He grabs both my shoulders. He gazes into my eyes, his own burning hot. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, Skye. I want you in my bed. What’s it going to take?”
“I—I can’t be bought.” Though I’m thinking, at this moment, maybe I can be. And that scares the hell out of me.
“I’m not trying to buy you. I am trying to bed you.”
I resist the urge to bite my lower lip. “You just want sex, then? Not a date?”
He gives a half-hearted shrug. “We can go out on dates if you want. If that’s what it takes for you to feel comfortable coming back to my bed. But it will be simply dating. I can’t give you any more than that.”
“Why not?” I ask boldly, not at all sure that I’m ready for an answer.
“Because I can’t.”
I narrow my eyes. “Nice try. But I’m looking for a reason, Braden. I’m twenty-four years old. I’m young, and maybe a purely sexual relationship would be fun. A day will come, though, when it won’t be enough for me.”
“If that day isn’t here yet, why not come back to my bed?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Care to enlighten me?”
Because you fucked me and then kicked me out of your bed like the douchebag you are. The words catch in my throat. Why should it matter that he kicked me out? Maybe I’d do the same if we were at my place.
Except I wouldn’t. That’s not me. I’m not cruel.
I wet my lips. “I’m not interested in being your fuck buddy.”
Not the real reason, and part of me—that aching part between my legs—is very interested in being his fuck buddy. Another part of me—that intelligent part between my ears—is decidedly not interested.
“What will it take to get you back into my bed, then? I told you we could date.”
“Tell me why it can’t lead anywhere.”
He shrugs once more. “I can’t give you a reason.”
“You mean you won’t.”
“Stickler for semantics, are you?”
I nod.
“Then you’re correct. I won’t.”
I’ve trapped myself now. I’m curious, but if he continues to refuse to give me his reason, I have to tell him no.
Huge problem with that: I don’t want to tell him no. Or at least I don’t want to tell his dick no. Not until he apologizes for being such a douche that first night.
My body is already throbbing in anticipation of being in Braden’s bed again, under him, his beautiful body tantalizing mine and bringing me to the ultimate finish.
I can’t say yes, though. I just can’t. It’s…wrong.
Even though it feels so right.
What to say, then?
“I… I’ll…think about it.”
He crushes me to his body, his erection apparent. He presses it into my belly. “This isn’t a game, Skye.”
“I never said it was.”
“There’s nothing to think about.”
“There’s a lot to think about. I’m not someone’s toy, Braden. I have some self-respect, you know.”
“Of course you do. Do you honestly think I’d want to bed a woman who has no self-respect?”
Okay. Didn’t see that one coming. Certainly not after the way he invited me to leave his bed. I actually steady myself, as if he were trying to knock me over.
“Honestly,” I say, “I don’t know what to think.”
“Think about this.” He cups both my cheeks and smashes his lips to mine.
I open without thinking, letting my tongue wander out to meet his. The kiss drugs me. Every part of my body responds, and the blood in my veins turns to boiling lava.
I care about nothing but this kiss—this kiss and how it makes me feel.
Already I’m feeling more than I did in bed with toys and porn. All I need is Braden’s touch, and I’m halfway to climax.
Am I willing to give this up when he so obviously wants me?
I can have him in bed. I can have orgasms galore.
The only price is…no future. No relationship.
I’m young. I have time. Kids? Yeah, I want kids, but I don’t need them yet. Can’t afford them yet anyway.
Self-respect?
Does going back to him after the way he unceremoniously kicked me out of bed last time negate my self-respect?
No. Not if it’s my choice. At the moment, my mind is muddled. I can’t think straight. All I want is Braden’s hands on my body, his lips exploring mine, his cock inside me again, bringing me to the precipice…
I deepen the kiss, groaning into his mouth, pushing my breasts into his chest. My nipples are so hard I almost think he can feel them poking him. I rise on my toes and rub my clit against his bulge. I surrender to his kiss, to everything about him—
He pulls away, breaking the kiss with a loud smack.
I fall back against the desk, gripping the edge to keep from stumbling.
“I want you. You do something to me, something I don’t quite understand but want to.” His blue gaze sears into mine. “Don’t think too long.”