Page 37 of Taming Liberty

“Deal,” Lib says, staring down Jasper. “If I win, you leave Naomi alone.”

“No,” I say, stepping toward them.

Both of their heads turn my way.

“You don’t have faith in her?” Jasper taunts.

I shake my head but realize as I’m doing it that it’s a mistake. “I have plenty of faith in her,” I lie. “But there is no world in which I share my slave.”

“Angel,” Liberty says, pulling my gaze her way. “It’s okay.”

I squint as I try to figure out what the hell she’s thinking.

I get what shewants. She wants to humiliate Jasper. I understand the sentiment. It also helps that she can protect her friend in the process, or maybe that’s even the leading motivator, but… She was gassed on the hike up here. How does she believe she’s going to win a race against someone as athletic as Jasper?

Maybe she isn’t fully aware of his abilities.

“I believe in you,” I say. “But I promise you, he’s in very good shape. You don’t want to risk this.”

“It’s one night.” She shrugs as if it isn’t important. She’s fucking cocky. Maybe even as cocky as me. “What harm can it do?”

“Only time will tell,” Jasper says, clearly loving this.

No.

No, no, no.

Hellno.

“Angel, please,” Lib says, her eyes soft. “Trust me.”

Trust me... Is this how it felt all the times I asked her to do the same? Painstakingly helpless?

“Please,” she says again.Trust me.

It’s one night. One night where she’ll fuck a man before she’s even fucked me. If I’d known all it took was a dare as moronic as this one to get her to sleep with me, I’d have done it a long time ago.

I frown at my own thoughts. It isn’t true. As badly as I want her, I don’t just want sex.

“Trust me,” she repeats, pulling me from my head.

There it is again.

I can’t believe I’m about to do this…

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fine.” I look at Jasper. “No pain. I swear, if you leave a single bruise…”

“Yeah, save the threat, mate.” Jasper gives me a smug grin. “I would never damage your property.”

“Oh, go to hell,” Lib sneers.

Jasper roars with laughter. “Oh, sweet Liberty. We are going to have so much fun.”

Pressure builds in my chest, and my head feels like it’s filling with steam. “Watch it.”

“Yeah, okay.” She holds out her hand. “And if I win, you’ll leave Naomi alone. You won’t lay a hand on her again.”

He gives his head a shake, but it’s more out of gleeful bewilderment at Lib’s boldness than a denial of her terms.

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