Page 73 of His to Burn

Instead, he stepped away. Started methodically adjusting his pants, eyes still locked on me like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to bolt or devour me all over again.

I dropped my gaze, swallowing hard. My entire body felt raw, nerves sparking from every tiny brush of air. I was painfully aware of how empty I was without him.

What the fuck did that say about me?

EIGHTEEN

Asia

“You don’t have to go,”I whispered when he walked away.

Ugh. Shut the fuck up, Asia!

I slammed my mouth closed, refusing to say anything else that might make me look more pathetic than I already felt.

“I’m not,” Jackson said.

I watched as he continued, his back strong, muscled, and delectable-looking.

He returned with one of the judge’s absurdly expensive washcloths in his hand. I almost melted again when he gently wiped hiscum off my thighs, his touch unexpectedly tender.

When he finished, he returned to the bathroom, and I scrambled to dress. No way was I having whatever conversation was sure to come with no panties on.

Jack did the same, though his black sweatpants pulled my thoughts back to dangerous places.

Like he had since the very first time I saw him, Jack met my eyes. “That was reckless,” he said.

My anger was instantaneous, sharp, and hot. I fought to keep my voice level. “If you’re about to lecture me, don’t,” I said, my voice wobbly in a way that made me want to scream.

Oh, I fucking hated this.

Vulnerability was against my religion.

Admitting it was a cardinal fucking sin.

Another horrible thought occurred to me. “And I swear, if you apologize…”

Jack did the most unexpected thing.

He gave me a full, beautiful smile. Then he laughed—laughed—the smoky, rich sound doing all kinds of things to my stomach.

I should have been offended, but Isomehow knew he wasn’t laughing at me. “I’m not about to lecture you, Asia. And what would I apologize for?”

I scoffed, my anger dropping to annoyance, mostly at myself. “You know the usual bullshit. You got caught in the moment. It doesn’t mean anything. It can’t happen again…”

“Most of that’s true. No point in spelling it out,” he said.

“Most?”

“Yeah most. Because it can definitely happen again. I hope it does. But we’re not doing the self-flagellation and weird apology thing. We’re adults. We’re in a fucking nightmarish situation. Something happened, and it was something that both of us wanted. Doesn’t need to be more.”

He went quiet for a moment, then continued.

“It can’t be more,” he said softly.

It was the truth, but I could probably have gone for lies.

No, that wasn’t true. Better to know where I stood—and where I didn’t, than do something stupid like get attached.