Page 13 of Illicit

At the worst time ever, my stomach growls.

His beautiful smile shrinks into a satisfied smirk. “And you’re hungry. Just one more reason to stay when your favorite takeout is on the way.”

My eyes fall shut as I exhale. I hate that he hasn’t forgotten my favorite takeout.

“Go take a load off. I’ll get you a beer.” I open my eyes as he keeps bossing me around. “I’ll find you something to wear, because you’re not wearing that for the rest of the night.”

“If I have a beer, I can’t drive home.”

Rocco moves to his dresser and yanks out a T-shirt and pair of sweatpants. They fly through the air, and I barely catch them when they hit my chest. “Get comfortable and prepare to spill everything you know.”

“Rocco—” I start.

But he interrupts me when he stops right in front of me. “Teagan.”

My arms fall to my sides. “What now?”

He pauses.

I brace.

And it’s a good thing, because I’m not prepared for what he says next.

He raises a hand and gives the end of one of my loose curls a gentle yank. “I hate that you hate me, so you’re not going to want to hear this.”

I’m not sure how much more I can handle today.

His gaze roams my face before settling back on my eyes. “I wasn’t lying before. I missed you. I don’t care why you’re here or how much you want to run away from me—it’s good to see you. I promise to get to the bottom of whatever the fuck you’re up to, so you’re not going anywhere tonight.”

And with that, he stalks out of his bedroom and slams the door.

My shoes hit the floor.

My ass lands on the bed.

And I fall to my back.

In the matter of a few short hours, all my hard work went down the drain, and I’m in Rocco’s bed.

Fine.

I’m not in it. That’s a pipe dream.

I’m on it.

And not in the way it played out in my fantasies.

But he missed me.

I already knew that. I’ve saved every text and voicemail he’s sent. I even revisit them often.

That’s painful enough, but this is something I can’t handle.

3

DEAL

Teagan

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