’m an arsehole, baby, but no way am I screwing your grief out of you. It doesn’t work that way.”

Julia swallowed, and her eyes filled with more tears.

“Now I’ve tasted you once, though, I don’t know if I’ll be that good guy for you again. My willpower only goes so far. The next time you come here wanting sex, you’d better be ready for it. Next time, I won’t stop a damn thing until I’m inside you. Then, I’ll make you feel everything and nothing all at once. But not this night.”

It took just a moment for another tear to fall before she yanked herself out of my grip and made her way to the door. It slammed shut behind her, and I watched the prospects of a good night disappear along with her tight little arse.

But all I could think about was her sadness.

And how I hadn’t taken it away.

“I should have taken it away,” I said to nobody but myself.

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