Page 53 of Dirty Play

“Stop, Rowan,” she says breathlessly, her voice shaky. “We can’t…Please, I shouldn’t.” She shakes her head before she hurries down the hallway, her heels clicking against the floor.

I stay where I am, watching her disappear, my lips tingling from the kiss, and my body thrumming with pent-up energy.

She can run, but sooner or later, I’ll catch her.

And once I do…

The car glides through the quiet streets of Los Angeles, but my mind is nowhere near the road.

It’s on her.

Livia Moody. The one woman I can’t stop wanting.

I didn’t offer her a ride tonight. The entrance was full of reporters, and I couldn’t risk them seeing her get in the car with me. I don’t want the tabloids spinning stories about her.

I know that was the plan, but plans change. And I’d rather eat broken glass than do anything that would harm Livia.

I can’t stop thinking about the way her lips felt against mine, the way her breath hitched when I touched her. The way she looked at me like she wanted to hate me but couldn’t. The way she bit my damn lip, pulling me closer by my hair.

I catch myself grinning, my bottom lip still swollen where she sank her teeth into it.Fuck it.

“Sam, turn the car around,” I snap.

“Sir?” My driver glances at me in the rearview mirror, his brow furrowed.

“Ms. Moody’s house,” I say, my voice leaving no room for argument. “Take me there.”

He hesitates, his professionalism warring with whatever warning bells are going off in his head. But I’m not in the mood to explain myself. I’ve made up my mind.

The car turns, and the low hum of the engine is the only sound as we head toward her place. I sit back, tapping my fingers against my knee, trying to calm the storm raging inside me.

I shouldn’t do this. There’s usually paparazzi tailing me after events like these. But when it comes to her, logic and reason don’t exist.

By the time we pull up in front of her house, I’m out of the car before Sam even puts it in park.

“Don’t wait. I’ll call if I need a ride,” I tell him, striding toward her door without looking back. I glance around to see if any other cars have followed us, relieved to find none.

Her porch light is on, a soft yellow glow spilling onto the steps. My heart pounds harder with every step I take, my pulse echoing in my ears.

I ring the doorbell, the sound sharp and loud in the quiet night.

For a moment, there’s nothing. No movement, no sound. Then I hear footsteps, quick and light, and the door swings open.

She stands there, still in that red dress that’s been driving me insane all night. Her hair is a little messy now, like she’s been running her hands through it, and her eyes widen when she sees me.

“Rowan,” she breathes, her mouth hanging open. “What the hell are you doing here?”

I push the door open all the way, step inside, and close it behind me, the lock clicking into place. Livia steps back, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The shock in her expression is replaced by what I’ve been dying to see all night. Anticipation.

I stalk over to her, pleased when she doesn’t back away from me until I’m standing right in front of her small frame. There’s no one to see us, no one to hear us, no one to hide from. And I want to see all of her.

I slide my right hand up her bare arm, watching as she sucks in a breath, her breasts pushing against her red dress. I can see her nipples poking out from under the fabric, hard and no doubt sensitive.

I move my hand up her shoulder and neck, gently taking her chin between my fingers. She blinks up at me, her eyes unable to decide whether to focus on me or my lips. I decide for her, leaning down to capture her soft lips with mine. The moment my mouth makes contact with hers, the rest of the world disappears. I lick her bottom lip in a silent command, growling in approval as she parts her lips, letting me in. My tongue clashes with hers as her hands slide up my chest to cup my face, her kiss becoming deeper, rougher.

My hand slides to the back of her head, gently tugging at her hair until her lips leave mine. I tug harder, forcing her head back and exposing her neck to me. She lets out a small whimper as I lean down to graze the sensitive skin below her ear.

“I came to finish what I started,” I murmur, my lips sliding down her neck. “And this time,” I bite the skin under her jaw, earning me another whimper, “there’s nowhere to run.”

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