Page 30 of The Final Deal

Adrian growls harshly and slides down his seat. He picks at the skin around his nails on top of the steering wheel. “’Cause she can’t stand you or Shannon, alright?”

“Yeah, I know,” I reply like it’s no big secret—because it isn’t. I’ve always known about Rosa’s distaste for us. “And I don’t give a shit. Your mom and dad loved me, and that’s all that matters, right? So why let your tia start calling the shots in your life? Last I checked, you don’t even letmeboss you around.”

He snorts and smirks. “I do, actually; I just don’t let you get away with being a brat.”

“Hon…” I trail off, unsure of what to say or do next. Rosa may be the botanica’s other controlling party outside of the Ramos kids, but she can piss and bitch and moan about me all she wants because I’m here to stay whether she likes it or not. “I’ve already told her about us, which means your whole family knows by now. If anyone’s surprised, then I guess they’re blind. And if they give either of you shit for it, then I’ll have some words for them.”

He doesn’t say a word, letting mine linger between us in the dark and silent cab of the truck.

A sinking feeling of chagrin bottoms out in my stomach the longer we sit in silence. Is this what he’s felt this whole time: an awful sense of contempt and abandonment because he thought I was ashamed of him and wanted to keep him hidden forever?

I palm my chest right above my heart, where that sensation spreads.

“Well,” he says and takes a deep breath as he rights himself in his seat. “Damage is done already, I guess. Ain’t much sense in hiding from it now.”

He opens his door, but I stay put in my seat as the overhead lights flash on. A moment later, my door swings wide. “You comin’?”

“Is that it?” I question. “The second you finally get what you want, you’re gonna run and hide because you’re scared of reality?”

A frown overcomes his handsome face and exaggerates the lines around his lips. “I’m not running or hiding.”

“Then how do you want me to love you, Dree?” I ask in a voice that pitches. “I’m not ashamed of you. I’m ashamed that I cheated, but you’re not my dirty little secret—not anymore. You’re my boyfriend, and if we’re gonna be together, then I need to know you’re not ashamed of me, either.”

“That’s why there’s no sense in hiding from it, princesa,” he says gently. He takes my hand in his and pulls me out of the truck, shutting the door behind me as he embraces me. “If they already know, they already know. I won’t hide from the truth, not when it comes to you.”

“Then let them know about us,” I murmur into his chest. “All three of us.”

He laughs softly through his nose, and I feel his smile on my forehead. “Sounds like they already do.”

I look up at him earnestly. “So if anyone asks, you’re not gonna lie and hide me under the rug?”

Adrian touches my cheek with unquestioning adoration in his eyes. “Not a chance in hell, princesa.”

His fingers fan through my hair and our mouths eagerly meet. With his kiss, that harrowing feeling ceases in my heartand gut, morphing into warmth that floods my veins like a shot of tequila on a cold night. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer in a desperate attempt to make the drug that is Adrian Ramos get me as high as he can.

Like a true tease, he pulls away and kisses my nose. “Let’s get inside.”

He grabs my hand and doesn’t let go, not even to unlock the door. Inside is dark, like Zak is already in bed.

When I try to drop his hand, his grip tightens around mine. He wears a slight simper that melts hundreds of thousands of panties all across the globe. I’m only a little embarrassed to say it has the same effect on me, too.

“Don’t go. Stay with me tonight.”

I can guarantee he’s only said that to one girl in his entire life: me.

Something about the absence of light makes time and logic disappear with it because I’m not sure how long it takes for us to travel our tangle of limbs from the hallway and into his room, from the door to his bed. What I am sure of is the warmth of his flesh ignites mine and beckons each article of clothing to fly off in a hurricane of desire. It draws me in closer to the guy I’ve hated with my entire being for almost two years when, deep down, I’ve known he’s one of very few in this world who truly gets me, and the only one brave enough to pin me down and call me out on my bluff when I kept running.

Now he’s the one who’s pinned beneath me on his bed, my mouth planted on his with his stiff cock settled between my lower lips as I rub myself up and down his length.

I’m the one calling him out to love me the way he’s always wanted.

My hate only delayed the inevitable between us, and there’s so much time to make up for.

I lift myself from his lap and reach between us, taking his dick and lining it up with my entrance.

He groans and squeezes my hips. “Wait, wait, wait.”

My brow raises, the question loaded on my face.

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