Page 71 of Sin With Me

I suck in my lower lip to keep myself from bursting. "Yeah...I've waited for the day you told me your feelings matched mine, and now, I don't wanna let the fear of what-ifs get in the way of seein' where things go. However..."

He exhales deeply. "I knew there'd be a but."

I laugh, and he does too.

"It's not a but, it's a...stipulation. I want us to go slow. My mind is still playin' mental gymnastics that this is even happenin' and it needs time to catch up. I've not been in a relationship in a long time, and I'm afraid of screwin' this up."

"Darlin', if anyone's gonna screw it up, it's gonna be me." He tilts up my chin, inching closer again. "But I promise to take things slow, whatever you need, okay? There's no need to rush."

"You don't mind?"

"Nope." He presses his lips to my cheek, then lowers his voice in my ear, "In fact, I won't even kiss you on the mouth until you beg for it."

"Wilder!" I playfully push him away. "That's unfair."

"Oh, did you think I was gonna play fair just because you finally admitted you've wanted me all along?" He flicks that fucking tongue piercing that makes me squeeze my thighs. "Because you made me suffer for nine years. It's onlyfairI return the favor."

"Is that how it's gonna be?" I taunt, crossing my arms and straightening my spine. "Because two can play that game. If anyone's gonna beg, it'll be you when I climb on top of you in my new lavender lace lingerie set."

"You broughtlingeriewith you to Vegas?" He arches a suspicious brow, inching closer before he realizes it and then pulls back.

He can thank Mattie for encouraging me to bring it, but I'm not admitting that.

"Mm-hmm. I dare you to try and keep your hands off me. In fact, you'll be the one crawlin' tome..."

His gaze falls down my chest, the tip of his tongue peeking out as he examines every inch of my body. Then he noticeably adjusts himself and my eyes shoot down to his groin,remembering the first time I saw hisspecialpiercings. I had to look it up and was nearly blinded by what I found.

I’m not a prude but it looks painful and not just for him.

"You're doin' a horrible job at convincin' me you won't be the one beggin'," I tell him once I unglue my eyes from his crotch.

"I've restrained myself for years..."

"And so have I," I remind him. "Without random hookups and one-night-stands."

Not sure if that makes me look good or that no one else wanted to have sex with me. But between traveling for the rodeo, training, and doing my job at Lacey’s, there wasn’t time for dating. A few men were interested that I entertained for half a second but I haven’t been serious with anyone since Waylon.

And isn’t that a humbling thought.

Wilder tilts my chin, bringing his face half an inch from my lips. "A hundred bucks says you'll still be the first one to crack."

"Since we're goin' to Vegas, let's make it interestin'," I counter, pulling back until his grip loosens.

"Alright, what do you propose?"

"Five hundred dollarsandthe loser has to admit defeat by beggin' for a kiss."

"Oh, darlin'...you'll be beggin' for more than that." He winks, smirking so hard, I think he believes he's actually going to win.

"We'll see about that..."

"So, what're the rules?"

"None...not like you'd follow them anyway," I quip, then take a long sip of my iced coffee to cool the sudden heat in my cheeks.

He feigns innocence with a playful scoff. "I only break the stupid ones."

"You can't afford to breakanyof them. You're lucky your dad and PO allowed you to leave the state as it is."