Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 92070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
"Sex with someone you love?"
"Yeah." I don't say it directly.
She doesn't either. "Everything is new for me after that… and I want to re-experience it all. And try new things. I don't want to wait, but I… I'll try to be more honest with myself about where I am." She swallows hard. "I still need to lead."
"It's not a problem, you know."
"I know." She looks up at me. "But I want to get there too… to a ten."
"The mafia boss?"
"Why the fuck not?"
"Illustrate the scenario," I say.
"Right now?"
"Do you need another sangria first?" I ask.
"You won't tell me to stay sober?"
"No." I try the drink. It tastes like too many parties where I was too ready to get fucked up. It tastes like someone I don't want to be. I don't like it. I fucking hate it. "I want something else."
"Too strong?"
"Not my thing." I try one more sip. I still hate it. "If you want another one, it's on me, but I won't fuck you if you're drunk."
"What if you're drunk too?"
"Are you trying to take advantage of me?"
"Is that one of your scenarios?" she asks.
"Might be, yeah." I stand and leave the martini glass on an empty table. "You want something?"
"A gin tonic."
"Me too. They're the perfect mix of bitter and sweet."
She looks at me funny, but she doesn't say anything. She checks something on her phone as I order the next round.
The bartender is fast, again. And this time, when I return, Val's posture is soft, inviting.
She's settling into this, to us.
I can get there too. I can trust her to share.
She smiles as I slide into the seat.
"You know the best thing about these?" I take a long sip and let out a groan of pleasure. "The ice."
She laughs. "It is hard to come by."
"And I can do this." I pop a cube and run it over her collarbone.
She shudders. "Is that a bribe?"
"I want to hear about the fantasy mob boss."
She blushes as she meets my gaze. "It's embarrassing."
"It's sexy."
"Is it?"
"See for yourself." I motion downward.
Her eyes go wide. "Oh. Really? From that?"
"Yeah, from that." I offer my hand. When she takes it, I guide her, slowly, to where I want her.
She takes over as she presses her palm against me, over my jeans.
"Keep talking."
"But this…" She runs her thumb over me. "What if I want to do this?"
"Too bad."
She pouts, and the tension fades from the air.
She's still Val, and I'm still Dare, and I still trust her more than anything.
"Maybe," I say. "But only after you tell me about this scenario. With lurid detail."
Chapter Thirty-Seven
DARE
"Can that last indefinitely?" Val blushes as she presses her palm against me.
"You trying to kill me, vixen?"
"Should I have mercy?" She pulls her hand away.
I keep it there. "Never."
She looks down at my grip, studying it, deciding how she feels about it. She must decide she likes it because she moves closer. "Should I torture you like this?" She runs her thumb over me again. "The whole time we talk?"
"Might come in my jeans, but yeah."
"Really?"
"Or die of blue balls," I say. "One of the two."
"You always said blue balls were bullshit."
"Bullshit if a guy is trying to guilt you into shit," I say. "The pain is real."
"But you want the pain?"
"I want you, but—" I take her hand and move to my thigh. "No fantasy, no fun."
She pouts in a way that's both adorable and sexy as sin.
I bring my hand to her cheek and pull her into a soft, slow kiss.
She presses her lips against me gently, then she moves harder, faster. Her lips part, her tongue slips into my mouth, dances with mine, demands more from me.
My blood rushes south.
My thoughts scatter.
I need her here. I need her everywhere.
But I need to stay in control of myself too. So I don't hurt her again.
I pull back with a sigh. "I'm waiting.”
"Are you sure I can't convince you to share first?" She slides her hand up my thigh. "I'm getting good at this."
"Vixen, you have no idea how long I can wait."
She takes a long sip. "Does it have to be the mafia scenario?"
"Do you have another?"
"Sorta." Her cheeks flush. "It's just… it's stupid."
"Vixen, don't make me take your hand again."
"Still?"
"Five, four, three—"
"Okay, okay." She interlaces her fingers with mine instead. "Promise not to laugh?"
"Always."
"Well, I guess it got in my head after one of those Inked Love parties. I think Daisy and Luna were talking about BookTok, about some sexy mafia book they were sharing, and how the hero treated the heroine like a gift. It was disgusting how he objectified her, to their intellectual minds, but this other part of them thought it was really hot."
"And you?"
"I started thinking about it." She blushes and looks aside. "Intellectually, at first. There is something fucked up about being traded to a mob boss. But there's also something appealing about the idea of being so sexy, a mob boss will call off a hit to have you."