Page 104 of The Bad Boy Rule

I specifically have plans for those later.

“Your ass isn’t showing. If it was, I’d have to fight before I even got inside the door, baby.” I lower my lips to her ear. “I just can’t stop thinking about all of the things I’m going to do to you later while you wear those heels.”

There’s an audible gasp when her breath hitches, and I pull back, staring down at her. Her green eyes flare behind dark, thick lashes, and her lips tilt into a coy smile.

“You know, it’s funny that you say that because I’ve been thinking about what we could do with this.” Her fingers wrap around the black tie on my neck, and she pulls my lips down to hers, sighing when I kiss her.

I have no idea why the fuck she chose me, but I think I might be the luckiest motherfucker on this planet that she did.

When she pulls back, a giggle spills free. “I forgot about the lipstick.” She lifts her thumb and drags it along my bottom lip, wiping it away. “I don’t think I can get it all off, but it’ll be okay.”

Yeah, baby, mark me.

I want to say it out loud, but if I do… we might not make it inside at all, despite standing outside the venue for the last fifteen minutes.

“Let’s go, Golden Girl. Before I change my mind.” I grab her hand, threading my fingers in hers.

We walk through the entrance hand in hand, and I can’t stop thinking about how different shit is compared to the last event I attended with her.

How much has changed in such a short period of time.

The girl by my side is who I thought would be perfect for my revenge, but she really ended up being the thing I needed to see the truth.

If it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure I ever would have. I’ve been too blinded by hurt and rage to even consider how fucking stupid and vindictive my plan was. One I know now I could have never followed through on.

The misplaced anger. Projecting my pain onto someone innocent.

My Golden Girl doesn’t deserve to answer for her father’s misdeeds.

I have no doubt that her father will have his day of judgment. The day he’ll pay for all the fucked-up shit he’s done, but it won’t be from me.

I’m done giving both him and my own father the power to control me. My emotions. My life. I refuse to let the anger and pain they’ve caused make meanythinglike them.

Fuck that, and fuck them.

“God, I forgot how much I hate being around these people,” she whispers when we walk into the ballroom, her fingers tightening in mine. “The only genuine thing in here is their greed.”

I nod but remain quiet.

I want these realizations to be her own, not tainted by my own disgust. It’s not a secret that I can’t fucking stand any of this, but telling her isn’t going to help anything.

The arrangement we once had isn’t a deal anymore. We might not have put a label on things, but what we’re feeling? It’s real.

We’re real.

That doesn’t change the fact that Lennon is still trying to prove something to her father. That she’s making her own choices, her own decisions.

And I’m her choice. For real this time. Not fake.

So, the reason I’m here tonight isn’t to fuck with her father. I’m here forher. To support her. To stand by her side while she does the bravest thing she’s ever done. To show her I’m not going anywhere, even if I hate this is the life she used to live.

“I need to go to the bathroom before we go to the table,” Lennon says. “Come with me?”

I nod and place a quick kiss onto her hand.

She leads me out of the ballroom, leaving behind the buzz of people talking and glasses clinking as we make our way toward the end of a dim hallway, where there’s a restroom sign.

But before we make it there, she stops and turns toward me abruptly, then pushes me against the wall. Slipping her arms around my neck, she lifts on her toes to press a chaste kiss to the corner of my lips. “I just… needed that. It’s been too long.”

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