Page 47 of Darkest Retribution

His left eye twitches. “I certainly hope you remembered what I told you the other night. I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

“I’m aware.”And I’m counting on it.

“You’re playing with fire, Jade,” he says, low enough that Rosie can’t hear us. “And you’re going to get burned.”

All I do is throw him a careless shrug. He can think that all he wants. But what he doesn’t understand is that I won’t be the one getting burned tonight.

It’s okay,I remind myself.He’ll get it soon enough.

. . .

“This is a nice place.” Simon looks around as he settles on the couch. “I like the big windows.”

“Yeah, they’re great.” Grabbing the bowl of popcorn, I sit next to him, close enough that our legs are touching. There’s no reason to hide what I want.

With a smirk, Simon stretches his arm around me, pulling me closer. I relax into his side, giving him what I hope is a cute smile.

Since we already picked out the movie while we messaged earlier, I grab the remote and hit play. Then I grab a few pieces of popcorn and feed them to Simon with a little giggle.

“Shit, this stuff is good.” He licks my fingers after eating the last piece.

“Let me get you some more, then,” I say, grabbing a few more pieces and placing them against his lips. This time, he actually takes my fingers into his mouth and sucks the butter and salt off them.

I force an easy smile, batting my eyelashes. This whole interaction feels cringy as hell to me, but I’m pretty sure if Dom was with me instead of Simon, I’d be all over him, so who knows.

It’s gross, though, having Simon’s saliva all over my fingers. I only eat popcorn with my clean hand, carefully picking out his popcorn so I don’t accidentally bump into any of the other pieces.

This had better be worth it.

Thankfully, it only takes about ten minutes for his hand to slip under my shirt. I arch my back, letting out a tiny moan. He chuckles, leaning down to kiss my neck.

“Impatient, are we?”

You have no idea.

“Maybe we should take this upstairs,” I whisper, turning so my lips brush against his. I let one of my hands fall to his lap, resting high up on his leg.

“You don’t have to tell me twice, baby. Lead the way.”

I stand, setting the popcorn bowl on the coffee table, and grab his hand. As we head upstairs, I have to tamp down the butterflies coming to life in my stomach.

I know what I want, and I know how to get it. But it’s very possible Dom didn’t mean what he said Friday night. If that’s the case, this is going to be a waste of my time.

In my bedroom, I push Simon onto my bed and pull my shirt over my head.

He grins. “I like a woman who knows what she wants.” The way his eyes move slowly, taking in my body, feels slimy. It’s not that it’s him, it’s that he... well, he’s looking at me the way some of the creeps at work do.

Doesn’t matter, though. He wants to use me? That’s fine. I’m using him, too.

I toss my shirt to the floor, glancing out the window. My curtains are wide open. They have to be for my plan to work.

“Take your clothes off,” I say.

He raises an eyebrow. “Why don’t you get over here and do it yourself?”

“Probably because you’re not a child and I’m not your mother. You can undress yourself.”

“Bossy. Careful, baby. I like strong women, but it sounds like you need someone to fuck the attitude right out—”

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