Page 33 of Merciless

Her scowl deepens. “Why do you want to suddenly help me?”

“I told you already.”

“But I don’t believe you. So why are you really here?”

“I want to show you something,” I say with a sigh. “And I can’t do that if you’re being stubborn. So get in the fucking car.”

Eden glances at the empty passenger seat, and I study her expression, which goes from unsure to finally giving in to my demands.

Beaming a smile at her, I use all the fake charm to put her at ease as I put the car in park. I get out and grab her by the elbow before guiding her to the passenger side.

“I can get in by myself, thanks.” Eden peels my fingers off her as if I’m the disgusting one.

It won’t be long before she begs for me to touch her in a different way.

My smile tightens, but I give in to her silent request by stepping back as I open the door for her. “I’ll help you with the seatbelt.”

She shakes her head. “That’s unnecessary.”

Eden winces as she sits on the seat and shifts like she’s uncomfortable.

I raise an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”

She nods and shifts again. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

She sighs and peeks at me from beneath her lashes. “I’m okay, I promise. Can we please just go?”

I tilt my head, studying her expression for a moment. She’s still guarded and pinching her lips together to keep from telling me what’s wrong.

I’ll eventually get her to open up to me.

I lean into her personal space and gently take the seatbelt from her grasp. Being this close to her, I breathe in her floral vanilla perfume.

I’m not supposed to like her smell. I only need to fuck her to win the bet. That’s it. There can’t be any emotional attachment or feeling other than contempt or malice.

Yet I can’t stop myself from taking the time to buckle her seatbelt so that I can inhale another breath of her scent.

Turning my head, I meet her nervous stare as I check the strap in the middle of her chest. Eden’s cheeks tint a shade of pink as I purposely drag my fingers over her breast.

“I think it’s tight enough,” she mumbles.

Realizing that I’m still touching her, I shake away the strange feeling of softness toward her. I straighten and close the passenger door before rounding the car and sitting behind the wheel.

I don’t know what the fuck that was.

I adjust my pants so I can hide my erection. Of course I’d get hard just from smelling and touching her. Or maybe it’s the way she cowered before me and avoided my gaze.

“Where are we going?” she says as I put the car in drive.

I peek at her before focusing on the road. “You’ll see.”

And hopefully, it’ll help persuade her to accept my deal.

I have four days to win her over, and I need to convince her I’m something I’m not. That means I need to pull everything out of my arsenal.

And those pictures from last night will be my trump cards.