Page 52
Vaughn’s eyes bored into me. “You want me to go somewhere else to fuck him, sweetheart?”
The thought made me want to vomit.
My breaths came too fast. Face too hot. Even my eyes smarted. I shook my head, hoping to god he knew what I meant because I sure as shit wouldn’t be able to say it out loud.
He left the guy standing by his bed and moved toward me, reaching for my chin and lifting it up. “You okay?” The words were low. Soft. My response, the barest shake of my head.
His thumb moved over my cheekbone whisper-light, there and gone in less than a heartbeat. He turned back to the guy and let out a laugh. “Sorry, friend. Afraid I’m going to have to take a rain check. It seems my roomie has need of my assistance.”
The guy’s eyes shot wide. “You and… him? Wait… Bett McNeely is…?”
“No!” we both barked at once. I clamped my lips closed before saying something offensive. It wasn’t like that. But also, it kind of was. Because of my dad. Because of all the fucking rules that made me feel like I was going to explode out of my fucking skin right now.
Thankfully, Vaughn answered for me. “You think I’d fuck someone this uptight? Please. No. I promised him I’d take a look under his hood. He has some warning lights blaring like crazy, and I’m bound and determined to figure out how to shut them up.”
If I’d been more in my right mind, maybe I would have snorted out a laugh. Instead, I firmed my jaw and tried to keep myself from passing the fuck out.
The kid whined a little before finally leaving the room. As soon as the door clicked closed behind him, I wondered what the fuck I’d done. Now Vaughn’s attention was going to be all on me.
Vaughn leaned his back against the closed door and folded his arms across his chest. “Come over here.”
I watched him carefully, as if waiting for him to coil and strike. “What for?”
“You know what for. And don’t tell me you don’t want it.”
My entire body shook. I didn’t want him.
Or, rather… I didn’t want to want him.
But I was starting to think he was all I wanted.
“I don’t owe you shit,” I snapped.
He nodded slowly. “Agreed. And yet, you’re going to come over here, sink down to your knees, and suck my cock. Not because you owe me, but because it’s what you want. Hell, because it’s what you need.”
Saliva flooded my mouth.
Like he could tell, Vaughn’s eyes darkened. “Sweetheart. Come here.”
Desire and despair twined in my gut.
I’d tried so hard to be good. To be likable. To succeed. To become the person everyone wanted me to be.
Now I was more confused and alone than I’d ever been. Betrayed by everyone around me.
And I still had no fucking idea who Bett McNeely actually was or what he wanted.
“I…” My breath hitched. “I can’t.”
Vaughn’s voice was hypnotic. Slow and drugging. “I need you to stop thinking, babygirl. Let me decide, okay?”
I blinked up at him from my spot on the edge of my bed. Stared into his serious eyes. And realized there was one thing I knew for sure I wanted.
The one thing I was never supposed to want.
I nodded.
Vaughn pulled off his T-shirt and dropped it on the floor before moving his hands to the button on his jeans and flicking them open.
