Page 173 of Forever Defiant
“Yeah, I’m ready.” She headed to the door.
Dante had a hold of her arm, said something too low for me to hear, and kissed her in front of us all, holding nothing back. When he pulled back, she was a little bit breathless, but wary.
“I’m sorry. We had a tough practice, emotions are high, and I should’ve known you and Madam Menace over here wouldn’t sit and do nothing.” He kissed her again. “I’m sorry.”
Savannah looked up at him once. She bit her lip, looking between him and me, then she nodded. “I want to know how this afternoon went, but I really will be late...”
He didn’t let her go. “Sav?”
“It’s fine, we’ll talk later.” She gave me an appraising look. “Madam Menace? It’s perfect for you.”
I pulled the door open, Sav briefly kissed Dante one last time, and I gave them all a half-hearted wave. Noah cheerfully said he’d see us later.
We were halfway down the stairs when Dustin came after me.
“I don’t get a goodbye? I don’t get a chance to tell you whyI’mworried?”
Savvy murmured something about me catching up to her and kept going. I turned to look at him over my shoulder.
“You can tell me later.” I kept going down the stairs.
“Peterson!”
I stopped, cursing myself for doing so.
“Get your ass back up here.”
I almost resisted until he said, “Now.”
You are a strong, independent woman, Hadley.I’d always thought that was true. Right until Dustin usedthattone, and I became some submissive who needed to please her guy. I didn’t think I’d respond to being told what to do. I’d been wrong about that.
“Hadley, I won’t ask again.”
I trotted up the stairs like a dutiful puppy, the feminist in me resisting every step.
His hand cupped the back of my neck, a gleam of triumph in his eyes. “My good girl,” he praised. His lips caught mine, and he kissed me so thoroughly, so completely, that I was glad he was holding me up. “Don’t do it again,” Dustin said when he drew back.
“You need to lighten up.”
His fingers squeezed, and I met his look with one of defiance.
“You can’t—”
His head cocked slightly to the side. “I can’t what, baby?”
“You can’t control me,” I bit out in a hurried whisper.
Dustin smiled broadly and happily, dropping a lingering kiss on my lips. “Watch me,” he whispered in my ear. He squeezed my ass. “I’ll be over later. I need to sort those two out.” He kissed me one more time. “You going to be good?”
“No.” I was so confused. “I’m not.”
The gleam in his eye was anticipatory. “Thank Christ.” He patted my ass, and then he walked back to his apartment, and I was pretty sure I’d just been beaten at my own game.
Asshole.
I was still smiling when I caught up to Savannah. She took one look at me and barked out a laugh.
“I’m glad it’s not just me who becomes an idiot.”
