Page 16 of Face Off With Fate

Neither of us spoke for a few moments, locked in a test of wills. She let out a huff and turned on her heel. Victory simmered in my veins. I stood a little taller, embarrassingly proud I’d won.

“Fine, have it your way. I’ll go tell him you lied.”

Her words slapped me across the face.

“Oh no you don’t.” I wrapped my arm around her waist, hauling her back. “You are not tellin’ him that.”

I hadn’t accounted for her ass hitting my crotch, and I grunted for very different reasons. I angled my hips away before she got the wrong idea about why I’d brought her in this closet.

Of all the times my body decided to react, this was it?

“What the hell, Monr⁠—”

The rest of her shout was cut off by my hand.

“You’re so much trouble, do you know that?” I hissed in her ear, trying to ignore the heat radiating off her, her citrusy shampoo tickling my nose. Tempting me to bury my face in her hair and take a deeper inhale.

She cooperated, other than what I was pretty sure was a muffled, “Fuck you.”

“If I let go, do you promise not to cause problems?” I whispered, entranced by the pulse pounding at her throat, so lost in thought my damp palm didn’t register until the second swipe.

“Ugh.” I yanked it away, spell broken. “Did you lick me? Twice? What are you, five?”

A neon finger was shoved in my face. “You’re the one causing trouble. I had it all worked out, Monroe. What’s your plan, huh? What are you going to tell Tommy when you walk into his office on Monday?”

Her questions were sledgehammers to my confidence.

“I—” The empty excuses lodged in my throat. What the hell was my plan?

“And what are you going to do about your other issue? You can get rid of me, but that still leaves you with your image.”

Something in my chest stirred at the flare of her nostrils and her heaving chest.

“Fine.” I pulled my hat off, running a hand through my hair. “We’ll keep up this lie.”

“Shake on it.” She extended her hand, dainty fingers covered in gold rings.

I stared at it, positive I’d regret this whole damn thing.

“A damn deal with the devil.” The tips of my fingers brushed her skin, but she pulled away.

“Ah, ah, ah. I changed my mind. Down on your knees.”

I barked out a laugh. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” She stepped close enough for me to make out the specks of caramel brown dotting her irises like little stars, jutting her chin. “On your knees, Monroe. Beg for my help.”

I swore those little stars turned to flames.

“I’m not getting on my knees.”

The smile she shot me had my heart crashing against my ribs. “I’d hurry. Your press junket starts soon.”

Fuck. She had me cornered.

I lowered, hating every second of it. Oh, how far I’d fallen in such a short span of time.

“Would you look at that? My favorite sight…a man on his knees.”