She cocks a brow."What risk?"
"The prospect that you demand more afterward."
A disbelieving grunt escapes her."Are you assuming you're Mr.Irresistible?"Her laugh holds no humor."Let me blast your pompous ass out of your dream bubble.You're not.The sole thing I crave from you is your goddamn dick.I'm not searching for a date, a boyfriend, or a partner.And for the record, I don't fall in love with a man after a round of sex."
"Then good luck finding somebody else to fuck, because it will not be me."
She rakes her fingers through her hair."Didn't you listen?I need you.You're the only one, for some stupid reason, that my body doesn't reject."
I grind my teeth as she continues her plea, each word like a knife between my ribs.
"Cole, I'm not asking you to marry me.I'm begging you to fucking screw me."
My dick twitches traitorously, but I hold firm.I refuse to be this woman's sexual healing experiment.
"Not happening.End of conversation."
My heart plummets when instead of meeting her defiant glare, she lowers her head.Shit."Alisha?"When she doesn't respond, I lift her chin, scowling internally at the storm of emotions crossing her face."I—"
She presses her palm against my chest and scowls."Don't."Fire blazes through her irises, incinerating the vulnerability she'd shown a moment ago."I know enough, and I'm actually glad you said—"
"Uh, everything okay?Why are you two shouting?"Samantha appears in the doorway, rubbing her arms like she's cold.
Alisha moves to her, voice softening instantly."I'm sorry, Samantha, but I have to go.Can you save a set of pancakes for me?"
Samantha nods, confusion clear on her face."Oh, okay."
The two hug, and Alisha whispers something that makes my daughter snicker.After pressing a kiss to Samantha's cheek, she grabs her phone and leaves.The sound of her heels clicking against hardwood echoes through the penthouse until the front door closes with finality.
Fuck.
I drag my hands through my hair as emotions ricochet through my body like pinballs.
"Why is Alisha upset?"Samantha's voice carries an edge of accusation.
"Because she's unreasonable."
"What?I don't believe you."Her chin lifts in that stubborn way that mirrors my own."Alisha is funny and sweet, Cole, and I want to be like her when I grow up."
I choke on air as images of my daughter asking men for sex flash through my mind like a horror show."Oh, that will not happen."
"Why not?Do you think I'm ugly?"
The vulnerability in her voice stops my heart.When my response drags out too long, her eyes dampen and she bolts from the kitchen.I catch her in the living room, placing myself in her path.She tries to dodge around me, but I hold my ground.
"Samantha, wait.You're not ugly.What I meant is that trying to be someone you're not will make you unhappy.You're perfect the way you are."
Her lips quiver."You mean that?"
"Yes."
"So, you think boys will want to date me?"
I freeze again, struggling to find the right words.Every fifteen-year-old boy is a walking hormone bomb, and the thought of them anywhere near my daughter makes my blood pressure spike.But of course, Samantha reads my hesitation her own way.
"See?You think guys won't be interested in me!Thanks, Cole."She slides past me, heading for the stairs."I'll be in my room.I'm not hungry."
Christ, women are the most complex species in the goddamn universe.
