Page 101 of Brutal Sin
“You blew it, Brute. She’s not horny anymore.”
Those three words had been a dream she never thought she’d experience. They were too important to him. Too special. Three words fractured her, making everything unstable—her heart, her mind, her emotions.
Strong hands gripped her waist, lifting her, turning her limp body to sit sideways on hislap.
“Ella?” His blue eyes blinked through apprehension, his vulnerability unmasked for everyone to see. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut, shouldn’tI?”
“No.” She shook her head. Her tongue tangled with all the things she needed to say. All the things he needed to hear. “Not atall.”
“What happened?” a woman yelled. “What’s goingon?”
His nostrils flared, the harshness returning to his features. “I should’ve done this somewhereelse.”
“Why didn’t you?” The questioned tumbled from her mouth. “Why now? Whyhere?”
She didn’t understand. It would’ve been so much easier for him to share this moment in private. Alone. Without a mass of scrutiny.
“I can read your body like it’s my own, sweetheart. But when it comes to reading your emotions, I’m clueless. I needed their help to gauge your reaction.” He released a caustic laugh. “I guess it didn’t work in my favor.”
“Of course it did. I’m just shocked. That’sall.”
“You’re about tocry.”
“No.” She swiped at the lone tear that broke free. “I’mnot.”
He raised a brow, silently calling bullshit.
“Well, I am, but it’s because I’m happy. I never thought I’d hear those words fromyou.”
He stiffened. “Because I’m a heartless asshole?”
“Bryan, I know that declaration means the world to you. AndI…”
“You didn’t realize you mean more than the world tome?”
Her chest heated, warmth and relief flooding her in equal doses. “I wasn’tsure.”
“Be sure, Ella,” he whispered. “There’s nothing more important to me than you. No matter how you feel in return.”
His fingers glided along her jaw, holding her in place as he leaned in for a chaste kiss. The brush of lips lasted a second before he pulledaway.
No. She wanted more. Needed everything.
She stood, changing her position to straddle hislap.
“That poor excuse for a kiss isn’t going to satisfy.” She poked him in the chest, earning a snicker. “Not after you’ve teased me to mindlessness.”
“Welcome to my life. That’s what it’s like living with you every damnday.”
She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder, running her arms around his waist while his wove around herback.
His feelings mimicked her own. Her adoration and affection were reciprocated. The brutal man she’d once thought heartless was more tender and loving than anyone could imagine.
“Are we still supposed to be watching?” someone asked, the silence of growing confusion changing the once heated atmosphere.
Neither of them responded. They didn’t move, didn’t speak as they continued to pretend the world didn’t exist.
For her, nothing existed.
