Her brows shoot higher. "Clearly, I interrupted a very romantic moment."
"Jesus, Valentina." I drag a hand through my hair. "We're nothing. She's nothing. She's had a crush on me since high school. That's it."
Valentina's gaze narrows. "Funny. She doesn't look like a high school girl anymore."
I groan, "She's not. But shewaswhen it started. And she's Adrian's daughter. I've told her no a thousand times."
Valentina's lips press together. "It sure seems like there's more to it."
I step forward, and Valentina steps back until she's up against the wall. I growl, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"She was in your apartment, Brax." Her voice cracks around the words she's trying to keep sharp. "Again. Dressed like that. Hanging off you. And you didn't look like you hated it."
"Ididhate it."
She questions, "Did you? Because she looked pretty sure of herself."
Anger fills me. "I've never touched her and never kissed her. Not once have I even thought about it. I'm not into her. I told you?—"
"Right." She nods, eyes going flat. "You're not into her. But yet she breaks into your apartment and throws herself at you."
I exhale hard. "Why do you care so much?"
The question hangs between us, heavier than any punch Sean landed today.
Her chin jerks back a fraction. "I don't."
"Bullshit."
Her tone sharpens. "I just think it's reckless. And stupid. And if Adrian finds out, he's going to?—"
"Don't make this about Adrian! This is about you standing in my apartment in a dress you know is killing me, picking a fight about a girl I've been actively trying to keep away from me for years."
Color spills into her cheeks, but she doesn't back down. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?" I lean closer, an inch from her mouth.
She presses her palms against my chest. "Yes."
"I think you're jealous."
Valentina softly laughs. "I don't get jealous."
I slide my finger down her cheek, then grip her jaw, stating, "You are. Otherwise, you wouldn't still be here."
Her mouth curves into a dare. "And if I am, Brax? What exactly do you want to do about it?"
A beat of silence passes. The air thickens, charged, crackling between us.
That coil inside me snaps. I press my mouth to hers and tug her dress to her waist.
Her arms reach for my pants, shoving them down.
I lift her bottom, and her legs wrap around me. My cock slides inside her in one thrust.
She whimpers, trembling slightly.
"This is what I'm going to do about it, Minx," I warn, pinning her evencloser to the wall and thrusting with all the months of longing I've had to be inside her again.
