Page 23 of Brutal Sin
Her eyes flared. “Oh, buddy, I don’t know where you get off speaking to me like that when I’ve done nothing wrong. Tonight, you treated me like I was trying to tattoo myself on your charcoal-riddled soul, or steal your cherished bachelorhood.”
She stepped forward, straightening her shoulders. Women really needed to get a clue that thrusting their breasts didn’t work in their favor. It only made men feel like they’d scored a triple-point bonus during battle.
“Let me assure you,” she spat, “I’m not interested in either. In fact, if you were the last man on Earth, I’m pretty sure I’d start fucking livestock to get my kicks just so I didn’t have to deal with your bullshit attitude.” Her mouth remained open, gaping a little.
Yeah, sweetheart, your diatribe did include a reference to bestiality.
“Good to know.” His lips kicked into a smile, and the flare of her nostrils announced she didn’t appreciateit.
“This isn’t funny.”
No, it wasn’t. Apart from the enjoyment he received from her annoyance, this wasn’t funny at all. He didn’t like having his enjoyment of the Vault washed out from underneath him by disrespectful women. He didn’t like being railroaded. And he certainly didn’t like the reminder that he had a family back in Tampa, ignoring his existence. “No, you’re right. After the day I’ve had, your lack of interest is a fucking relief.”
“Well,” she grated, walking away, “I’m glad I could ease the tension.”
He didn’t follow this time. The nagging throb in his chest increased. It wasn’t his fault she’d been caught in the line of fire earlier. She’d been collateral damage. A tiny blip on the casualty radar.
All he’d done was announce his disinterest. Loudly. While deliberately drawing the attention of other club patrons.
Fuck.
“I had a shit of a day, okay? I shouldn’t have taken it out onyou.”
She froze, her back still turned. “Was that an apology?”
If it was, it was a shitty one, but coming from him, it was the holy grail of remorse. “It’s whatever you need it tobe.”
She released a sardonic laugh and pounded out the distance to the end of the building.
The ache beneath his ribs grew, demanding more. More what? He didn’tknow.
“Look, I shouldn’t have directed my rant at you.” He jogged to catch up, chasing the wanted distraction.
“So you don’t regret what you said, just that you included me in it?” She approached the line of cars and slipped between a polished SUV and T.J.’s newBMW.
“Hell, no, I don’t regret it. It was a long time coming.” He followed her into the small space and stopped a foot away, at the start of her door. “You don’t think I have a right to tell women to back off? If it was your private number being distributed around the club and guys started texting at all hours, asking to hook up, while also sending unsolicited dick pics, I’d make sure those fuckers never stepped foot in the club again. Yet, when it happens to me, I’m supposed to be happy about it? Come on. Cut me a break. I enjoy unwanted attention as much as youdo.”
She opened her door and he retreated a step, not realizing how close they’d become.
“Tell me, Ella. Don’t I deserve a break in my own club, or do you think I should keep letting it slide?” He wasn’t sure if the question was rhetorical. The only thing he was aware of was the unfamiliar need to keep the conversation going. “Should I keep rejecting the same women over and over again every time I enter the Vault, even though they already know the score?”
“How do they know the score?” Her voice softened, the bitter edge of spite seepingaway.
“I always make it clear I don’t sleep with the same woman twice. I never leave any doubt.” That hadn’t changed since the first night the Vault doors had opened.
“You never made it clear tome.”
No, he hadn’t. Their position was different. “We haven’t slept together yet.” Yet? His subconscious tacked on the additional word without his approval.
“Well…” She lowered her gaze to his shoes. “I guess addressing the issue wasn’t uncalled for. But you could’ve handled it better. You should’ve beennice.”
“I don’t donice.”
Her grin produced a dimple, and soft laughter followed.
“You’re laughing at me now?” He should’ve been annoyed. Instead, he found himself grinning back at her. It didn’t make a lick of sense. Then again, he rarely had women making fun of him. They were always making plans to fuck him. “I thought we weren’t allowed to dothat.”
“I can’t help it. You sound like a five-year-old throwing a tantrum. I can picture you using the same tone to say, ‘I don’t dovegetables.’”
