Page 58 of Ruthless Game

I shifted uncomfortably under her.

Giggles, fingers on my zipper, feeling too dizzy to say⁠—

“No,” I said shortly. “Not even that night.” Her gasp was like a knife to the chest. “I don’t want to talk about that night, Emma. I don’t want to talk about it, ever again, okay? Maybe …” I trailed off. “Maybe what happened between us, happened. And we can leave it in the past now.”

I expected relief from her, or hope. Not trying to wiggle away from me.

I gripped her waist to stop her. “What?”

She stilled. Not looking at me, she asked, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to leave the past in the past without working through it? Even if we can—even if you can—do you really think it’s not going to come and bite our asses in the future?”

I sighed, lifting her chin with my finger so she had no choice but to look me in the eye. “I think it’s the only way forward. The past is ugly between us, and if we go back there, you’ll start lying again⁠—”

“I’m not⁠—”

“—and I’ll do angry, fucked up shit, and we’ll keep circling this same drain,” I interrupted. Not wanting to hear it. “I told you Emma, no more lying. So yes, we’re going to move forward from that night, together. And we’re going to never, ever, talk about it again.”

“Why?”

I looked at her, deciding to choose honesty, as much as it made me a target if she chose to use it against me. “Because I can’t live without you. And because while you were on your knees before me, sucking my cock, I realized that this is what I want. Not to fuck you so I can move onto some other woman who will never captivate me the way you do. Not so I can play hockey better. I want you, period. And you want me, don’t deny it. This is the way we can have each other again.”

“Real romantic,” she muttered.

I kissed her head, feeling calm for the first time in a long time, and terrified, because I once again wanted something and wasn’t sure I could have it.

“And what about me? What if I don’t want to? Don’t I have a choice? Don’t I have a say?” she argued.

“No,” I said simply, kissing her mouth.

“So the blackmail is still on the table.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” I said. “That part is up to you. See? I am giving you a choice.”

“That’s not a choice, Lawson.”

“It’s the only choice you have.”

Before she could argue more with me, there was a knock on the door. Clearly, my nosy, interfering roommates had something to say.

But when I opened the door, no one was there, just a bottle of “Soothing Cream” with a Post-it on it that said “Good for spanked booties.”

Snorting, I brought it back inside, shutting the door. Emma was sprawled on the bed, watching me, golden hair spread everywhere. Because I wanted to, I picked up my phone and took a picture of her so I could always have this moment, just a tap away.

“What the hell are you doing?” she cried, grabbing a pillow and covering her bare breasts.

“You look too pretty not to memorialize it,” I told her. Honestly. And, fuck me—earnestly.

She sighed. “You’re impossible. Don’t you dare show anyone else.”

I snorted. “If I thought anyone else saw you naked, in person or in a picture, I’d kill them. The photo’s not going anywhere. Hands and knees, Angel. I need to take care of that sweet little ass so the bruising isn’t too bad.”

She glared. “What happened to me not being able to sit for a month?”

“I decided it was too cruel,” I told her. “Besides, you’re mine, and I take care of what’s mine.”

Forever, I thought, but didn’t say.

Sighing, she flipped over onto her hands and knees.