Page 321 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

He stepped forward and I stepped back. But I had nowhere to go. My butt collided with the vanity.

“Take the jacket off. Now.”

“Take it off yourself.” I had no idea why I said that. I meant it to be a retaliation, but I was very aware of the fact that I’d just asked him to strip me.

The anger in his eyes was suddenly replaced by something else. I swallowed hard. He was looking at me like he wanted to devour me.

I cleared my throat. “I meant…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence because he grabbed the back of my head and slammed a kiss onto my lips. His kiss was hard and frantic. Like he really did want to devour me.

And I kissed him back. I didn’t know how not to. It was so easy to get wrapped up in everything Matthew Caldwell. And I wasn’t sure I was capable of keeping my hands to myself anymore. My fingers wandered into his wet hair, pulling him closer.

He groaned into my mouth as he shoved the jacket off my shoulders. I didn’t need the jacket when his hands were on me. His fingertips felt like fire on my skin. He groaned again and I was very aware of the fact that the kiss was even more smoldering than his touch. He lifted me up onto the vanity andmy thighs slid around his waist. It was like my body had a mind of its own.

“Nothing?” he asked, as he pulled away. “You don’t look at me like our kisses mean nothing.” His chest rose and fell as he caught his breath. “You’re looking at me like you want to kiss me again right now.”

My fingers were still buried in his hair. I quickly pulled them away. “I most definitely do not want to kiss you.”Idiotic. Stupid.I had just kissed him. I had no rebuttal. Especially because he was right. I could stay right here in the bathroom until 8 o’clock with him and be perfectly content. But that wasn’t an option. Because I hated him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” I tried to slide off the counter, but his hand caught my hip.

“This is about the pictures, right? I know you saw them.”

I rolled my eyes and tried to get past him.

His fingers tightened on my hip, keeping me firmly locked in place. “It’s not what you think.”

“And how the hell could you possibly know what I’m thinking? You know nothing about me.”

“I know that you’re the only one that calls me out on my shit.”

“Well, someone has to.”

“And I know your mom passed away a couple months ago. I can’t even imagine how much that hurts.”

It hurt like hell.

“And I know that you never met your father. And you put on a brave face, but I see your pain, Brooklyn. I see it.”

I felt tears prickling the corners of my eyes. There was no way I was going to cry in front of him. “You don’t know me.” All he knew was how to kiss me when I didn’t want him to.

“I know your face lights up when you see me. It’s the only time when you don’t look sad.”

“That’s not true.” Was it true?

“I’m addicted to that look. Like I’m the only one that can make you happy.” He lightly touched my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “The only one.”

I swallowed hard.

“I know I’ve been an ass. All I’m asking is that you hear me out.” He leaned forward so our lips were only an inch apart.

I could smell his body wash. The sweet smell was making me dizzy. But I wasn’t dizzy enough to forgive him. Or believe him. “I’ve been waiting to hear you out for weeks. I don’t care what excuse comes out of your mouth. I’m seeing someone else. And if you don’t let me out of this bathroom in five seconds I’m going to scream bloody murder.” I was trying to be strong, but I was pretty sure I was whispering.

“Isabella’s blackmailing me. And I’ve been trying to turn the tables on her. I’m trying my best here.”

That was not at all what I thought he was going to say. But as surprising as it was, I knew it was bullshit. “You expect me to believe that? I know you’re sleeping with her.”

“What? No. No,” he said more firmly. “Remember what I told you when we first met? She’s toxic. Her whole family is. I would never. Ever. Sleep with Isabella Pruitt.”

“Even if she was blackmailing you?”