Page 16 of Hide and Keep

It’s actually a turn-on that she did. Another one.

Goddamn it. This is going to be a long, painful three years.

“Men have been making sex a priority since the beginning of time. Why shouldn’t I?”

I actually agree that women should be able to like sex, want sex, and have sex without repercussions. But Arthur Munreaux doesn’t. Or he might, I didn’t inquire about his exact stance on the matter, but he doesn’t want the fact his daughter’s a fuckgirl broadcasted for the world to know and ultimately judge because those repercussions do exist. Women can’t like sex, want sex, and have sex without being ridiculed for it. No matter how muchchange there is in the world, society is still, and will probably always be, biased.

“I’m not here to stop you from getting dick,” I make myself say, not loving the way the words taste on my tongue but not stopping to examine why. “I’m here to make sure getting dick doesn’t derail your future.”

Unfolding her arms and dropping them like they suddenly weigh a thousand pounds each, she lets out a scoff. “As if there wasanythingthat could derail that. You have no idea what you’re protecting.”

“I’m protectingyou.” It’s for her father’s sake, butsheis my assignment.

Something unreadable flashes across her face, but she doesn’t say anything, prompting another long pause.

“You can tell yourself that tonight, in your own bed, at whatever little slum you call home because you won’t be staying at mine.”

“You’re very sure of yourself.”

“I have to be. I’m a flyer. And I always,alwaysland on top.”

My eyes shoot to her rib tattoo.My soul is in the sky.

I don’t know what the fuck a flyer is or why she’s so certain she’s going to get rid of me. A million dollars on the line? An actual shot of getting out of Sea Haven? I wouldn’t give that up foranything.

“Flyer? Is that some sort of cheerleader lingo?” Better learn it now. I’m gonna be around it for a while.

“Mm-hm. And here’s some more.” She shuffles closer. “Eat.” Another step puts her face within inches of mine. “My.”

If she says what I think she’s about to say, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself from doing it. I would eat her fucking—

“Ass.”

Before I can processthat, she rips my hat off and drops it in the toilet.

Fucking bitch!

My hand latches on to her bicep the next instant, then I’m dragging her out of the bathroom.

Tight quarters. Tight body. Tight—

I force a headshake.

Tight fucking deadline. There’s a reason Arthur’s offering a bonus for making it past the first twenty-four hours. Nobody else has. Ever said as much. She made everyone else quit before they could.

She’s gonna throw everything she’s got at me today. Tomorrow…

I’ll deal with tomorrow when I get there, because Iwillbe getting there. Short of Ever killing me herself, there’s nothing that’d make me not show up for work tomorrow.

“Get in the fucking car,” I tell her even though I forcibly sit her in the passenger seat of my Bronco and buckle her myself.

“Yo!” the technician calls out.

I prep my fist, ready to throw blows over how I just treated his boss’s daughter. It wasn’t right to handle her like that, I know that, but…

God, she pisses me off.

Surprisingly, he just says, “You gotta pull the tape off in two hours. Exactly two hours, man. Don’t wait any longer than that or it’ll fuck your shit up.”

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