Taming Lily (The Fowler Sisters #3)(53)

Easy for her to say—she already got her orgasm for the day.

“Fine,” I said, rubbing a hand over my face, ready to agree to anything so I could see her again. I almost blew it, getting so mad at her. But this is what happens when you get yourself physically and emotionally involved with someone you have no business being with.

Heavy emphasis on the word business.

We went to a restaurant in the resort, a place that was dark and expensive and served up intoxicating, exotically named drinks. Lily had three and I had two and she was a little giggly, a lot beautiful, helping me forget my anger, the tension that radiated through me over what I was about to do.

Steal from her. Betray her.

I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I didn’t like or that I didn’t want to do, but I always did them honestly. With integrity, though I know of others who would disagree with me, especially from my military past. Going off the mental deep end still embarrasses me when I think about it, but what’s done is done. My family accepted me back into the fold, even though my brother Sam thought I was a complete dumbass at first. He served his time in the military, left after four years, and is now a cop, just like our dad. He did everything right.

I, on the other hand, did everything wrong. Guess Lily and I have more in common than I first thought.

But never have I done something so dishonest, so cruel. So f*cking risky, both to me and to Lily. I can’t study my subject with an objective eye. I’ve had her every which way I could sexually. I know the taste of her lips, the taste of her *, the way it feels when it clamps tight around my cock before she comes. I’m in way too f*cking deep.

I like her. A lot. If I’d met her under any other circumstance, I’d pursue her relentlessly until I made her mine. Pretty much like I’m doing right now. The difference?

There’s no choice. I have to walk away. And I don’t want to.

The minute I pay the dinner bill I’m on my feet, offering my hand to Lily. Our conversation when we first arrived at the restaurant had been stilted. Awkward. She knew I was mad—though I was more angry at myself than at her—and it pissed her off, too, so we had a sort of standoff across the table from each other.

I gave in first. I needed an opportunity to get back to her bungalow. To spend time with her alone. Once our food came—and we were both on our second drink—the conversation flowed, the flirtation grew, and I knew I had her.

She is too damn easy. I feel like a complete * for thinking like that.

I passed on a third drink because I wanted to keep my wits about me, and too much alcohol would result in me falling into a deep sleep later. Something I can’t do considering I need to stay awake past Lily so I can grab that f*cking laptop.

“Thank you for dinner,” she says after we leave the restaurant, reaching out to touch my arm as we walk side by side. Her fingers burn my skin and I almost pull away from her, but instead I stop, my fingers curling around her wrist so I can pull her in closer. She goes willingly, her eyes wide, her lips parting.

Looking sexy as hell.

Doesn’t help that her hair is up, revealing her edible neck, and she’s wearing a strapless bright green dress that makes her skin appear extra golden. Large, thin gold hoops dangle from her ears and a delicate long gold chain hangs from her neck to rest between her breasts.

She’s not just sexy, she’s also beautiful. Sweet. I want more of her. So much more … but I can’t have it.

“I should’ve never agreed to the conditions you put on tonight,” I mutter, running my gaze over her body, wishing it were my hands trailing all over her.

She laughs, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks the faintest pink. I made the secret dirty girl blush again? Go figure. “Are you the type who wants what you can’t have?”

“Not usually.” My fingers tighten around her wrist. With her, yes, a thousand times yes. “I tend to just go for it.”

Lily presses her lips together, and I feel her heart rate speed up since my fingers are pressing directly against her pulse. “Like you did with me before?”

“Exactly.” She’s so close, I can nuzzle her hair, breathe in her sweet scent. Damn, the woman smells good. Fragrant and fresh, rich and decadent, a contradicting combination I want more of.

Just one more taste. One more night.

“I never go against a lady’s wishes, though,” I tell her, stepping away. I see the disappointment cross her face and it matches the disappointment that spreads through me. I mean what I say but I’m hoping … I’m f*cking praying she’ll give in and let me have her. At least one more time. “I may be an *, but I’m not that much of one.”

“Sometimes …” She moistens her lips, the luscious, shiny curve of her bottom lip sending a bolt of lust straight to my dick. “The lady says things too rashly. She has a bad habit of not thinking things through.”

Hope sparks within me. Stupid, idiotic hope. I squash it down. I shouldn’t do this. Shouldn’t want this. But I do. God, I do. “Does she, now?”

“Oh yes. All the time. Usually it ends up with her doing something she regrets. She tends to make a lot of mistakes,” Lily admits softly.

I don’t know what she’s talking about. Past regrets? Possibly. I understand that. “Does she think what happened between us is a mistake?”