He leans in, kissing my cheek. "Seems like a nice enough guy to me," Kira says, shrugging.
"Thank you, Kira. I agree." Dax cocks his head, shooting me a mocking smile to match his tone. "You hear that, Ripley? You know, you should compliment me more."
"That's never going to happen."
"I'm going to steal her from you now," Dax tells Kira. "Have a good rest of your night."
Dax heads for the staircase with my hand still in his. "Have fun," Kira says to our backs. "Use a condom."
Dax laughs and leans into my ear. "Well, you knowthatwon't be happening."
I drop his hand, crossing my arms in front of me.
"Seriously, Ripley, what's wrong with you? Do you feel okay? You want me to get you some water or something?"
"No. I'm fine."
"You're tougher than this, Saige," he says again once we reach the top of the staircase. "Whatever it is, you need to let it go."
I can, and I will let it go. It's not the first time feelings have tried to creep up on me over the past couple of years; I know how to turn them off.
And the attachment I feel to him makes me physically ill. It makes me hate myself. That should make it easier, not harder.
Dax locks the door behind us, running his hands down my arms in the dark room. He stops at the hemline of my topand then pulls it over my head, leaving me standing in front of him in my bra, skirt, and boots.
He sighs. "I missed you. I thought about you all day. You're so fucking pretty, Saige."
He doesn't mean it. Don't listen to him.
His lips meet mine, his tongue slipping into my mouth, slowly, sensually teasing mine. I turn my head, breaking the kiss and reaching for the waistband of his pants.
I don't have to kiss him for this.
But he tries to catch my lips again, and I dodge them again, kissing his neck instead.
He grabs me by the chin. "No, Saige. Let me kiss you."
I try to shake my head, but he keeps that grip on my chin, this time, forcefully pressing his lips to mine. He drags my lower lip through his teeth before growling, "Open your mouth."
I listen, allowing my lips to part, his tongue more thoroughly exploring my mouth. Fully giving into the kiss, I close my eyes, breathing him in, feeling that ache—that longing—at the center of my chest again and hating myself a little more. Still, I slide my hands over his hard chest, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck, threading my fingers through his thick curly hair.
"I fucking love your pretty mouth," he groans against my lips. "I can't wait to feel it wrapped around my dick again."
Dax picks me up under my thighs, holding me so that my legs are around his waist. "You're my favorite toy, Saige. And I don't care if you're broken—I still want to play with you." He walks us toward the bed, laying me down on my back with my legs hanging off the edge. "And I know you still want me, too."
He reaches behind me, undoing the clasp of my bra before sliding it from my shoulders. Then, he removes his own shirt, looking down at me with hungry eyes. I avert my own, lowering my gaze to his core.
He grabs my right foot, untying and removing my boot and sock, kissing the inside of my calve before repeating the action on the other side. Then, he reaches beneath my skirt, pulling my underwear down my legs and tossing them aside.
Dax leans over me, bracing himself with one arm at my side while his right hand brushes my hair away from my face. "Hey, look at me." When my eyes meet his, he says again, "I missed you. Did you miss me, too?"
I shake my head.
"Liar," he says. "Don't lie, Saige."
He kisses me again, trailing his lips along my jaw, and then to the side of my throat.
"You can be tough for everyone else every other time, but I want you to be weak for me. Right here…" He pushes up my skirt, rubbing the hard ridge of his cock over my bare pussy, and I gasp. Then, he runs his hand over my breast, stopping and placing it over my heart. "And preferably right here, too."
