Page 29 of Twisted Control

He jerks his chin at me. “Let’s go.”

I stand up so fast my chair scrapes loudly against the floor and let Drew lead me out, my cheeks still flaming with humiliation.

9

GRACE

The drive home is quiet for a long stretch. I stare out the window, watching streetlights blur into streaks of gold while the low hum of the engine fills the car. My cheeks have finally stopped burning.

“At least there were no phones allowed,” I mutter. “Can you imagine if someone had recorded that disaster?”

“Who gives a shit?” Drew says easily.

“I do, clearly.”

“You shouldn’t.”

I let out a dry laugh. “Oh, brilliant. Just stop caring. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“It’s actually good advice,” he replies, glancing over at me. “You care way too much about what other people think. You’ve built yourself a cute little prison with all that pressure.”

I shake my head, still replaying Julian’s irritated expression and the ripple of laughter that followed. “Can you believe that guy? He’s officially crossed off the list.”

“What list?”

“Eligible men.”

Drew’s eyebrows shoot up. “That guy was on it?” He laughs. “He wouldn’t last five minutes with you. I’ve seen how feral you get.”

My face instantly reignites.

“I am not feral⁠—”

“You absolutely are,” he says, voice dropping into that dangerous, velvet tone. “Best fuck of my life, actually.”

I know I shouldn’t care, but his words do ridiculous things to my ego. I mean, I’d suspected I was good but hearing him say it out loud? Confirming it like that?

I like it way more than I should.

“Really?” I ask, and immediately hate how hopeful and breathy I sound. Like a pathetic little puppy waiting for another treat.

“Oh yeah.” He glances over, eyes dark. “I can’t wait until this job is over so I can have you again.”

I quickly catch myself.

“Even if the job ended tomorrow, I wouldn’t touch you,” I say quickly. “Besides, my father would kill me.”

Drew laughs under his breath. “How’s he gonna know? He planning on sitting in the room with us?” He shakes his head, still smiling. “You’ll be back, Grace. Don’t kid yourself. You took one look at me and demanded I fuck you⁠—”

“That only happened because some random commenters called me a starfish in bed and I was trying to prove them wrong! You weren’t special. I would’ve picked any guy who didn’t completely repulse me. You just…happened to be there.”

Drew is quiet for half a second. Then that smirk returns.

“Yeah,” he says. “But out of all the guys in that bar…you still chose me.”

I could actually scream right now. Instead, I shift in my seat, and my skirt slides higher on my thighs. Drew notices immediately. His grip tightens on the wheel, his jaw going hard as his gaze lingers a second too long.

Oh my God.