Heroic Measures (Blackbridge Security 6)

“Parker, wait.”

My cock throbs with need, but it’s secondary to tending to her.

“Get up.”

She lets me help her back to her feet, but she can no longer look me in the eye. The tear that was pooling is quickly dashed away as it snakes down her face, and as if its removal gave her strength, her chin tilts up and her spine stiffens.

I already know she’s prepared to either fight or walk out of here without a word and no intention of ever setting eyes on me again. Tonight was the last class, so I know that’s a real possibility.

I refuse to chase after her if I’m not what she wants. It’s in that moment I realize just how deep I’ve gotten with her. It makes me take a step back because this was never my intention. I showed up at her place the first night because she’s gorgeous, the guys were taunting me, and something in my gut—or probably a handful of inches lower—urged me not to turn down the opportunity.

I wanted fun, and I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t want to do it over and over. Sex is magical and addictive, and after one taste, I was hooked, but I didn’t want this. I didn’t want her to have the ability to control my own emotions, to get upset because I hated seeing her upset.

“Do you want to switch places instead?” she asks, her hand running up my chest rather than completely giving up on the possibility that this still has the chance of us ending up tangled around each other.

“No.”

She swallows, another forceful removal of emotion. “I may be teaching you sex, but it’s clear you’ve already learned how to play hard to get.”

“I’m not playing, Parker. I want you, so fucking badly.”

“I can tell.”

I can’t stop the groan that escapes when she runs her hand down the hard length of my cock, the tip poking out past the waistband because she managed to get my jeans down a few inches before I stopped her.

“I’m not giving you consent to touch me,” I hiss, because fuck if she does, everything else is going to fly out the window. My cock is already trying to convince me that fucking her until she’s happy is the best way to go.

“No?” she asks, finally looking up to meet my eyes, teeth digging into her lower lip so seductively if I hadn’t read her mood when she first arrived, I would think everything was perfectly fine.

It’s the bid to manipulate me that makes me take a step back.

“No.”

Her eyes narrow, that lip getting released as she replaces desire with anger in the snap of a finger. She’s the damn devil. I see it in her eyes, and I’m the one fixing to get smote to within an inch of my life.

For some reason, my balls tighten because the lower half of my body has caught up with my brain to realize that this isn’t a good situation to be in. This isn’t playful banter and faux anger that’s going to lead to us fucking like bunnies until we’re both breathless and smiling.

No. This is going to hurt.

As that defiant chin goes back up, I have no clue if either one of us is going to survive it. What I do know is that after this, I’ll never see this woman again. That fact is almost enough to make me give in, wrap my arms around her, and use my entire body to change her mood.

I’m regretting not doing that when she takes a half step closer to me.

“Are you ready to talk?” I ask instead of backpedaling like nearly every cell in my body is begging me to do.

But she’s fixing to find out I’m just as damned stubborn as she is.

“I don’t need a boyfriend’s shoulder to cry on, Jude. You’re a fuck, nothing more. I came over because I needed a hard cock to ride. I should’ve never come. Somehow you’re good in bed, but even a couple of amazing orgasms isn’t enough for me to spill my guts.”

I swallow, allowing her to say her piece.

“I get it.”

“You do?” she asks, a little of her fire falling away as she looks up at me.

Is that still hope in her eyes?

“I’m not looking for anything more from you than what we’ve done. The sex is fun and amazing, and despite being the only experiences I’ve had, I know they’re going to stay some of the best for the rest of my life.” I swallow, wondering if I should just stop right there, since a little smile is playing on her lips. “That being said, I don’t mind being used for a good time. In fact, I want that, but using me to forget something else that’s bothering you, something you don’t feel comfortable confiding in me about? That’s a game changer. We may only be lovers, but I also feel like that should come with a certain level of friendship. If you can’t open your mouth to talk to me about something or someone that’s upset you, then I’m not interested in helping you forget. Getting used that way is no fun. Have a good night, Parker.”