Karma.
Sucked like a bitch.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bentley was being too quiet.
And his fake smile was back.
She had no one to blame but herself. But what did she expect? That he’d stay with her after the month was over? Want to be with her? It was laughable.
Sure, he might like her enough to sleep with her—but he said it himself, he did what he did to push the anxiety away, to escape.
Why was she working so hard to convince herself that she was a distraction to him? When it could be so much more.
Then again. She could be nothing to him. A way to pass time. To scratch an itch. To heal from the trauma of his past.
And then she’d be his nothing.
Oddly enough, the thought didn’t have her dry-heaving all over the bedroom floor or even tearing up—because he’d given her a gift.
Not just sex.
But confidence that maybe, just maybe, one day someone might look at her like he did and tell her she deserved to be loved.
That was when the tears came.
“Okay!” Bentley charged into the room with a tray of food and two bottles of wine. “You literally have no healthy food. Only snacks, snacks, and more snacks. I thought I found peanuts—they were covered in chocolate.”
Margot gasped and snatched the candy from him. “I’ve been looking for those!” She ripped them open and popped a handful into her mouth. “What?”
He gave her a look of disbelief. “You just stole my food.”
“My house.” She chomped down on the nuts. “My food.”
“Whatever happened to sharing?” He jerked the candy from her hands. “Does that mean that since I claimed you first, you’re mine? Like the food?”
She gulped. “That’s completely different.”
“Really? Because the way I see it, I searched, plundered, and planted—” he grinned as she covered her face with her hands “—my flag.”
Air whooshed out of her mouth. “Your flag?”
“I would have said cock.” He grinned. “But you keep deleting those, so I’m on high alert where that word’s concerned.”
She burst out laughing.
He held out his hand. “Come here.”
“Where are we going?” She tugged his shirt tighter around her and crossed her arms.
He led her down the stairs and toward the front door. “We are going for a walk.”
“We are?”
“Yup.” He held the door open. “Brant just texted that he took off, and I have about five minutes to kill before I do more—” his eyes roamed over her “—planting?”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?” She cringed.
“Only because it makes you blush here.” He cupped her neck with one hand. “And here.” He slid the other hand down her backside.
“My ass blushes?”
“I don’t know, should I check?” he teased, as she gently shoved him away.
Bentley was in just his jeans; his abs were on full display, as was his bronzed and muscled back. It hurt to look at him too long.
The outside air hit her skin, causing a shiver to wrack her body. She wasn’t cold; it was more the fact that her skin felt sensitive, even to the air.
Bentley smiled down at her. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t trust her voice, so she nodded, even though she wasn’t okay. Nothing about taking a walk postsex with a man like Bentley Wellington was okay, especially since she woke up a virgin and was now…with the guy she’d always wanted to be with. Whenever she thought about sex or wrote about it, it had always, irritatingly, been Bentley’s face she’d seen. And she’d hated herself for it.
Now? She realized her fantasy wasn’t even close to the reality of what it felt like to be in his arms.
Her breath hitched when he leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of her head. “You got quiet.”
“I was thinking.”
He made a face. “I must be shit in bed if you’re actually able to still do that.”
“What?” She elbowed him playfully in the side. “Is that a side effect from being naked with you? The loss of all coherent thought?”
“Damn well should be,” he grumbled as he wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her against him. Then a bright smile lit up his face as he went down on bended knee.
“Please tell me you aren’t proposing.”
“I’m offended that you look like you’re ready to pass out.”
Margot’s eyes narrowed. “Bentley—”
“Go on a date with me.”
“A date?” she repeated. Her body hummed with excitement, and then shame.
Because the last time she was on a date it hadn’t gone well. Not at all.
Embarrassment washed over her. “No, I, um, I don’t think—”
“You really need a break from thinking so much.” He stood. “Fine, I’ll just have to get you naked again so you stop analyzing every damn thing I say.”
Just the thought of being naked with him again—being that vulnerable—had her ready to break out into a cold sweat.
“Yes,” Margot found herself blurting. “I mean, sure, that would be fun. A date.”
“Fun?” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Is that why you’re making a face like you just drank rotten milk? Because you’re so excited about the fun we’re about to have on our date?”
She crossed her arms so he wouldn’t see the shaking in her hands. “I don’t…date.”
“I know.” He reached for her. “That’s why I got down on one knee. I figured I should make it special for you…since it’s technically going to be our first date.”
“Even though we’ve already had sex?”
“I never claimed to be a gentleman,” he whispered huskily.
“I don’t think I asked for one,” she retorted, shocking herself and probably him, too, if the surprised expression on his face was any indicator.
“Good.” A smile tugged the corners of his lips. “Because I’m pretty sure I would be complete shit at it.” God, he was hot when he didn’t have a shirt on. The man didn’t need clothes. Ever. “But I think I can at least manage to open the door for you.”
“Be still my heart,” she said drily, as he slowly eyed her up and down. “What?”
“Sorry. I’m still thinking about it.”
“It?”
“You. Naked. Multiple orgasms. All of it.”
Her throat went completely dry.
“I’ll probably be thinking about it later, too, during our date, after our date, but don’t worry,” he said quickly. “It’s just sex, right?”
She gulped. “R-right.”
She could have sworn she saw more hurt than humor in his hazel eyes, and when he turned around to open the door, his hands were clenched in tight fists.
But that would be impossible.
Laughable even.
That a guy like the one she was unabashedly lusting after—would want more than her body.
Guys like Bentley never asked for a girl’s heart—even though they ended up with them regardless.
She was way past being able to protect herself from him—and the thought was terrifying.
Margot sighed and tried to focus on the positive.
A date.
She was going on a date.
“Be ready in fifteen,” Bentley said, interrupting her thoughts, then softly kissed her on the cheek.
Margot nodded and felt like she was floating as she made her way back inside the house. For the first time in years, she was looking forward to getting in a car.
Because Bentley Wellington was by her side.
Chapter Thirty
The minute Margot got into the car Bentley wanted to make up an excuse—any excuse, that would keep them in bed.
For the rest of the day.
Week.
Year.
The rest of his life.
One.
It was one time, with the wom
an he’d always wanted, and now he couldn’t stop thinking about all of the short little gasps and moans she made when he entered her, or how she gripped his biceps in awe as he kissed down her neck.
Hell, it was going to be a long day. Already his brain was mapping out all the different ways he was going to take her—and although he knew she probably wouldn’t turn him down, he wanted her to want him.
Basically, in the short span of a few weeks, he’d turned into a chick.
There was no other explanation for the overanalyzing and constant state of worry he’d been in since she gave him “the look” and basically admitted she was just using him for sex.
When it was so much more.
Which meant he had to laugh it off so she wouldn’t see how much it had both pissed him off and hurt his feelings.
Fifteen minutes ago he was ready to talk to her about it, and then he chickened out and asked her on a date instead.
He was dating her so he could get her to like him…and then what? They’d ride off into the sunset together? Great. Awesome. Good job, Bentley.
Good plan.
“Hell,” he muttered.
“What?” Margot’s excited green eyes blinked back at him as she clutched her seat belt with her hands.
“Nothing.” He forced a smile and then hit the accelerator.
“Bentley?”
“Hmm?” It was hard to keep the car on the road when she was licking her lower lip like that, especially now that he knew what she tasted like.
He held his groan in when she leaned forward, and the material from her loose tank top pooled near her breasts, flashing him, blinding him, nearly killing him.
“Thanks for getting me out of the house.” She was pale when she said it, like she meant the words, but her body wasn’t completely on board with the entire idea.
He tore his gaze away from her and focused on the drive into the city. “You’re welcome.”
They rode in comfortable silence all the way into town. Well, as comfortable as was possible since his dick tried to rise to the occasion every time she moved, exposing a bit of skin or sending her perfume wafting toward him.
Bentley grinned when he pulled into the parking lot of the go-kart lot. “Ready?”
“Where are we?” She frowned, looking up at the sign. “Go-kart racing?”
“Affirmative.” He turned off the car and opened his door. “When was the last time you drove anything?”
Her lips drew into a straight line as she scowled over at him. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“Prickly.” He grinned over at her, then got out of the car and made his way over to her side. She was still sitting in the car, arms crossed, face full of fear, seat belt on.
He opened the door. “Unbuckle your seat belt, Margot, we’re going for a ride.”
She snorted out a laugh. “Is that what you tell all the girls?”
“What other girls?” he countered as he closed the door again. “Because I’m only looking at one. I’m on a date with one girl. The only girl. Some may say I’m with the girl that got away.”
Her breath hitched and a blush stained her cheeks. “I was in a hospital bed. Kinda hard to get away from that.” Voice wobbly, her eyes filled with tears.
“Fuck.” With shaky hands he reached for her face and kissed her—hard. “I’m sorry, so damn sorry.” He wiped the moisture from her cheeks.
“Me too,” she said.
“What?” His chest tightened. “Why are you sorry?”
“The phone works both ways, right?” She lifted a shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “I let my hurt and anger destroy a good friendship. Don’t act like I didn’t have a part in this. I just…you were so you and I was so me.”
“I’m not following.”
Their foreheads touched as she kept talking, running her hands up and down his chest, making it hard to focus on anything but the way her fingers felt against him. “We never made sense, you and me. I was the painfully shy, awkward bookworm, and you were the most popular guy in school. I let my fears, my insecurities, convince me that you’d only been using me, that you’d never actually been my friend. That someone like me could never have deserved you as a friend.”
“Margot.” Bentley cupped her face, his thumbs brushing her lips as they parted on contact. “Listen to me very closely…” Her half-lidded expression was almost his undoing, so beautiful. She was gorgeous. “I was terrified of you in high school. You were so smart and so pretty that most of the guys in our class were afraid to even talk to you.” She frowned. “And as far as deserving me? Hell, Margot, I could spend the rest of my life trying to deserve you and still fall short.”
“That’s not—”
“Shh.” He kissed her sweet mouth. “Let’s make a deal.”
She chewed her lower lip. “I’m listening.”
“Let’s go on a date.”
“Um, we are on a date.”
“Let me finish.”
“Sorry.”
“You interrupt a lot, you know that?”
She smirked. “I do not!”
“Margot,” he warned with a smile.
“Fine. Go.”
“Oh wow, now you’re demanding,” he teased. “Let’s go on our date and let this be about us. Margot and Bentley now…not the past, no elephants, no regret…and see where that takes us.”
She didn’t say anything.
He waited.
“Margot?”
“Oh, I wasn’t sure you were done, I didn’t want to interrupt you again,” she added with a teasing smile that had his heart bursting with—something. Shit. He was in too deep.
“Cute.”
“I thought I was pretty.”
“Fishing for compliments now? What have I done to you?”
She swallowed and glanced away. “Maybe you just made a broken woman”—she looked back at him—“a little bit more secure.”
“Life made.” He kissed her. He couldn’t help it.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as she pressed her body against his.
Bentley hissed out a breath when she took his bottom lip between his teeth and slid her hand slowly down his chest. Her hands kept moving, pausing to flick open the button of his jeans before reaching around to his ass.
“Did you just squeeze my ass?” he asked against her mouth.
She laughed. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Squeeze a guy’s ass or my ass?”
“Both,” she admitted. “I have this one scene where—”
“Margot.” He pulled away and then kissed her again, and again, before finally breaking away. “Are we acting out a ‘sexy times in a carriage’ scene?”
“No.” She slid her hand inside his jeans and gripped him. Bentley saw stars. “I’m writing my own.” Her hand moved.
“Damn good chapter.” His mouth found hers again as she pumped her hand. Bentley swallowed kiss after kiss, imagining her mouth in place of her hand.
If he didn’t stop her, they were going to get arrested in the parking lot, and he was going to have to explain to the officer why he couldn’t walk—or think—or get out of the car.
“Margot—” He jerked his mouth away from her. “If we don’t stop—”
“You’re interrupting,” she whispered with a wicked expression on her face. He reached for her hand but stopped.
It felt so good.
Too good.
“Just like that.” Hell, she was killing him. “Margot—”
He roared out her name, gripping the steering wheel with his left hand while he reached for her with his right, grabbing her hair instead of her body by accident.
His orgasm hit him so hard for a second he thought he was going to pass out. He was afraid to look down.
Only to see Margot had already thought of everything.
“Huh.” They both stared at his lap. “Starbucks cup, huh?”
“It was that or my purse.”
He burst out lau
ghing and then kissed her again, because he couldn’t help it, because he wanted to. Because the last time he’d gotten a hand job like that had been never.
Because he already knew he was in love with her.
He just needed her to catch up.
“We write really well together.” He buttoned his jeans back up and adjusted himself as best he could, trying to think of anything that would help alleviate the sudden ache he had to press her against the car seat and devour her.
“You did okay.” She winked.
“I like you.”
She gulped and wrung her hands together, whispering, “I like you, too.”
“Ready for our date?”
She looked out the window and gasped. “Go-karts?”
“Go-karts.”
“We just did—” she pointed to him “—that…in a go-kart parking lot?”
“Family fun for everyone.” Bentley nodded seriously then cracked a smile. “Let’s go.”
They both got out of the car and made their way across the parking lot.
She pressed a shaky hand between her breasts. “I know this sounds ridiculous, but what if I crash?”
Her face was so crestfallen he wanted to pull her into his arms and protect her, from everything. It hadn’t occurred to him a go-kart might scare her; it wasn’t even a car. “Look.” He nodded toward the track. “You think that you’ll actually get hurt? I’m pretty sure that kid who keeps driving around in circles is only six. The other one just ran straight into a wall and bounced back like a beach ball. You’ll be fine.”
She nodded. Twice. Her eyes scanned the cars as they whipped around the corners and ran into each other and every other object in their way.
Bentley excused himself and went over to the main counter to pay for their cars.
“Hey,” he said to the teen with braces at the counter. “Can we get two cars for the next hour?”
The kid grunted and handed him two keys and two helmets. “Try not to run over the cones.”
Bentley fought the urge to roll his eyes and point back at his sports car parked outside. Cones? He was going to be completely fine.
Margot, on the other hand…
“I’ll let my date know.” He knocked his knuckles against the counter and turned to leave when the guy called out to him.
“Dude, you brought your date here? To race go-karts?”