Page 67 of Sweet Addiction
“I bet you don’t,” Mom laughs. “I’ve told your father I fell in love with him in his sweats.”
“Too much, Mom.” I’m not sure when she turned into an over-sharer, but eww.
She and Amelia whisper something between themselves as the hand resting on my hip squeezes, reminding me it’s there. It’s strong, and it’s probably all I’d need to relieve the ache I’ve had between my legs for hours.
My body is strung so tightly, I swear to God I don’t know the difference between anxiety, fear, and unquenchable need in this moment. Yet another thing that’s this man’s fault.
That same hand slides from my hip to the small of my bare back, and it takes every single ounce of strength and restraint in my body not to react to the jolt of electricity that singular touch sends skipping through my veins. With. One. Touch.
Our parents continue their conversation, but I don’t hear anything they say.
Or more accurately, I hear the words. The sound of their voices. But I don’t comprehend any of it. Don’t actively listen. I’m too busy concentrating on the feeling of rough fingers drawing circles against soft skin.
The way my core clenches.
My body heats.
The tease.
The touch.
The promise of more.
More that won’t come. Can’t come. Because this isn’t real. We’re playing a part.
Rome
Dillan steps out of my hold. A smile as sweet and fake as sugary syrup is plastered on her face, and she looks about five minutes from snapping.
Fuck.
“Come with me,principessa,” slips from my mouth before I can think better of it, and my mother sucks in a sharp, fucking audible breath I ignore as I take Dillan’s hand in mine.
Her eyes flash nearly green instead of her usual aqua as she tries and fails to tug out of my hold. “Where are you taking me?”
This woman... “You worried I’m adding kidnapping to my crimes?”
“Nope. Blackmail is enough.” Her face tightens, and she purses her lips like she just sucked on a lemon, but she doesn’t say anything else as I guide her through the bowels of the venue, not stopping until we’re tucked into a quiet, dimly lit corner.
Close but not touching. I’m not sure I trust myself to touch her now. “What the fuck is going on with you?”
“Excuse me?” Heat creeps up her body, engulfing her chest, then her face, as anger rises to the surface, thank fucking God. Angry Dillan is better than whatever the hell has been tripping her out tonight. “With me,” she gasps, sanctimonious outrage fueling her words.
“I swear to Christ, I don’t know what you’re thinking or how you’re feeling, and I’m pretty sure it changes based on thedirection of the damn wind, woman. So spit it out. What the hell is going on? What do you want?” I take another step into her space, my body tensing as she steps back. “Am I supposed to be protecting you? Hating you?” Another step from me, another slide back from her, trapping her against the wall. “Worried about you?” I lift a hand and trace the thin blue-silk strap resting over her shoulder, my finger slipping underneath, and lower my voice. “Fucking you?”
Her eyes glow, fucking glow, as her breathing stops, and both her small hands fly to my chest, stopping me and yet pulling me closer at the same time.
“This isn’t a joke, you psycho. I’m not a joke. I’m not some toy you can manipulate to fit your needs. I’m here because you forced me to be. You hold all the cards. You took away my choice. So don’t think I’m here because I want to be.” Her chest rises and falls rapidly with each heavy breath as her fists tighten in my shirt, pulling me closer.
“What do you want, princess?” I growl, my mouth hovering above hers, and my cock throbbing in my slacks with the kind of fucking need I’ve never known before.
A battle rages behind those violently aqua eyes, so much greener than I’ve ever seen them before, and I hold myself as still as stone. Waiting. Unwilling to move. Not unless she says it. Not unless she wants it. Wants me. Wants...us.
So. I. Wait.
“What I want...”—her tongue darts out and licks her pouty pink lips as she drops her hands from my shirt to my belt, and if it’s possible, I tense more—“is to hate you.”
She lifts her chin and smiles an almost evil smile.
