Page 69 of Merciless King
“I mean, things like that are bound to happen from time to time, since I’ve become friendly with Lulu and Steph and everyone…”
“You’ll grab my ass?”
“No, that’s not what I—”
“Run your fingers through my hair and tell me how soft it is?”
She froze. “I what?”
“Tell me you love my body and want to cover it in frosting and lick it all off?” I fought my grin at her expression. “I’m totally down for that, by the way.”
Her eyes widened. “I did not say that, did I?”
“Among other things.”
She flushed darker.
“I wouldn’t worry about it, though, London, because the bit I’ve been focusing on all morning, since I woke and found you’d snuck out and left me in your bed, the part I can’t stop thinking about, is you telling me that being around me isn’t unbearable after all. That you said that to make it easier on me.”
She straightened her shoulders again. “I thought you deserved the truth. I could see that it…upset you.”
“You’re right, it did. And I’m glad you told me, but not for the reasons you think. The truth is, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I didn’t want an easy out. I didn’t want out at all. So thinking that being around me caused you pain? Yeah, it fucking killed me.”
Surprise transformed her beautiful face. “You didn’t want out?”
“No.”
“But…”
“I’m taking you out for dinner tonight. I’ll be at your place to pick you up at seven thirty.” I closed the gap between us, took her chin in my fingers, and tilted her head back. “You good with that?”
She nodded.
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered.
I couldn’t wait another second and leaned in, fisting her dark sexy-as-fuck hair, and pressed my lips against hers, savoring the taste of her, the softness of her lips. I forced myself to pull away before I lost my head.
“See you a little later,” I said to a dazed London, then walked out.
I couldn’t remember being happier in my whole shitty life.
* * *
London
Nerves fluttered in my belly when Van knocked at the door.
I straightened the skirt of my dress and went to answer it.
Was this really happening?
“The truth is, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I didn’t want an easy out. I didn’t want out at all.”
He never wanted an out.
His words from earlier that day had been swimming around and around in my head. He wanted this. He wanted us.
