The Punk and the Plaything (When Rivals Play #3) - B.B. Reid Page 0,94
was addicted to his kisses. “Something to remind you that you’re mine.”
I started to tell him there was no need, that I had the feeling I’d never forget, but the only sound that spilled from my lips was a sigh and then his name. “James.”
For the rest of the summer, Jamie showed me the way all right.
To his heart. And to mine.
Present
IT HAD BEEN TWO DAYS since I left Bee in tears at the country club. Two days, and somehow, I could still taste her. Getting Barbette to lower her guards hadn’t exactly been a chore. I’d learned early on how to best catch flies, but I never thought to use my charm against her.
Now that I knew she was nothing but a gold-digger, all bets were off.
The only good thing that had come out of learning the truth was the clear path I now had to getting what I wanted. Barbette needed a cash cow and I needed…her—in my bed, under my thumb, and eventually crushed beneath my heel. I’d make Elliot an offer, marry Barbette, and fill her with the heirs my family required. Then, when my work was done, I’d sit back and watch my thorny rose wilt for the rest of her days.
My only obstacle was the conviction I seemed to lack. Frustration had caused me to explode that day in the country club. My mission had been simple: expose her secrets and revel in her downfall.
Then why hadn’t I gone through with it?
The only time I couldn’t seem to give in to her was when she pushed me away. Go fucking figure.
It’s not your hate that kills me but the love I see shining through.
You kiss me with your cruel words and caress me with your pain.
I’d glimpsed those words in her journal and just as she predicted, I broke like a dam and swept her away. And just before she could drown in my hate, I pulled her back out again. It seemed I couldn’t hate Barbette without loving her twice as hard.
In desperate need of a distraction, I’d driven to the city with Lou riding shotgun, hoping that it would put enough distance between us. The few hours away had kept me from going to Barbette, but it hadn’t kept me from thinking about her… or picturing my hand around her lovely neck.
“Bee’s right,” Lou mumbled when “Kiss it Better” began to play. “You listen to Rihanna way too much, bro.”
Grinning, I turned up the volume just as Lou’s phone began to ring.
Leaning forward, she snatched it from the dash. “What?” she snapped, drawing my gaze from the road. She was now curled up in a ball as if suddenly feeling the need to protect herself. “Where am I?” Scoffing, she added, “You’d know that if you weren’t too busy lying to me.” She was silent for a few seconds as she listened to whatever the caller was saying. “Ugh.” It was the only warning Lou gave before hanging up.
“Trouble in paradise?”
“I am paradise, and Wren is going to learn that really soon when I leave his ass.”
I didn’t get the chance to respond to that before my phone rang. Already knowing who was calling, I didn’t bother looking at the screen before picking up. “Untwist your panties, Harlan. I got her.”
“What the hell are you guys doing?”
Wren was seething. I’m talking fire-breathing dragon mad. I could practically hear the steam blowing from his nose and ears, and I snickered.
Of course, I just had to poke the sleeping bear.
“Not much right now. She’s just riding me.”
“What the fuck did you say?” he shouted, damn near blowing out my eardrums.
“I said she’s riding with me.” Taking a page from Lou’s book, I hung up on him. Lou snorted, so I turned my head to meet her gaze. “You know he’s going to kick our asses for that, right?”
Sinking lower in her seat, she lifted her legging-clad legs and crossed her sneakered feet on my dash. “Yours, maybe. I’ve got immunity because I’m adorable, and he loves me too much.”
Scoffing, I shook my head. I was beginning to think I’d never figure girls out no matter how many I screwed. “If you believe that, why are you giving him the cold shoulder?”
I glanced over in time to see her lips curl. “Because he’s gone most of the day and when he’s home, he’s in his head and barely sleeps at night. I do not tolerate secrets or meeting up with old flames behind my back.”