“No. I never told him I loved him.”
“You betrayed no one, Elana.”
“What about you?” I whisper and he lets go of my chin as though it’s too hot to hold.
“Me? What about me.”
“You think I didn’t see you watching me? That I didn’t know you kept tabs on me, even when my brothers didn’t tell you to?”
His jaw tenses.
“Are you going to lie to me and say you weren’t?”
“No. I won’t deny it.”
“You work for my brothers. Nothing can ever happen between us, and I knew it. I thought if I found someone else…” I sigh. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“You thought if you found someone else you could forget me?” He rests his hands on my thighs. The warmth of him radiates through my leggings, straight to the very core of me.
He slides his hands up my thighs, to the hem of my sweatshirt.
“It matters. Tell me.” He glides under my shirt, his warm touch sending shivers through me.
“Tell you what?” I’m barely able to breathe, let alone keep track of our conversation. And it’s his fault because he’s cupping my breast.
After my shower, I decided against the constraints of a bra today, opting to put on an oversized sweatshirt. My choice of comfort has given him direct access to my body.
He pinches a nipple.
“Tell me you were trying to forget about me. Tell me it was me in your thoughts when you put your head down to sleep at night. Tell me it’s me you think of when you slide your hand between your thighs and touch your pussy. Tell me.”
The whole truth would be to tell him that even when Tony was touching me, fumbling around my body as though he had any idea of what he was doing, it was Artem that crossed my mind. It took herculean strength to push him from my thoughts.
Artem twists my nipple. Lightening hot pain streaks through my body.
“Tell me, Babygirl. You’ve been so good today… Let me give you your reward. But first you need to be honest with me.”
When I lower my gaze, he knuckles my chin to bring our eyes back in line.
“Last chance.” He twists a little more, and I arch my body. Craving more and less at the same time.
The brain is a fucked-up organ.
I grip the arms of my chair and bring my gaze directly in line with his.
“It was you.” I hiss when he pulls my nipple toward him. “For a long time, it’s been you.”
“Good girl.” He licks at his lips and releases me.
A new pain, white hot, rushes my nipple, and I whine.
He reaches for me, brushing his fingertips across my cheek. I bite down on the inside of my cheek, sucking in slow breaths until the burn in my breast subsides.
“You’re beautiful like this. Taking the pain for me.” He brings his face close to mine, taking my chin in between his fingers and staring down at me as though he’s seeing straight through me.
The burn in my nipple fades, but I’m barely aware of it. I’m too lost in his eyes. I’ve looked at this man for years. Admired his build, his sex appeal. Heat rushed through my veins whenever he was near, but this close is different.
The intensity is almost too much.
