Lovegame(88)

“That’s why you write the books you do, isn’t it? It’s not about Jason, it’s about all of them. You want to know what went wrong deep inside everyone you’ve ever written about.”

I nod. “That’s exactly what I want. It’s what I looked for in every case I ever worked for the FBI. Because if I know what went wrong, then—”

“You’ll know how to make sure it doesn’t go wrong in you.”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“And did you always find the answer?”

“Not always. I usually did, but sometimes there is no answer.”

“Sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes people just do bad things because they want to. Because they enjoy it. Sometimes there’s not anything more to it than that.”

“I’ve never been able to accept that.”

“Of course you haven’t.” The smile she gives me now is as sad as it is sexy. “You wouldn’t be who you are if you accepted that fact, and you sure as hell wouldn’t be able to do what you do.” The smile she gives me now is a little sad and a little sexy all at the same time. “I’m not sure what it says about me, but the fact that you can’t is turning out to be just one of the many reasons I’m falling for you.”





Chapter 24


The second the words are out, I wish I could take them back. For a second, I squeeze my eyes shut and pretend that this isn’t happening. That I didn’t just tell Ian that I have feelings for him right after he told me about his homicidal brother, barely an hour after I scratched him all to hell.

And to think, I’m actually known for my perfect timing on screen.

He doesn’t say anything at first, just kind of looks at me with wide eyes and a slack jaw. Not that I blame him. We’re barely five days into this and suddenly I’m talking about falling for him? After I’ve kicked him out of my house, refused to let him interview me, played every game in the book with him, and then asked him to help me anyway, after I all but lost my mind on him? He’s probably wondering what it’d be like if I actually hated him if this is what me caring about him feels like.

“I’m sorry,” he finally says and my heart sinks.

“Please, don’t apologize. I don’t know what I was thinking. Blame it on the meltdown. Or the fact that it’s five in the morning and we haven’t slept. Or the orgasms. Yes, blame it on them. Is it any wonder a girl gets a little wonky after you give her a dozen orgasms?”

Oh my God. Oh my God, Ohmygod, OHMYGOD.

I shut my mouth with a snap, then lock my jaw in an effort to ensure that I never say anything again. Ever. Who is this woman who’s suddenly invaded my body? And can the real Veronica Romero please stand the f*ck up?

Ian’s still not saying anything, which to be fair could be because I just sucked up all the oxygen in the room with my babbling. Or it’s because he’s changed his mind about my mental stability and is busy plotting his escape. Either way, his silence can’t be good. But when I finally get up the nerve to look back at him, Ian is just watching me with amused eyes and a smug smirk on his face that is somehow way more attractive than it should be.

For a while anyway, and then it just gets annoying as he continues to stare without saying anything.

“What?” I finally demand, when I can’t take the suspense any longer.

He shakes his head, and somehow looks even more amused despite everything that’s been revealed tonight. “Did you really just suggest that you get ‘wonky’ if you have enough orgasms? Because if so, I’m going to take it as a personal mission to ensure that you always—”

I grab one of the throw pillows on the sofa and hit him over the head with it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Then I stand up, start to shift away from him. But I’m barely on my feet before he’s grabbing me and rolling with me onto the floor.

It’s such an unexpected move that I go with it instinctively, laughing a little as he settles himself on top of me. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed,” he says right before he kisses my nose.

“And you are impossibly unattractive when you’re smug.”

“Oh yeah?” He brushes the back of his hand over my nipple. Over my very hard, very aroused nipple. “So this is what happens when you think I’m unattractive?”

I’m too busy arching into his touch to answer. I’m not used to this side of Ian. Relaxed. Playful. Open. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like it. Then again, I’m beginning to think there isn’t much about Ian that I don’t like.





Chapter 25


There is so much we need to talk about. So much I need to tell her, including the fact that I’m falling for her, too. No, not falling. I’ve already fallen. Hard.

But she’s right here beneath me, her beautiful body stretched out and arching against me and all I can think about is kissing her. Fucking her. Making her come again and again and again.

I’m going to do it right this time, though, going to take care of Veronica the way she so desperately needs to be taken care of. Softly. Gently. Tenderly.

With that thought in mind, I push myself out of her arms. She moans, tries to grab on to me, but I’ve got more planned for her—for us—than a quick f*ck on the family room floor. Not now. Not this time.