the damning hurt in hers.
I glimpse the papers she left scattered on the floor and see one that reads “The Jezebel” in large letters, in the same font as her tattoo. I lean down to pick it up, and she dives to beat me to it. She tucks them behind her back.
“What is that?”
“Nothing,” she snaps, but she looks panicked.
A prickle of unease runs up my spine.
“Did you start your blog again?”
“No.”
“Then, what is it?”
“Nothing, Stone. Leave it,” she snaps, but she’s nervous as hell.
“Why can’t you tell me?” I advance on her.
She stands her ground, sticks her mulishly set chin out at me and says, “I don’t have to tell you anything. No matter what you think, you don’t own me.”
Disillusionment is like a dagger in my side and I’m so tired of her and this whatever the hell is going on with her. I nod. “You’re right. I don’t. So, fuck all of this. I’m done asking you questions.”
“Finally!” She raises her hands in celebration and exasperation all at once.
“Yeah, fucking finally. I’m done. Whatever you’re up to, keep me the hell out of it.”
“Oh, no problem there,” she quips.
I laugh and snatch up my backpack. “Big fucking problem, actually.”
“Enlighten me,” she scoffs.
“Gladly,” I say walk back over to where she’s standing.
Her eyes widen and she backs up and hits the wall after only a couple of steps.
She licks her lips and her eyes drop to my mouth. “What are you doing?”
I place a hand on either side of her head and bring my face close enough to hers for our noses to touch. “Enlightening you, Goddess.”
I lift my fingers where the wetness from her vibrator has dried and run them under her nose, drag them over to her lips and press until they part for me. She moans at the intrusion and she sucks them deeper into her hot, soft mouth.
“See how good you taste?” I ask her in a low rasp.
She nods. Her inky lashes flutter like the palm leaves caught on a breeze.
“Have you let anyone else taste it?” I ask, and I wrap one hand around her throat, and she bites her lips.
“Have you?” I growl when she doesn’t respond
“No.” she squirms against my erection rucking her hips.
I slide my other hand up her thigh, slip it under her skirt and cup her through her panties. She rocks against my hand, grinding into her damp heat into the heel of it.
“I know how bad you need me inside you...”
“Yes, so badly…” she admits in a voice thick with misery.
I brush the tip of my nose against hers, move my mouth just a sliver from hers, but I don’t let our lips touch.
I draw in a deep breath and smile. “No matter how hard you try to hide it from me, I’ll always know. Even if I never touch you again.”
“How?” she pants.
I gaze down at her beautiful face, memorize the look of rapture adorning it. “Because, like recognizes like, goddess. We’re made for each other.”
I am so in love with her and so damn angry at her. But I don’t know how to wake somebody who’s only pretending to be asleep.
I pull my hand away from her body and take a huge step back. “It’s a damn shame that you fucked this up so royally.”
Her eyes flutter and open, dazed and glassy with need. I bite the inside of my cheek to stifle a groan and shove my hands into my pockets to keep myself from yanking her back to me.
She blinks, the glaze in her eyes clears
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m sick of your secrets, and your desire to help everyone but yourself.”
“That isn’t true.” She yells, but I am done listening.
“You make me so crazy, like… some nights, I want to set myself on fire for it. But I’m done trying to prove myself to you, …” I wipe my palm on my trouser leg and her eyes grow wide.
I look away. Because fool I am, I can’t look her in the eye and lie. “So, you got your wish. You are officially out of my system.”
I walk out and it takes all my self-control not to slam the door behind me. I’m so angry I could spit. What the fuck is happening? It just keeps getting worse. I wish I could get her out of my system, but I can’t.
I whip my phone out and call Hayes.
“Hey, you home?” I ask when he answers.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Need to talk to you.