Page 48 of Cocky Player

“I don’t think that’s true.You said before that someone hurt you, maybe not in the way I was thinking, but I do think someone hurt you.”

I struggled to regain my footing.The floor beneath my feet felt like it’d gone sideways, throwing me off course.So maybe I had come here because I was nervous about Powell seeing us together, the things my dad said about Connor afterward when he caught the deep concern in Connor’s voice.

But mostly, I just missed him.I wanted to be with him.But this?

He was asking too much.“I’m not ready,” I finally said.It was all I could give him.The small dose of honesty.

If he couldn’t accept it, I had no idea what I’d do.I already had a feeling based on Gina’s constant rambling about sex and one-night stands and how they could be good or a major flop, I would end up losing my virginity to someone who didn’t know what they were doing.

We’d gone far past this being just about getting rid of my virginity.Even I knew that, at least for me.But the road ahead was murky and without a clear path, it wasn’t really his business.

“I like you, Brenna,” he said, stunning thecrapout of me so much I took a step back, braced my hand on the counter for balance.

“What?”

“You heard me.”His smile turned down, not quite a frown.Definitely not a smile.“And in all honesty, I don’t remember the last time I’ve thought about a woman as much as I think about you.”

He was saying all the right words.All the things I needed and wanted so desperately to hear, but I wasn’t prepared for them.

“It’s sex,” I rasped.Denial rose up strong and abruptly inside of me, bursting from somewhere deep inside.

“Technically we haven’t had sex, but I think we’re both aware whatever connection we have goes far beyond the physical.”His gaze met mine dead-on, and I squirmed under the weight of it.

I looked away, picked a spot on his bare cream wall and breathed deeply to calm my racing heart.

“At least, it is for me.”He curled his lip and stepped back, reaching for the bottle of wine on the counter.He filled my glass and took a large swallow.“Maybe I was wrong.”

He was so far from wrong it wasn’t funny, but I panicked.I needed to process this.I needed to clear my head and consider this.

“What are you asking of me?”

“I’m pretty sure I’d take whatever you’re willing to give me, but do I want honesty?Do I want to know you more beyond the sounds you make when you’re in my bed?Yeah, Brenna, I want that.”

I was Brenna.Not angel.Somehow that hurt.

“I’m not sure I can give you that yet.”

He flinched like I’d slapped him.It hurt me to say it, but if he wanted honesty, he needed to give me time.

I chewed on my lip debating when he took another drink and turned to face the counter, putting his back to me.“So what now?”

“I think now we say goodnight and I walk you to your car.”

Obviously the night wasn’t going to end the way I’d hoped, with me making the sounds he said he liked so much.He was within touching distance and yet making it clear his body was currently a no-hands zone.

“Okay.”

Goodness.This night had gone vastly different than I’d hoped and I had no one to blame but myself.My constant, stupid desire to live wild and free along with my desperate need for safety and security.

A risk taker I wasn’t, and handing more of me to Connor was the biggest risk I’d ever taken.

Was he worth it?

My gut said yes.

My brain screamed at me to slow down.

I left the kitchen, trudging along his tile and carpet floor like I was walking through mud.My mind and body warred against each other, whisperingturn around and tell him everything.Trust himfollowed byhe won’t get it.Everything will change.

---