“I behaved,” I say.
His eyes dip to my mouth. “Yes.”
“Butyoutook a shot.”
“Yes,” he mutters, and runs a hand through his hair. “I know. It was a mistake.”
“The waiter said it’s… that it will make…”
He rests a hand next to me on the wall. There’s something almost feral about his expression. “Make me what? Tell me.”
“It’ll turn you on.”
“No,” he says. “It’ll just make me harder and hornier once Iamturned on. And then you went and sat on my lap.”
“There was no space! You pulled me onto your lap!”
“I know I did,” he mutters, “and I’ll pay the price for it all night.”
It’s hard not to feel a rush of pleasure at the words. Him wanting me is a tangible thing I can rely on, a terrifying and soothing reality.
“You asked for a kiss if you won.”
“I did.” The elevator dings, and he pushes away from me with a low groan. “But you can’t kiss me tonight, Wilde.”
“Can’t handle it?”
We walk through the corridor to the suite that’s ours.
One bed to share.
“No,” he says. He opens the door and holds it open for me. “I really fucking can’t.”
“Did you pack the gift I gave you?”
He gives me a furious look and shrugs out of his suit jacket. The answer is no, that much is clear, and my hand twitches at my side. It’s rare to see him frazzled.
“What are you going to do?” I ask him. My voice comes out breathless.
“What do you think?” he says, and tears off his cufflinks. He leaves them on the low table in the living room. “I’m sleeping on the couch tonight. You can have the bed.”
“Scared to be too close to me?”
“Yes,” he growls, and walks into the bathroom.
I have a choice. I can help. Or I can leave him alone.
It doesn’t take me long to decide.
I follow him.
CHAPTER 42
PAIGE
I follow him into the large bathroom. Just hours ago, he was seated on the edge of that bathtub, letting me pad foundation over the bruises.
Now he’s gripping the edge of the vanity counter with both hands. Dark hair hangs down over his forehead, thick and mussed.
