Page 77 of Coldhearted King

Her gaze is direct, but shadows linger in her eyes. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”

“I’m not usually a liar. I won’t take Jessica to any more events. And I promise you, I won’t let her kiss me again.”

“You mean until this thing between us is over?”

She wants me to contradict her, but I just assured her I wasn’t a liar. I can’t make her a promise I’m not sure I can keep. “Maybe not even then.” It’s all I can offer, even though for the first time in my life I wish I had more than emptiness inside me to give to someone.

She’s still searching my face, and I raise my hand and brush my knuckles over her jaw. “I’m sorry,” I say again, lower this time. Then I tilt her chin, my lips hovering just over hers. “I don’t like that I hurt you, and I’m sorry. Do you accept my apology?”

“No more omissions? No more half-truths?”

I shake my head. “No more.”

She still doesn’t give me what I want, and urgency pumps through my veins now. I use my thumb on her jaw to angle her head further back, so that our lips are only a breath apart.

“Delilah,” I growl. “Do you accept my apology?”

Her pupils flare, and a hint of a smile plays on her lips, sending relief surging through me. “Maybe you should show me how sorry you are,” she whispers.

Even as the tension in my chest loosens, my cock swells. “You want me to get down on my knees and grovel, kitten?”

Her pulse flutters against my palm, and she nods slowly.

If any other woman asked me to do that, I’d laugh and show them the door. Like so many things with Delilah, my reaction is different. “Before I do that, I need to kiss you.”

She wets her lips. “I’ll allow it.”

I fucking love that she’s playing with fire. I grip her ass and jerk her against me so she can feel exactly what she’s doing to me. She gasps and I use the opportunity to close the distance between our lips so I can taste the sweetness of her mouth again.

With my hand tangled in her hair, I groan as she presses into me. Fuck, she’s like a drug I’ve gotten far too addicted to. And right now, I can’t bring myself to care.

I slide my hands around her waist, then turn her, maneuvering her backward across my office until she’s pressed against my desk. “I’m going to show you exactly how sorry I am,” I rasp, lifting her and setting her ass on top of it so I can run my hands up her legs and part her thighs. “I’m going to eat that gorgeous pussy until you come on my face. And then I’ll know you’ve forgiven me.”

“I didn’t lock the door behind me,” she says, breathlessly.

“I don’t care. The only people who will walk in here without an invitation are my brothers, and if they see you spread out with my mouth buried in your pussy, they’ll know you’re mine and they better do the polite thing and walk the fuck out again. Now lie back.”

With only a second’s hesitation, she does as I command. I shove her skirt over her hips and drop to my knees. Her panties are a tiny scrap of fabric that I rip from her without a second thought. She inhales sharply, but I just shove them into my pocket.

And then she forgives me.

Twice.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

DELILAH

I’m in my pajamas on Friday night, sitting in front of the television with a glass of wine and my tablet on my lap. Alex invited me out with her and her other friends, but I wanted to finish some work, so I declined.

It’s been a week since Coleapologizedto me in his office, and we haven’t been together physically since. I’d expected him to ask me back to his penthouse that night, and I was fully prepared to say no. Not only because of my standing dinner date with Alex, but because I just wasn’t ready to jump back into bed with him straight away. He hadn’t asked, though. He’d kissed me at the door to his office, said he hoped Alex and I enjoyed our dinner, then told me he’d see me soon.

I was grateful he was giving me some breathing space. But unfortunately, he’s been gone most of the time since then for work. And even though space was what I needed, I’ve had more than enough now. He’s due back late tonight, but we won’t see each other until tomorrow night. I’d be lying if I said I’m not looking forward to it.

I don’t know what it is about Cole, but when I’m with him, I feel...free. I do things I wouldn’t have considered before, and I like it.

I likehim.

The flash of vulnerability in his eyes when he told me he didn’t have any warmth in his life made my heart hurt. Maybe I still should have walked away, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Just like him, I want more of whatever it is that burns between us. Even if it will probably flame itself out all too soon.

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