AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“N—no?”
I shook my head as I leaned back into my chair again, letting my clasped hands drop to my lap and repeating, “No.”
Her mouth opened and closed as she blinked rapidly, trying to process the interruption to what was obviously a speech she’d probably spent the day rehearsing.
“I don’t want or need your money, Cadence. I paid your debts so you wouldn’t have to work as much, so you’d have more time forme. You want to pay me back? You’re going to quit one of your jobs and pay me intime, not cash.”
Snapping her mouth shut, her wide-eyed stare stayed locked on mine as I stood and moved around the desk. Retrieving the stack of bills she’d tried to give me, I leaned down and brushed her hands aside, pushing it back into her purse.
“I’m fine with keeping your family out of things, I already told you I would protect them. And I understand you need to keep working one of your jobs to provide for them, but there is no reason for you to exhaust yourself between two any longer. Quit the diner and give me the time you were putting in there, and I’ll be satisfied, but this isn’t going to be as impersonal as you’re making it sound, Cadence.”
I threaded my fingers through her blonde locks and pulled, tipping her head back to stare straight into her eyes. The feel of her silky hair in my fist made me picture all the things I could make her do while I held her like that, but I pushed the lust aside for a moment.
“I wantyou.Allof you. And not this dolled up, fake version either. Therealyou, Cadence. It’s not going to be as simple as you showing up, fucking, and then going home.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she fought to hold them back. Lip trembling, her breath hitched as I leaned closer, her scent drowning me and exposing her torn emotions.
Pausing before my mouth touched hers, I waited.
“Do we have a deal?”
Chapter Fourteen
Cadence
The warmth of his breath ghosted over my lips. I had spent the day deciding exactly what to say and do to keep the line between us where I wanted it, and within minutes Leo had crashed past it, leaving only tatters behind.
He didn’t want the version of me I was willing to give. He was greedy. It was all or nothing, and I was backed into a corner once again.
I briefly wondered if Leo would back off and let me go if I refused. I knew he didn’t really need the money, and I doubted he would try to collect what he’d spent even if I didn’t agree to his terms.
He wasn’t the one forcing me into a corner. Not really.
That was all me.
One wall was my pride. I didn’t want to see him paying off everything like it was charity. There needed to be a reason for it, and I needed to pay him back since it had beenmyresponsibility.
The other was my instincts. The omega part of me didn’t care about the reasons behind it, the implications of what it could mean, or the possible fall out if it all went to shit. Leo was willing to give me an opening to escape through, but my body was screaming tokiss him already.
I was tired of being responsible all the time. Of doing the right thing instead of what I really wanted. Denying myself took more effort than I had the energy to maintain.
My hands rose to the sides of Leo’s face, his scruff rough against my palms as I closed the breath of space between us. He groaned when my lips slid along his, and he pulled me closer as his tongue came out to duel mine.
For once, I was choosing what I wanted instead of therightthing.
Sliding my hands down to circle his neck, I distantly heard my purse slide from my lap and hit the floor as he pulled me to my feet. One strong arm banded around my back as the other maintained his grip in my hair. My breasts were crushed to his chest, air an unimportant concern as he devoured my lips.
His erection dug into my belly, twitching in excitement as I leaned against him. My panties were damp, slick already flowing from my core and perfuming the air around us, and the ridiculous dress had risen enough to expose them when Leo pulled me up.
His free hand moved down to grip my ass, pulling the dress up further as he squeezed the globe of flesh. His low growl sent shivers through me as my nipples tightened into painful points.
When he finally released my lips, I was left gasping for air as he trailed kisses across my jaw and down my neck. My head was spinning by the time his hand left my hair to join its fellow gripping my ass.
“I need you,” he rasped against my neck, tongue flicking over my pulse point before his teeth raked across it.
I melted.
There was no resisting what he did to me, my instincts collaborating with him to silence my brain. Even if he’d been able to bite and bond me, I didn’t think I could have denied him and pulled away.
