Page 37 of Dr. Bad Boy

But the ease of it can’t last forever, because I lied to her and she wants honesty.

Damn it.

I wait until we’ve cleared our plates. I follow her into her living room, warmly decorated with books and photographs where she’s making funny faces in some, beaming in others. She’s gorgeous in them all. The space is vibrant, warm, and honest, just like Violet. I clear my throat and spill what needs to be spilled. “I wasn’t entirely truthful when I told you that Gavin and Ellie asked to bring a date tonight.”

She presses her lips together, but doesn’t say anything.

“And you said you wanted honesty from me. So…since I’ve moved here, they’ve worried about me. They wanted to know if I was seeing anyone, and I said no. I haven’t been seeing anyone.” I haul in a ragged breath. “Thinking about someone nonstop, absolutely. Dreaming of one night that ended too quickly and has haunted me ever since—”

“I’m confused,” she says, her brows pulling tight. “If they didn’t invite me…”

I move closer to her, my palms itching to touch her. I stop just short. “I want you to meet them. And they know you’re coming. I texted Gavin.”

She wrinkles her nose. “It’s kind of weird.”

“They’re normal people.”

“I’m sure they are. It’s you I’m not entirely sure about.”

“I’m definitely not normal. But I’ve got some redeeming qualities.”

This time when she slides her gaze to meet mine, there’s something new there. A sizzling heat that reminds me of that first night—and with a jolt, I realize it’s also what passed between us when we arrived at her apartment.

Our complicated issues aside, we have crazy chemistry.

She licks her lips. “Maybe you should remind me what they are.”

I will. But I’ve used up my chances with her already. I get this right or I don’t get the girl at all. “Do you trust me?”

She nods slowly, doe-eyed and perfectly submissive. It’s all I can do to keep myself from taking everything she’s offering.

But I don’t want one afternoon. I want the chemistry and everything else, too.

For the first time in my adult life, getting the girl has become incredibly important.

11

Violet

My heart stopsas Max cups my cheek, then trails his fingers down my arm. He picks up my hand, brushing a gentle kiss across my knuckles before he twists my arm behind my back. He crowds in front of me, sliding his other hand down my other arm, passing that wrist behind me to join the other.

He holds me captive as he curves over me, watching me squirm and then still myself. I can be good for him.

I smile. I want to be good for him.

Set aside everything else. The risk and the drama. I want this. And I want it with Max. He’s the only man who’s ever unlocked this submission for me.

“You’re such a natural,” he murmurs. “I can’t wait to have you on your knees for me.”

Don’t wait, I want to say, but he’s bound my wrists, if only with his hands. We’re not in a scene, but we’re not…notin a scene.

Like so many moments with Max, I’m not sure what we’re doing here, but I accept that we are definitely doingsomething.

And good things come to those that wait. So I hold very, very still.

He groans and covers my mouth with his, a hard, quick kiss that’s over before it begins. With his free hand, he grips my chin and lifts my face. He looks at me carefully, fire burning in his gaze. “We don’t have time to do this right. You’ll need to be patient.”

It takes me a second to realize he’s waiting for a confirmation. Well, it wasn’t really said in the form of a question, now was it?

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