Page 16 of False Start

"And I believe you, but let's not go twisting the facts."

She huffs out a frustrated breath and nods.

"You're right. But it's getting late. Do you have the necklace or not?"

I reach into my pocket for the necklace, twirling my finger to indicate she should turn around. When she does, I place the dainty gold chain around her neck, letting my fingers linger a little longer than necessary against her skin. Her relief is palpable, and she clasps the pendant in her palm.

"Thank you," she whispers.

"No problem," I respond, glad I decided not to tease her. The necklace is clearly more than just jewelry to her, and I'd have to be the dick everyone thinks I am to mess with that.

She gathers her purse and walks towards the door, and something close to panic rises in my throat. I don't want her to go, if for no other reason than I want a shot at making her scream my name. It's certainly not because I like her. My last attempt at monogamy was enough to scare me away forever.Thank God I never told my brothers.

"We should do this again sometime," I hear myself say, horrified that the filter between my mouth and my brain seems to be malfunctioning. To my complete surprise, she turns to face me with what looks like interest in her eyes.

"Really?"

Oh shit! She's going for it!

"Why not?" I say, forcing casualness into my tone. "We definitely click sexually. And neither of us are strangers to a no-strings situation."

She taps her chin in thought.

"No strings, huh? So we'd be friends with benefits, only there for some stress relief?"

I keep my face passive, trying not to even move for fear I'll scare her away.

"I'll be your talking dildo—"

"You don't even have to talk," she interrupts. I shake my head with a smile.

"Fine. I'll be your dildo and you'll be my Fleshlight, although I actuallyprefertalking." I wink so my meaning is clear, and she lets out a little laugh.

She extends her hand, but yanks it back before I can shake it.

"Wait a minute. What am I doing? We can't be fuck buddies. What about Maya?"

"WhataboutMaya?" I ask, feigning ignorance. She rolls her eyes, clearly not buying it.

"She's my girl, and you were an absolute dick to her. I can't do that."

She turns to leave and I almost grab her hand to stop her before catching myself. Nothing says serial killer like keeping a woman from leaving when she wants to.

"I could apologize!" I call out, hoping that's enough to stop her.

"Didn't you already try that?" she says, still walking to the door. I rush after her.

"Yeah, OK. But…what if we didn't tell her?" I'm practically pleading, but I can't help it. Tonight was nowhere near enough of this woman.

At my offer, she stops and slowly turns to face me. I shoot my last Hail Mary to change her mind.

"Like you said, you're grown. Your girl doesn't need to know who you're fucking, does she?"

A wicked grin breaks out on her face and I pray to God I stay on her good side.

"You have a point. Don't think I don't know about your philandering reputation," she adds, "but…in this case, I guess it's…good? No chance of you catching feelings, right?"

I don't dare answer. I can see the wheels turning in her head.

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