When I pull my hand away, devastation flashes behind her eyes. She wants me to touch her, to fuck her. That spat in the kitchen earlier was just some ruse she’s concocted to cover up the fact she wants to be here.
I settle into the chair next to her, her small frame crowded around mine. She scoots to get comfortable, but it doesn’t seem to help her. Her eyes are still full of uncertainty, arousal, maybe even a little bit of doubt.
And I’m an asshole who likes to see her flustered. So I bring my face close to hers, not caring how uncomfortable this position is. Her throat bobs again while I continue reading in her ear.
“I start slowly, only building rhythm when her pants come out short and quick. ‘Tell me you love me, princess.’ Her eyes close, and she sucks her lip between her teeth, not wanting to mumble the words. I move quicker, placing my thumb on her clit. ‘Tell me.’ ‘I— I love you.’ She finally screams.
“I smile then remove my finger from her dripping pussy and kiss a path from her neck, down to her core.”
I stop, distracted by the hitch in her breaths. Arloe looks at me, and we stare at each other for a moment, me searching her face, fighting my desires to take her, and her pleading for me to do just that. My gaze drops to her lips, her perfectly full, kissable lips. I think about biting them again, and with the way she leans toward me, I know she’d let me.
She opens her mouth only to close it again. I can see the wheels spinning in her head as curiosity wins.
“What were you going to say?”
She swallows again, her shoulders shifting into an uncomfortable-looking position.
“Amore,” I chide.
She meets my gaze again with a little more confidence this time. “What was behind those curtains?”
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know she’s referring to Delirium. I purposely avoided answering questions because she doesn’t need to know about that place. She’s perfect, untainted, and untouched by the lifestyle behind those walls. I want her to stay as such despite how badly I crave breaking her. There are things she doesn’t need to know, things she should never see. It won’t help what I have to do, so I stand and return to my own chair.
Arloe grips my wrist before I can get away. “Don’t do that,” she pleads. “Don’t shut me out.”
I let out a deep breath. “Continue reading to me,” I say to avoid her words.
Before I know it, she’s on her feet and yanks the book from me, tossing it in the now empty seat. She’s challenging me, and I know it’s the liquor she’s consumed that makes her feel so brave. With her breasts pushed into me, she reaches for my hand while keeping her eyes on me. I allow her to lace our fingers together, loving the feel of her soft touch against my rougher one. She’s perfect—and if I give in, she’ll be perfectly broken.
“What’s behind the curtains, Easton?”
I don’t respond, all I can do is stare at her.
“I researched it. I know it’s some sort of lifestyle place—a sex club, isn’t it?”
Still, I remain silent.
Arloe is stroking my forearm now, a trail of heat igniting in her path and settling in my chest. A low groan builds in my throat when she palms my chest.
“Have you been behind those curtains, Easton? With that woman you were talking to at Emilio’s party?”
“I’ve told you, jealousy isn’t an option,” I add a tad harsher than I mean to.
“Then tell me. Show me.”
I flinch at her request, my willpower rapidly fading with each second.
“That’s enough, Arloe.”
“You said my logic is fictional…then show me something real. Let me see you, Easton.”
I stroke her cheek quietly, and let my touch fall to her neck. Her hair is in the way again, the sight of it reminding me that she’s disobeyed me—for the second time.
“You don’t want that, amore. You don’t need to be involved in my life.” It’s the honest truth, she needs to be as far away from me as humanly possible. And just like earlier, I hate myself. I should have let her leave, and never darkened her doorstep again. But I’m greedy and a glutton for the very thing I know I’ll never have.
Now, it’s too late, she’ll surely be my next victim.
“You don’t believe that any more than I do. I can handle it, I want to know you.” She tries to touch my face, but I stop her.
