“Gonna give them a minute and then head out,” Dash said, his voice lowered as Tori leaned away and talked quietly with her girl. Syd’s hands cupped her face. “You know how you’re gonna handle this today if he’s working?”

I turned my head and looked at him. “Just gonna talk,” I answered.

“Yeah?” he asked, brows lifting. He didn’t seem convinced. “You hit him and he presses charges, you know what’ll happen.”

Dash was referring to my sponsors dropping me. He knew the risks I was taking confronting this asshole.

I knew them, too.

“Good thing I’m just goin’ to talk then,” I returned, tucking my phone into my back pocket.

That was the plan. I wasn’t bullshitting Dash. How this would happen to play out, I didn’t know.

If I thought Wes was hearing me, we’d only be talking.

If I didn’t …

“Shit,” he muttered, shaking his head as if he could read my mind. He turned and looked at the girls. “Kinda wanna knock his ass out myself for working Syd up.”

“Anyone hits him, it’s me,” I shared, voice unforgiving.

“Figured that. Just saying. It’s not like I have shit to lose.”

“Just gonna talk to him,” I repeated.

Dash turned his head, meeting my eyes when I did the same. “She came to you crying?” he asked.

I nodded. My jaw flexed.

“Right,” he uttered, looking away.

He knew. There was a chance we wouldn’t just be talking.

“Babe, you ready? Gonna be late if we don’t leave now,” he said, moving to get to Syd.

She took his warning and gave Tori another hug, whispering with her before pulling away. Then she glanced back at me and shot me a look full of appreciation.

That should’ve felt good. Under different circumstances, it probably would’ve. But I was still picturing Tori crying. Shaking in my arms. Her tears against my neck.

Nothing was feeling good right now.

Dash said something to Tori that had her nodding and smiling softly, then he threw his arm around Syd and called out a “Later” before leading her out of the room.

The front door closed behind them.

My eyes sliced to Tori again and I took her in. She was standing there in yellow silk shorts and a shirt too big for her. It hung off one shoulder and hid her shape, but she still looked good. She always looked good. Tori could make anything work for that body.

Bottom lip caught between her teeth and chest rising and falling slowly, she stared at me.

“Come here,” I ordered. I wanted to touch her. Kiss her. I needed to make sure she was okay.

Tori released her lip. Her hand came up and tucked those strands of yellow behind her ear again. “I’m sorry about last night,” she said, keeping her distance.

I ignored her apology and repeated, “Babe, come here.”

“I must’ve looked crazy. I don’t typically cry and beg for sex.” She looked down, laughing a little. “I didn’t even put on shoes. What the—”

“Legs,” I barked.

Her head snapped up, eyes following and going round.

“You don’t get over here right now, I’m comin’ to you,” I warned.

She blinked. Then she started moving toward me, not as quickly as I would’ve liked but she was moving, so I didn’t get on her about it. She stopped in front of me and looked up, staying inches away.

“You all right?”

Tori hesitated for a second, then she nodded. “Yeah. Just … a little embarrassed. I can’t believe I came to you like that.”

“Don’t,” I cautioned.

Her brow furrowed. “Don’t what?”

“That’s mine, babe. You’re not takin’ that.”

Her head tilted. “I’m not taking what?” she questioned.

“Got upset and needed to go to someone, and out of everyone, babe, you chose me,” I reminded her. “Could’ve gone to your girl, but you didn’t. You came here. Cried in my arms. Let me hold you and you held back. Don’t act like that wasn’t what you wanted. Don’t play that down.”

“I meant the begging part.”

“Yeah, that’s another thing.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Bet’s over, babe. I’m done playin’ games with you.”

She looked from my eyes to my mouth and back up, asking, “You are?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Why?” I echoed.

“Yes. Why?” Her eyes narrowed. “Because I begged?”

“’Cause you fuckin’ came to me,” I said, bending to get closer, voice dropping lower and shaking in my throat.

Tori inhaled through her nose. Her eyes danced between mine. “I came to beg,” she lied, speaking fast. “That’s the only reason I came here.”

“Nope.”

“It was, Jamie.”

“That’s one of the reasons,” I countered. “Ain’t all of them.”

She rolled up onto her toes. “It’s the only reason,” she shot back, holding tight to her lie.

Fuck this. I was sick of her shit. My hands shot out, slid around her waist to her back and yanked, hauling her closer until she was flush against me. Then I bent down and took her mouth, pushing my tongue inside.

I tasted her gasp and her need. I fucking ate them.

“Admit it,” I said inside our kiss.

Her fingers pushed through my hair. She tilted her head, kissed me deeper, and then pulled back to suck on my lip.

Fuck.

“No,” she breathed.

I kneaded her ass until she arched up and moaned. “All these lies, babe. I want a truth.”

“I came to beg.”

“You came for me.” I kissed my way to her jaw and neck. I licked up to her ear and let her feel my teeth.

She shuddered and gasped. “Jamie.”

“You like me. Admit it.”

I felt the shake of her head and the flutter of her pulse against my tongue.

“You like me.”

“I don’t.” She sounded breathless and breakable. She sounded weak.

I growled, lifting my head and claiming her hot breath and sweet parted lips. One hand pushing through the hair at the base of her neck and holding while the other pressed low to her back.

She whimpered against my tongue. Then she started sucking on it.

Tori fought with her words. Not her body. I quit asking and just kissed her.

And kissed her.

And kissed her.

I kissed her until seconds blurred into minutes. I kissed her hard and rowdy and rough.

She kissed me harder. Sucked harder. Bit harder. Her hands gripped my back and shoulders and pulled. She wanted me close.

Tori wasn’t just taking. She was giving it back.

Again.

Fuck yeah. She liked me. She liked me a whole fucking lot.

When my lips burned and the bite from her nails stung my scalp and neck, I pulled away, panting. Hands around her waist, I dropped my forehead against hers and held her eyes.

“Bet’s over,” I said. My voice was hoarse.

Tori kept her fingers on my jaw. She licked me off her lips, nodding and breathing heavy. “Okay,” she whispered.