Page 30 of Heart Breaker

I have one hand at her waist, anchoring her to me as I follow her lead, matching the pace, the pressure, the heat building between us. Then her mouth opens against mine, and my tongue finds hers. Whatever control I had left disappears completely.

The kiss turns consuming—less about proving a point, more about chasing something we’ve both been skirting around for too long. I pull back, a rough breath slipping out of me before I can stop it, and it’s enough to make her eyes snap open. She looks… undone. Those big, emerald eyes are unfocused for a second, like she’s still caught somewhere in the middle of the kiss. And her lips—soft, pink, slightly parted—look like they’re still chasing the memory of mine.

There’s something about the intense chemistry between us that messes with my self control. Is it because I haven’t had sex in forever? I doubt it. I’ve never felt this kind of deep attraction to any other woman before. I’ve never wanted the type of love that can turn a person inside out. That kind of thing could wreck a man… but sometimes I’ve wondered what it would feel like.

I let out a quiet breath and loosen my grip on her. “We should probably keep this between us,” I tell her, trying to regain some sense of control before this goes any further.

Lottie’s brows lift slightly, a hint of amusement flickering across her face. “So, no posting this to social media then? Victoria would be so disappointed.”

I laugh. “She’ll survive. I just… I don’t need anyone knowing my business.”

She tilts her head as she looks at me, like she’s trying to figure me out. Then she nods. “I won’t tell if you don’t, Wes,” she says.

I nod.

“Besides,” she adds, “I don’t exactly make a habit of getting involved with guys like you.”

I look at her. “Guys like me?”

“Millionaires, players,” she clarifies with a dismissive wave of her hand. “And definitely not ones who are related to my best friend.”

“I’m not related to Madeline,” I counter immediately.

“She’s married to your brother,” she shoots back. “That counts.”

“Not in any way that matters here.”

“It matters to me.”

I study her for a second, the way she says it, the way she holds it like a line she’s already drawn. “Right. And why don’t you date men with money?”

She presses her lips together as she looks me over. “I’ve known a few. Too much money and too few reasons to behave.”

I let out a quiet laugh at that. “You’re making a lot of assumptions.”

“Am I?” she says, her eyes flicking back to mine, sharp and knowing. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

I don’t look away. “Money doesn’t give me a pass to be an ass, Lottie. I don’t behave because I have to. I behave because I choose to.”

I can see the challenge still in her eyes. “It doesn’t matter,” she says, like she’s reminding herself as much as me. “You’re off limits anyways.”

“I guess I won’t argue,” I say. “Because I don’t date.”

Her brows lift immediately. “At all?”

I shrug. “Not really.”

She studies me for a second, clearly not buying it. “Right,” she says, dragging the word out slightly. “You expect me to believe that?”

“It’s the truth.”

“I think you’re exactly the type who says that and then has women lining up anyway.”

A quiet breath leaves me, close to a laugh but without much humor behind it. “Is that really what you think?”

“I’m sure your brand of charming works on all the girls,” she says, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “You just flash your million-dollar smile, and they give you exactly what you want.”

I hold her gaze. “Except you, right? You think you are the exception.”