“I’m not lying.” She stands straighter, even lifts her chin as if that will give her more credibility.
She’s not as complicated as she thinks. Not to me. I can see right through her bullshit screens.
“You are, and that’s strike two.” I hold up two fingers. “And do you remember what happens on strike three?”
The dim lighting isn’t enough to hide the blush that blooms on her cheeks. She lowers her eyelids and licks her lips.
“If I remember correctly, you’ll put me on the bed and lick me until I come unglued.” There’s a teasing smile pulling on her lips, but she’s fighting it.
I can’t blame her. We haven’t exactly gotten off on the right step. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun together.
In this room, at night, when all our enemies have gone to sleep, we can pretend they don’t exist. It can just be us. This room, these games, can be just for us.
Like the first night.
“No, sweetheart. If you get to strike three, I’m going to put you over my knee and spank you until your ass glows red.”
She bites the inside of her cheek.
“So, honesty time. If I was with another woman these past three nights, would you care?”
Her eyes flash hot. I don’t even need her to answer, but I want her to say the words.
“Were you?”
“Ah, dangerously close to the third strike. Answer me first.”
“How would I know if you’re lying?”
“I won’t lie to you. Ever. Even if the truth hurts, I will always give it to you.”
“Even better if it hurts, right?” Ah, there’s the snark she warned me about. She can be difficult, she’d told me.
The most difficult thing about her so far is my inability to stop craving her.
Spending the last three days away from her had nothing to do with work and everything to do with my insatiable appetite for her.
“We aren’t going to fight, Sienna. Not in here. This room is off limits for that, remember?”
“In here we’re just two people who make each other feel good.”
“Right. In here, it’s just us. Now, answer my question.”
She looks away, like she’s still not sure she should give me the truth.
“Yes. I wouldn’t like it if you were with another woman. But I did tell you that it was fine, so I can’t be mad.”
“I wasn’t with anyone else,” I say. “I can imagine what you think of me, but a cheater isn’t one of them.”
“Even if it would really piss off my family? I mean what better revenge than to humiliate me publicly. If my uncle allowed it, then he’s weak—” She stops when I put my hand up.
“Not in here, remember?”
She tucks a loose hair behind her ear. “Right. I’m sorry. Not in here.”
“I’ll answer your question, though. The answer is no. Humiliating you in that way isn’t something that interests me. I wouldn’t do it, and I expect you never to, either.”
“Of course I wouldn’t.” Her face scrunches up with indignation. I’ve offended her.
