Page 43 of Brutal Sin
She nodded, sat up straight, and then swung her legs off the bed. “Don’t elaborate. I’ve already taken the hint.” She reached for her bedside table, pulled open the top drawer, and removed a large expanse of shiny black material. Arobe.
In seconds, she was covered, her beautiful body hidden from view. She tied the thin belt around her waist with jerky movements, then clutched the lapels to hide her cleavage. “I’m going to freshen up. You don’t have to hang around. I’m not going to hold you to the bet. Feel free to leave whenever you’re ready.”
He nodded, remaining silent as she strode for a door at the side of the room and closed herselfin.
This was what he hated. The bullshit. The ping-pong match of hurt feelings and expectation. His dick didn’t seem to care, though. The rock-hard part of his anatomy soldiered on, determined not to stand down until it glimpsed the frontline.
He should leave.
It was the sensible option. He should walk out of here before she returned. No explanation. No goodbye.
He wouldn’t have even contemplated his options if it were any other woman. He’d be out the door, down the hall, and driving back home without a second thought.
A toilet flushed, followed by a rush of tap water.
Leave or stay, Bryan? Leave orstay?
Shit.
It wasn’t like she was an emotional threat. She had no interest in him. But why the fuck was he considering staying, anyway? For the bet? Maybe. He’d never backed out on a wager before. Problem was, he didn’t know if it was more thanthat.
He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was overthinking this when he shouldn’t be thinking atall.
A cupboard closed in the adjoining room. The water stopped. The door reopened and the light spilling in from behind created a flawless silhouette. Her hair sat against her shoulders, the thin robe pulled tight at her waist. She looked like a model. One with beautiful curves and slightly faltering confidence.
“You’re still here.” She switched off the light and padded into theroom.
He didn’t bother fighting the laugh that escaped. “Yeah, sweetheart. Still here. I want to clear up the reason why fucking you is abad—”
“Please don’t.” She held up a hand as she approached the bed. “I think I’m at my quota for your honesty.”
He growled. If she didn’t wipe the backslap of rejection off her face, he was going to do something he’d regret. Something they’d both regret. “The reason fucking you is a bad idea,” he grated, “is because I can’t sleep with a woman more thanonce.”
Why the fuck had he saidthat?
She rolled her eyes and pulled back the coverings. “I also don’t need a refresher on your rules. Shay gave me the Cliffs Notes.”
He ground his teeth and wished he was the brute she thought he was. At least then he wouldn’t feel obligated to give her an explanation.
“An incapability,” he clarified. “Notarule.”
Her brows pulled together, the pinch of her forehead taking seconds, if not minutes. “You can’t…”
“Get an erection? Wood? A hard-on? Whatever you choose to call it, I can’t get it more than once for the same woman.” He let the information sink in. The private, close-kept secret he’d never told asoul.
“Wow… So, you haven’t slept with a woman more than once for howlong?”
“Over twelve years.”
“Holy. Shit.” She drew out the words as she stared at him with a mix of fascination and concern. “Have you been to see anyone aboutit?”
“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “Don’t go thinking there’s something wrong with my dick. There’s no problem as far as I’m concerned. It’s a skill. A talent that took years to master. It’s my insurance policy.”
“Insurance,” she repeated slowly.
“Yeah, to protect the commitment phobia you seem to think Ihave.”
“Seem to have?” Her lips quirked. “Is there really any doubt? You’re seriously messedup.”
