Despite himself, Dane believed her. He pulled back. How could Rick have died broke?
And why was Sophia being so candid about her money situation? Most gold diggers didn’t like to talk about their poor finances. They preferred not to give any wrong impression, like people were too stupid to figure it out.
“I needed a safe place to stay, and Salazar was the only candidate. If you wanted me to contact you, maybe you shouldn’t have snuck out in the middle of the night.”
Touché, and he hated her for putting him on the defensive. The women he associated with didn’t do that. They were either too busy fawning over him or following his instructions. Any other kind were ruthlessly cut from his life, the only exception being his family. “I left a number,” he gritted out.
“To your lawyers. You might as well have told me to go fuck myself.” Her hand flew to her mouth and she shook her head slightly. Then she got up, chin high. “Excuse me. I think we’re done here, and I need to get back inside.”
He gripped her wrist. “Not to him.” He could stand anything but her going back to his father.
Her eyes glittered in the dark. “Why would you care? You never wanted me more than once.”
The cynicism ate at him like acid. It didn’t belong on the perfectly formed lips that had haunted his memories over the past three years.
A sudden fury seared him. Did she have any idea how much he hated himself right at the moment? Even knowing who and what she was, something inside him warmed at the sight of her, and he craved that warmth with the desperation of a man lost in the long Arctic winter.
She had no right to look at him like he was some pathetic pawn she found wanting.
You should’ve never been born. Then none of us would have to suffer through this ridiculous game.
Each softly spoken word stabbed into him like an ice pick. Her pulse leaped, beating against his hand. There was a small tremor in her breathing, on her lips that softened ever so slightly.
It was an Oscar-worthy performance. It had to be. But even knowing that, he couldn’t stop himself.
He crushed his mouth against hers.
She made a small sound and melted under him. His tongue flicked over her mouth, then invaded aggressively. He’d show her he wasn’t fooled by her clever games. He’d played with best of the best—his parents.
Her pulse fluttered faster against his palm. The heady, sweet taste of her filled his mouth, her body pliant. She met his tongue with her own. Her free hand reached over and grabbed his shoulder; her body arched into his.
A pulse of desire reverberated through him, making every cell edgy with anticipation. His cock hardened, stabbing at her belly. She merely moaned and rocked, their mouths still fused.
Their breaths mingled, their lungs breathing the same air. Sophia flooded his senses, and his heart thudded like it existed only for that moment. He still couldn’t figure out what it was about her that drew him like this, and he wanted to unravel her so he could stop this madness.
He pulled her wrist behind her. Her back arched further against his chest, her breasts flush against his torso. He palmed her small tit, and she mewled, the sound muffled against his mouth. Even through the layers of clothing, he could feel her pebbled nipple.
She became bolder, her teeth nipping at him to give her more, eroding his control. Damn it. Every drop of blood in his veins seemed to rush south. There was nothing but desire pounding in his temples. He wanted nothing more than to rip her panties off and take her in the garden. To show her how stupid it’d been for her to go to his father when he made her scream his name while his cock was buried deep inside her.
A small rational voice in his head said this was wrong, that he was letting her use sex to manipulate him. The kiss should’ve been a punishment for both of them, not something he got a sick kick out of.
He quashed the voice.
Dane’s fingers slid under her skirt and touched her drenched panties. She cried out as he ran his knuckles along the wet strip of lace, then bumped lightly against her swollen clit. Her breath became erratic pants. Sexual need glittered in her green eyes, and he pulled her even closer. He circled his thumb against the nub, while breathing in the sweet scent of her—all that luscious female aroma.
Tremors ran through her. He could feel her pulsing against his hand, and he knew she was close.
“Dane, please.”
“Please what, sweetheart?” he asked tauntingly, unwilling to give in. She’d been inexperienced before, but she wasn’t anymore. He wanted her to show him how much she’d learned since then.
When she stayed quiet, he dipped the first knuckle of his forefinger into her dripping pussy, grinding the heel of his hand against her clit. She bit her lower lip, a sublime expression settling over her gorgeous face. But it wasn’t enough. He made sure it wasn’t enough.