Page 40 of Beg for You

She nodded and walked past me, that spine still like steel. The woman was trying to act unaffected, like what I’d said to her up in my apartment hadn’t hurt her when it obviously had. God, that was nothing compared to what I’d planned to do to her, and I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand that I’d hurt her.

I didn’t want any of it, these feelings, the gnawing emotion pounding through me. I shouldn’t have fucking feelings when it came to this woman. I couldn’t, but they were there just the same and I had no idea what to do with them.

I followed her into my workroom, and this time when she took off her shirt she faced away from me. Her narrow back looked fragile, pale, delicate; the colors I’d added to her skin were soft and muted and just made her look even more so.

My cock grew hard as I watched her slide off her bra while images of her straddling me on my couch flashed through my head. Of the way she’d rubbed against me, completely free, zero inhibitions, as she’d gotten herself off grinding against my hard dick. She’d given me the real Cassy, had been giving me glimpses of her since the first time she walked in here, and now she was trying to take her away from me.

I wasn’t going to let her. It was selfish, given what I’d planned to do, but I wanted back what she’d given me. I fucking wanted it back.

I needed Cassy in a way that consumed me. I fucking hated that I’d hurt her.

I took my stool and rolled up behind her, breathing her in. Just that hit of her sweet scent and my balls started to ache. I moved in closer so my thighs bracketed hers and leaned in. A shudder moved through her as I slid her hair to the side. Running the backs of my knuckles up and down the gentle curve of her waist, I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Princess.”

Goose bumps lifted where my lips had been. “Don’t call me that,” she said, voice shaky. “You don’t know anything about me or my life.”

She was right. All this time I thought I did, but now I wasn’t so sure, and it had been fucking with me.

I stroked her side with my knuckles again, and she shivered but didn’t ask me to stop. “The other night…” I tried to get my next words clear in my head. “Look, I’m not…used to having people in my place. I never show…anyone my work.” Why was I telling her this? But I couldn’t shut myself up. “It’s always just been for me. P-Personal, you know?” I growled when I stuttered over my words. She did this to me. She fucked with my head without even trying.

She sat up, her back pressing to my front, and she twisted so she could see me. A sigh slid past her perfect lips. “No, I’m sorry. I should never have touched them. You were right to be angry.”

I had both hands on her waist and lifted them higher, over her ribs, resting them just below her breasts. “Does that mean you forgive me…for acting like an asshole?”

Her breathing had increased, and her gaze dropped to my lips. “Yes, if you forgive me for being nosy.” Then her eyes came back to mine. “You are extremely talented, though. I’d love to display some of your work in my gallery.”

I started to shake my head.

“It doesn’t have to be the ones I saw. You had canvases stacked all around your apartment…maybe you have something else I could show?”

“No.” I pressed my lips against hers, kissing her gently to take away the sting of my rejection, then lifted my head. “They’re for me. No one else.”

Her lashes fluttered open. Her eyes were glazed. I loved that I could do that to her with just one kiss. “Hmm?”

I felt my lips curl in a grin. She was cute like this, all turned on and soft. “Thanks for the offer, Princess, but I’m not interested in showing my work.”

“Why do you call me Princess?” she said, surprising me with the change of subject. “At first, I liked it. Now…” She dropped her gaze. “It didn’t feel very nice when you called me that the other night.”

I thought I hated it when she acted the uppity rich girl because that’s what it was—an act—I was sure of it. But this, her eyes downcast like she was feeling unsure, I hated even more.

I slid my fingers under her chin and tilted her head back so she was looking at me. “I was an asshole the other night.” I moved my thumb over her jaw, her smooth skin. “I call you Princess because…that’s how you look to me. Perfect—”

“I’m far from perfect—”

“Untouchable. That’s the way I see you. You’re the princess…to my beast.”

“You’ve touched me,” she whispered.

“And I have no right putting my…scarred as fuck hands on you.” If she knew the truth…

“I like them on me. It’s all I can think about,” she said, eyes dropping to my mouth again.

“Yeah?” All the blood had rushed from my head to my dick, and I was close to pulling her to the floor and fucking her.

There was a knock on the doorframe, and Dane pushed his head through the curtain. Cassy quickly turned away, covering herself with her arms. I scowled at my brother. “What?”

“Just wondered if Cassy wanted a drink—water, coffee?”

She glanced back over her shoulder at him. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”