Page 123 of Boss of Me

His eyes narrow to razor-thin slits. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What am I to you, Gunner?” I demand. “Am I just your plaything? A pretty little toy to amuse yourself with until something younger and hotter comes along?”

He scowls fiercely. “You’re talking crazy.”

“Am I?”

“Yes,” he grinds out. “You are.”

“So what’re we doing here?” I gesture between the two of us. “You don’t want to define our relationship, yet you demand exclusivity. You can’t have it both ways.”

“I’m not trying to have it both ways.”

“You totally are,” I hiss, jabbing my finger in his chest.

With a low growl, he grabs my hand and yanks me toward him.

I suck in a shaky breath. “Look?—”

He bends his head and takes my mouth. Hard. Angry. Possessive.

A broken moan escapes me as his tongue separates my lips and sweeps boldly inside. My fingers curl into his shirtfront as he strokes every corner of my mouth, velvet lashes of scorching pleasure that threaten to consume me.

I’m trembling against him, my senses reeling from the demanding ownership in his kiss. When he grabs a handful of my ass and lifts me into his body, I finally summon the strength to wrench away from him, gasping.

He stares down at me, his eyes a little wild. “Marlowe?—”

“Please don’t,” I say, voice cracking.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t manipulate me with sex. Not when I’m trying to have an honest conversation with you.”

“Dammit, Marlowe, what do you want from me?” he growls, holding my head between his hands. “We’re two adults enjoying a mutually satisfying relationship. We don’t need cutesy labels to broadcast our relationship status on social media. If that’s what you’re looking for, I suggest you grow the fuck up.”

His words slice through my heart like a knife. I shove away from him, tears scalding my eyes.

Frustration tightens his jaw. “Baby?—”

I hold up a shaking hand. “I had an amazing time this weekend, and I truly thank you for that. But it’s probably best that we keep things platonic from now on.”

“Are you fucking serious?” he snarls, gorgeously furious. “There’s nothing platonic about us, never has been. From the moment we met, we wanted to fuck each other with a desperation I’ve never felt before. We couldn’t be platonic if our lives depended on it.”

My heart pounds in my throat, but I manage to keep my voice steady. “Sleeping with you wasn’t something I took lightly. It meant everything to me. But it’s not enough, Gunner. I’m all in, and I need to know you feel the same. But if all you wantis a casual fling, let me know now so we can stop wasting each other’s time.”

He shakes his head at me, his jaw clenched tight. The last woman who gave him an ultimatum ended up alone and heartbroken. I’m probably headed for the same fate.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he says in a stony voice.

“Better now than later.” Turning away before he sees the tears in my eyes, I hurry up the steps and let myself into the house.

When he doesn’t follow, I continue upstairs to my room and lock myself inside. Only then do I start crying.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

gunner

Austin country club is the city’smost exclusive private club, located on the banks of Lake Austin with a view of the iconic Pennybacker Bridge.