Page 27 of Corrupt Me

The taunts have switched to challenges, the challenges have turned into banter, the banter has slipped into playful innuendos, and the innuendos into tantalizing what-ifs. We’ve teetered on a thin line since the beginning, and it’s about to snap.

Eyes locked, I approach her, incapable of resisting—the air charges, cracking like my control.

“You made your mind up about me a long time ago,” she sighs, sadness threading through her voice.

“Be happy about that, Bailey.”

“What if I am not?”

Her eyes never waver from mine. Her burst of confidence is so damn enticing. I tell myself to be the one who walks away and puts the necessary distance between us. But it’s getting more difficult with each passing day. She’s getting braver while I’m coming undone—an explosive combination.

“Since you’re the expert on what’s expected of a second date…”

I almost forgot—she’s good at robbing me of my coherent thoughts.

Second fucking date.

Not that I was in a good mood before, but now a dark cloud hangs over my head, pelting acid on me. If she keeps pushing me, she won’t ever go on another date.

“But it’s not real, like you’ve been telling me.”

“Yes, but we do whatever is expected of us…”

What she doesn’t say makes me lose my cool. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t go on dates.”

“No, you don’t have to, do you?”

Our chests brush, and she cranes her neck to look at me. I could lower my head and dive into her full lips, finding out if they taste as I imagine they do—sweet as strawberries—making the downfall all the more irresistible.

She steps back when I move forward until her back hits the fridge. Slapping my palms on each side of her face, she swallows. I crave these reactions. She’s a captivating mixture of shy yet curious, and that does things to me I’ve never experienced.

“And why is that?”

Come on, say it and break the fucking spell you put on me.I can barely hold on to my control when she challenges me, and she has been doing that more and more lately.

“Because you don’t need to dine someone before you take them to your bed.”

Anger simmers low. “My bed, huh? Have you seen someone parading in or out of my bedroom since I came here, Bailey?”

I don’t want her to think that I am a fuck boy. I hate that she knows about my reputation. In my brain, it sounded better than… No, not bloody going there.

“No, but I am sure you have your places.”

“Have you been stalking me, my little kitten?” Now I’m claiming her too.This is madness.

Her green-blue eyes have a hypnotic allure, casting a spell on me. I brush my knuckles along her cheek—so soft. Damn, this girl is made of satin and temptation, sweetness and my undoing.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, as if afraid I’ll stop. She’s breaking my composure bit by bit.

“Corrupting you. If you keep this up, I will indulge, Bailey. I am far from a gentleman.”

“Do you want to be my teacher, Hunter?” She raises up on her toes, and with my head bowed, we’re a breath apart. Just one inch and my lips would press against hers. My walls rattle, some part of me straining to break free, to dive into her like she’s the fountain of life—and never resurface.

What the fuck is happening here?

“In what?”You know ‘in what,’ you moron.Stop this nonsense.

“In seduction.”

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