Page 69 of Learn Your Lesson

“Yep. Isn’t that evident by my Friday night plans?” Again, I gestured to my surroundings. “I hear you, okay? No relationship. No friendship. Just sex.”

Anticipation surged through me as he grew quiet, as the questions died out, as that three-letter-word hung between us and dripped with temptation.

“You’re sure you can do this?” he asked, voice raw and restrained.

I prayed my giddiness wasn’t showing, that he couldn’t see how every inch of my being was on fire at the possibility of what could happen when I said yes.

“One-hundred-percent positive.”

Will’s eyes flicked between mine, searching for cracks, for any sign that I was lying.

I held my expression stone cold and unaffected, cocking a brow in a daring tease.

I could do this. I could be sexy. I could be a teasing, alluring goddess.

Because I finally had my answer.

This.

This was exactly what I wanted, what Ineeded, what I could handle.

There was no risk of falling in love. There was no risk of letting a man into my heart only to have him shatter it and leave me broken. There was no risk of disappointing my matriarchy, of following in their footsteps when they’d spent my whole life warning me against it.

I could keep my job, keep the money, keep the security.

Keep thepower.

And yet, in the same breath, I could have what I’d always wanted.

I could feel what it was to be desired, to be touched and tasted by a real man. Those scenes I’d read in books and magazines, the passion I’d watched play out on television screens…

I could know what it was, even if just for the briefest moment of time.

It was the best of both worlds, and I saw that same realization dawning on Will’s face as he slowly stood, making his way around the table to tower over me.

My neck ached as I looked up at him, and his eyes roved over my throat, my collarbone, down to the gaping neckline of my camisole before he dragged his gaze back up to mine. One thick, long finger reached out, tracing the edge of my jaw as his breathing intensified.

“Tell me again that you can do this,” he husked, and it was both a plea and a last-ditch effort to get me to change my mind. I felt the doubt warring through him, saw how he was tortured both by the thought of walking away from me right now and by walking into a situation that would ruin us.

I pushed into his hand, intohimas I stood, chin lifted, chest pressing against the bottom of his, eyes locked and sure.

His hand slid to my neck and his fingers curled around it, like he was ready to stop me and throw me off him if he had to.

Or like he was ready to grip and squeeze and control andown.

“I. Can. Do. This,” I breathed, punctuating each word by pressing more into his touch.

He let out a shaky exhale, jaw clicking with reserve.

That hand around my throat tightened with just enough pressure to make me moan.

The sound unleashed us both.

And with my blood pumping and heart galloping out of control, Will nudged his thigh between mine and rocked me into the table with enough pressure to bruise where the glass hit my lower back.

I inhaled a gasp at the feel of that thick, hot thigh right where I needed pressure, and Will ran his hand down the front of me, roughly palming my left breast before both his hands gripped my ass and rolled me against him.

My legs shook, another pathetic moan ripping from my throat.