Page 73 of Filthy Rich Temptation

‘So… it went well then?’ His question tugs me out of my lustful stupor. ‘With Taylor?’

‘Yeah.’ I cool my mouth off with more water, downing a swig. ‘So well, she asked me to move in with her.’

‘Shedid?’

I give a slow nod, trying to gauge the sudden pitch to his voice.

‘What did you say?’

I hold his gaze and tell him the full truth, ‘I said that Lottie and I are settled here. That it didn’t feel right to uproot her again just yet.’

He stares back at me, his gaze impossible to read.

‘Unless…’ I hesitate, my thoughts drifting inevitably to Katie. His ex. The woman he’d loved enough to propose to… but couldn’t live with. ‘Unless you want us to go? I know you said we could stay for the summer, but now that you’ve lived with us, I’d understand if you’ve changed your mind. And now that Taylor’s offering…’

I leave the rest hanging, breath held, heart tapping against my ribs.

His eyes stay fixed on mine, his silence stretching until I can’t take it any more. ‘Theo?’

‘I want you to do whatever’s best for you and Lottie… whatever will make you both happy.’

I bite back a curse, because of course he’d say that. It’s noble. Maddening. Unbearably sweet. But two can play that game.

‘And what about you, Theo? What’s best for you? What will makeyouhappy?’

I set my drink down harder than I mean to, and he’s before me in a flash – his palm hot against my hip, like he thinks that’ll steady me. But it’s not my body that’s off kilter. It’s my heart.

I blink up at him, breath snagging in my throat as I search his eyes that give away so much and yet, not enough.

‘Let’s get you to bed,’ he says, voice rough, hand gentle as it slides into the curve of my lower back, sending a heated shiver up my spine.

‘No.’ I plant my feet, forcing him to stop. ‘It’s not bed that I want.’

Our eyes collide, the air locked and loaded as I turn into him.

‘It’s you, Theo. I wantyou.’

His green eyes flare, fire catching.

‘And I think you want me too.’

‘Sadie…’

Heat pours off his tensed-up body like a furnace, and I press closer, willing it to burn.

‘I’m done being the quiet one. The obedient one.’ My heart thunders as I hold his gaze. ‘The girl who swallows her voice and pretends her desires don’t exist.’ I wet my lips, and his own part in response – slow, involuntary, utterly magnetic.‘You wanted me to take my life back. This is me taking it. This is me choosing what I want.’

‘This isn’t what I meant,’ he rasps.

I smile, just a little. ‘I know. But don’t look so panicked. I’m not asking you for forever. I’m asking for you–right here, right now.’ Then softer, ‘I’m asking you to make me forget how it was and make me see stars, because heaven knows, Danny never did.’

His jaw locks, eyes sparking with fury at the mention of Danny. But I’m not trying to manipulate him. I just need him to understand, to see what it’s been like for me… and how different it could be with someone like him. Someone kind. Considerate. Someone who would value my pleasure just as much. If not more.

‘He was selfish,’ I murmur, raising my hand to his chest, feeling his hot, hard heat flex beneath my touch. ‘It was always about him: his needs, his gratification.’ I trail my fingertips down his front. ‘But you… you’re not like that.’ I reach the tip of his waistband. ‘Are you?’

His hand clamps around my wrist, tight, trembling, his breath turning shallow.

‘Don’t, Sadie,’ he warns. ‘You don’t know what you’re asking for.’