Page 6 of Tainted Truth

Rio gives Asher an implacable expression. “You know that won’t work. My mom will come by and check.”

One time, when we were all in college, we were swamped with essays, exams, and—in all honesty—were a bit hungover. We told Rio’s mom we weren’t coming to the house for Sunday dinner because we were sick. Not even a few hours later, Paloma showed up at our college dorm, ordered us into bed, and wouldn’t leave until late that night. She took our temperatures, rubbed a homemade salve on our chests, and made us homemade chicken noodle soup. There is no saying “no” to Paloma Flores.

“Okay, so one of us will pretend to be sick and stay with Spencer while the other two go.” Asher throws his hands in the air.

I chime in before Asher can delude himself further. “We know what we have to do.”

Asher groans and drags a hand down his face while Rio sits, seemingly unbothered.

“She won’t go for it,” Asher states.

“Yeah, ifyouask her.” Rio chuckles.

“She’s not happy withyoueither,” Asher snaps back.

“I’ll do it.” I stand from my chair as Rio protests.

“What? I wanted to call dibs. Not cool.” Rio hangs his head like I kicked his nonexistent puppy.

I ignore Asher’s protests, grab the rabbit food pizza, and trudge up the wooden stairs. Spencer’s look of horror after Asher found her flashes through my mind. She looked at me like she was afraid of me. She should be afraid, but not because of me.

Never because of me.

My free hand rests on the frame as I stare at the door as if I’ll magically get X-ray vision and I can see through the wood and straight to Spencer.

I’ve been in a few times, but she’s given me the silent treatment so far. I won’t pretend it doesn’t hurt, but I can be strong for her. I’ll take her anger for now.

Her heart is made of gold, and she won’t be able to stay mad at me for long.

Fortifying my heart, I enter the room, and Spencer’s eyes snap to mine. Once again, she doesn’t say anything, but that’s okay. I’m a patient man.

I set the pizza next to her, wait at the foot of my bed, and let the silence around us settle.

She does her best to ignore the cheesy goodness, but she’s practically salivating. She opens the box and takes a bite with her non-cuffed hand.

I used to think Sal’s Pizza could cure anything, but Spencer is determined to hold on to her resentment. She takes delicate, small bites and scooches as far away from me as possible.

Watching her eat and knowing it’s going to fill out her hips and ass even more makes me hard. I’ll have more to grab on to when I slam into her from behind and watch her ass bounce with each drive of my hips.

She finishes off a slice, and her eyes take me in. Her nostrils flare at my calm exterior. Little does she know, I’m ready to burst out of my skin. I’m desperate to touch her. Patience is my strong suit, but she seems to know how to test that damn strength without even trying.

Spencer is laid out onmybed like a fucking feast. Her hair hangs in its natural waves over one shoulder. A pair of skintight workout shorts hug her curves, and an oversized tee does little to hide the swell of her breasts.

She finally cracks when she spits her question out at me. “Is there a reason you’re still in here?”

I don’t give her an answer, and her mouth tightens into a stubborn line.

She’ll crack any moment now.

Three, two. . .

“If you’re just going to stare at me, you can leave. I have nothing to say to you—nothing to offer you,” Spencer snaps.

A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. “We both know that’s not true, Angel. There’s plenty you could offer that I would gladly take because, when it comes to you, I can never get enough.”

If her rapid breathing didn’t give away how she feels, then the squirming does. She wants me. She just doesn’twantto want me.

But she does.

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