Page 296 of The First Taste

At some point in our scuffle, her hair grew slightly disheveled. She moves to smooth it out, fanning it out across her shoulders.

My fingers clench; the feeling of the silky copper strands is imprinted on them.

"We can’t do it like this," she says, looking shaken. "We can’t get comfortable with each other, I mean. It won’t work."

Wiping at my mouth, I drag in a stuttered breath. "Yes, we can."

"No!" Her eyes gleam as she stares at me. "I don’t think so."

"Listen to me." I flick my fingers out, beckoning her closer. "You are the mouthiest, most stuck-up, most stubborn girl I’ve ever met. But for some reason, I find it arousing when you surrender to me. And I think you like it when I take control." I scan her face. "You want me to dominate you. Am I right, darling girl?"

"No," Talia says, her voice coming out in a breathy whisper. "I don’t want you. I hate you."

"You might hate my personality. But you want me. You long for someone to show you how to be a good girl. Even now, as we stand here, your pussy is wet for me. I can tell."

Her breath leaves her in a scoff. She crosses her arms and rolls her eyes. The fragile moment between us passes, slipping away in that half a breath.

"I don’t know what you want from me, Dare."

With that, she turns and flees the room, leaving me feeling more than a little foolish. Did I just imagine the flicker of attraction that flowed and sparked between us when I kissed her?

I think not. But Talia obviously feels differently about it.

I adjust my cock in my trousers and stare at the empty hallway she disappeared down, debating whether I should give her the night off and try again tomorrow.

I will not give up over one little misstep. Talia and I will emerge from this weekend seeming as if we have been lovers for ages. I’ve decided that it will happen…

Regardless of whether she likes it or not.

Twenty-Four

Dare

Ifind Talia in the darkened kitchen a little later. She looks up as I enter the room, and her brow puckers, but she doesn’t say anything.

I beckon her with two fingers, demanding rather than asking. "Follow me."

I walk down the narrow, dark hallway into the sunroom. I don’t wait for her. I take a seat on the first wicker couch I see, turning toward the door and crossing my legs.

When Talia appears at the door, she pauses. I look her up and down and jerk my head into the room. "Come here."

My tone leaves no room for argument.

She hesitates for several seconds, and I make myself wait, although I just want to jump up and grab her. But I need her to come to me this time. If she doesn’t, I will have to rethink this whole fake relationship.

Running my tongue over my teeth, I give her a cool smile. "Talia, don’t make me have to threaten your well-being. You wanted my money. You got it. So now you have to follow through on the deal. You must make people believe that you’re in love with me. I brought you here for that specific reason: so that we have the chance to get acquainted before we spend the rest of our lives together. But if you don’t want that, say so now. I can have my lawyers reverse the wire transfer, and you can go back to Harwicke."

She flinches as though I have threatened to hit her. Part of me feels bad, but I have to be determined, so that I win this little game between the two of us and I can inherit billions. She is merely a pawn in the Morgans' game of life-or-death chess.

There is no more time to deal with Talia gently.

"It’s either yes or no, right now."

She takes a timid step into the sunroom, and I let out a silent sigh of relief. I hold out my hand, expectant.

Talia licks her lips and approaches me, running her hands down her new dress.

She takes the hand I’ve offered and sucks in a deep breath. Then she sits beside me on the couch, looking up at me as she hikes her knee up over mine. Sinking against my body, she makes herself comfortable. The whole time, Talia’s gaze never leaves mine for a second.