Page 38 of The CEO I Hate

She had a point. Why exactly did I care?

“Who said I care?” I growled. “I couldn’t give any less of a shit about?—”

“Oh, good,” she cut in, that sweet-as-poison tone back. “Then I’m sure you won’t mind hearing how he used to use his tongue to get me off in the co-ed showers.”

I bit down on the growl that surged up my throat. Mia sleeping with this guy—with any guy who wasn’t me—was the last thing I wanted to hear about. But the image of Mia, naked in the shower, her head thrown back, trying to stifle more of those delicious sounds…That was stirring up all sorts ofotherfeelings.

“You should stop talking,” I said, voice rough.

“Why?” Her lips curled into a smirk. “Am I bothering you? Making you uncomfortable?”

Tension coiled around us, the energy so charged a knife wouldn’t cut it. I needed to break through before it strangled me.

But Mia only pushed harder.

“Honestly,” Mia continued, running a slow, deliberate hand down her body as if mimicking his touch. “I don’t think I’ve ever come so hard in my?—”

Something inside me snapped.

I surged forward, taking her face in my hands, and kissed her, hard.

This time, there was no Jake to interrupt us. No excuses. No lies.

Just the two of us, mouths colliding, fire lighting up my blood. I couldn’t think of anything other than the pleasure rushing through me as I coaxed her lips open, sending my tongue to explore a wet heat I’d never been able to forget, even though I’d only tasted it once, two years ago. Fuck, two years, and she still tasted like sin and defiance and everything I shouldn’t want—but did.

Mia’s hands slowly wrapped around my waist. She tugged on my shirt like she intended to undress me right there. I kissed her harder, deeper, tasting every inch of her mouth, and I caught the tiny hum that escaped her lips. The intensity left my heart pounding, but just as her hands climbed up my chest, a single clear thought broke through the fog of lust.

Jake.

I broke away, horror and regret washing through me in equal measure. What the hell was I doing? How could I do this to Jake?

Mia blinked up at me, her eyes glassy. “Why did you stop?”

Why did I stop? Why had Istartedwas the better question. I knew that getting together with Mia wasn’t an option. Not if I wanted to keep Jake’s friendship intact. And right now, when his life had already turned upside down, I for damn sure wasn’t going to make him lose his best friend. Because if I started this again with Mia, if I let it go any further, Jake would never trust me again.

There was only one thing to do here.

I shook my head at Mia, watching her face break into confusion, and I rushed for the door, leaving her behind.

Standing there.

In the wreckage of yet another stupid decision.

13

MIA

The interior of the Scarlet Parlor—Sophie’s well-polished gem of a burlesque club—always smelled like a heady mix of jasmine and spirits. I sucked in a sharp breath of air as I let the door thump closed behind me.

“Hey, Mia!” one of the performers called from the stage.

I lifted my head in greeting, not really clocking who it was. Dimly lit chandeliers spilled soft amber light over plush velvet booth seats. Dark wood finishings and gold-plated vintage wall mirrors accented the deep red curtains that framed the stage. And across the room, a long mahogany bar ran the length of the wall.Thatwas exactly what I needed after today’s disaster with Liam.

God!

I ran my hands down my face. The sooner I could forget about that kiss, the better. Every horrible second of it needed to be burned from my mind. But even as I had that thought, a flutter in my gut betrayed me, and I groaned.

“Mm-hmm,” a voice sang. “I know that look.” Craig, a six-foot-three former ballet dancer turned burlesque performer waltzed by, shaking his head. “That’s boy troubles. They got you bad!”