Page 60 of Sweet Oblivion

Guess I said them.

“It’s the same thing, pretty boy.”

Ryker shakes his head. “Not exactly.”

“You’re infuriating. Do you know that?” I ask, resisting the urge to bite the thumb resting on my damn neck. “Don’t answer that. I’m going to bed.”

“It’s been a long day,” he agrees but doesn’t let go.

“What if I told you your idea scares me?” I ask, hoping he can read my lips because I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to say the words again.

“I’d tell you, you never have to be scared of me. That you would have all the control. All. Of. It. That we’d take it at your pace.” He bends his knees and brings his face down nearly a foot to mine as my heart races in a million directions. “That I would make it so good for you, Bambi.” His voice is like a soft caress along my skin.

And then, he’s gone.

He drops his hold and backs away.

Standing back at his full height, like he wasn’t just centimeters away.

Like he wasn’t so close, I could smell his shampoo and taste the toothpaste.

“Sleep on it, Delaney.” The bastard winks, and I die inside a little. “If you can sleep tonight.”

I watch as he walks by me into our shared bedroom and shuts the door.

What the hell?

If I couldn’t still feel his hands on my body, I’d think it was a dream.

That I’d made it all up in my head.

Because what grown woman has a fake fiancé who basically offers to give her sex lessons?

And better yet, what grown woman in her right mind would turn them down from Ryker Beneventi?

DELANEY

I saw an article today that said five parrots in a zoo in England had to be separated after they started cursing at guests, then laughing, and it made me think of my friends and me.

I’m not sure any thought has ever made me happier.

Not sure what that says about me.

—Delaney’s Secret Thoughts

“Oh Lex, the triple chocolate fudge is heavenly.” Ashton sighs as she sucks the tines of her fork.

“That’s what you’ve said about every single slice, preggo.” Dillan rolls her eyes while she bounces Kyrie on her knee. “What do you think, Lane?”

I put down my fork and watch my baby sister fist a piece of cake, then try to feed it to Dillan, maybe a little grateful to not be the one holding her right now. “The chocolate is good.”

“Good?” Lexie mocks with disbelief. “That cake is decadent perfection.”

I feel my shoulders sink. Oh shit. “I’m not really that much of a chocolate girl.”

Lexie, Ashton, Dillan, and Kaleigh’s heads all spin my way like I just said the earth was flat instead of round. I think Ishould be scared. “Sorry.” I throw my hands up. “Please don’t hurt me.”

“Who doesn’t like chocolate?” Kaleigh asks, dumbfounded, as she drags what’s left of my plate to her side of the table and pushes a different slice my way. “Wait. Don’t answer that. Try this one instead.”