Page 14 of Ink Wars

She’s quiet for a minute as her eyes bounce between mine and I allow the hard brick to press into my hands to stop myself from doing something that I’ll regret.

“I’ve never used my body to sell my art. You want to believe I do because it gives you a reason to think that’s why I’m always coming out on top. But the truth is, I’m better and you just need to accept that,” she says, smiling.

I laugh and pull away because her plump lips are like a fucking invitation to hell. “You aren’t better, but if it helps you sleep at night believing you are, have at it. Lucas Johnson might have been distracted by your tits tonight, but tomorrow you’ll be a distant memory.”

She pushes off the wall and runs her hands down her dress. The simple movement shouldn’t make my pulse race, but it does. This girl has no fucking idea how much I want to drag her back into my shop and fuck the anger out of us both. But it’ll never happen.

She’s forbidden fruit and I’m not fucking starving.

“Believe what you want, but when you see my design throughout Hollywood, don’t let the jealousy eat you alive.”

She starts to walk away and I grab her hand. Why? I don’t fucking know. Watching her leave alone on the busy streets of New York is dangerous and it momentarily makes me want to protect her. I quickly shake that thought aside as she pulls her soft, delicate hand out of mine.

“What the hell?”

“Call a cab, princess. You can’t honestly tell me that you’re going to be able to walk home in those heels,” I say, looking down at the insanely high heels.

Heels that I wouldn’t mind digging into my ass while I fuck her.

“I do it often, I’ll be fine. But thanks for showing the first sign of human compassion I’ve ever experienced from you,” she says, turning to walk away.

I should just let her go, let her twist an ankle, or worse fight off any man who sees her dressed like that. But I don’t. I hear my mother’s voice in my head telling me to be the gentleman she raised.

“Wait,” I say, groaning.

She sighs, throwing her hands out to her side. “What Corbin? I’m tired and I have a busy day tomorrow.”

“I’ll walk you home,” I say.

She laughs, shaking her head. “No thanks.”

“Come on, princess. I want to beat you fairly and if something bad happens you won’t be around to see my gloating,” I say, trying to hide a smirk.

She laughs and turns away from me. “You can walk behind me.”

This time I grin and light a cigarette as I follow her home.

A little stalker-like, but for the first time ever, I felt like she needed me to be more than an asshole.

We get to her building and when she opens the door, I turn to walk away.

“Hey, Corbin,” she yells.

I turn my head and she smiles, leaning against the door. “Showing me your human side twice in one night might kill your reputation of the biggest asshole alive.”

I chuckle and shrug. “Only in your dreams, princess.”

I walk away and rub the back of my neck as I head back to my shop. I did let her see a different side of me but what kind of guy lets a woman walk home alone? It doesn’t mean anything, just means I’m not the heartless prick she thinks I am.

Which is fine because when I win this competition, she might congratulate me.

Chapter 5

Leah

I toss the covers off of me and stare at the ceiling. I hate that I let Corbin get the best of me last night. My dinner with Lucas was spectacular. He loved what I designed and wouldn’t stop complimenting it. I’ve got this in the bag, I know that. But when Corbin had me pressed up against that wall, it was the most exciting thing that has happened to me in far too long. My body reacted to him in a way it shouldn’t, and I almost gave in when he followed me home. When I called his name, I was going to invite him in.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

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