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“Why?” she finally asks

“Why, what?”

“Why did you do this for me?” She meets my eyes “Guilt?”

“No” I shake my head, and she cocks her head as she assesses my face

She’s scrutinizing ure me out I have no doubt she will Even if I haven’t ets me At first, I hated it But now? I don’t know I just know I don’t want to go back

“It wasn’t really because of guilt,” I allow

“Not really?” She lifts a brow “That’s not a denial”

Her nose scrunches, and I know she’s thinking about what to say Whether she should be upset or not

This isn’t going as planned

Before she can speak, I move closer

I’m on eye level with her from where I am perched on the floor

“This has nothing to do with guilt,” I respond, fir idea this time

“Then why?”

“Because” I run a palroan “Goddammit, Payton Because I wanted to”

“Why?” she presses, unrelenting It’s one of the things I like about her Just not right now At my expense

“Because I want to see you fucking smile,” I blurt out

“Why?”

Dairl?

Then it dawns onme to answer To speak my truth

That she already knows it

She just wants to hear it

Payton Hart wants me to cut myself open and bleed my emotions all over the floor

And fuck it, I will

“Because I fucking like you,” I say Simple as that “That’s why And I want to make you happy”

“But why?” she challenges, and I shut her up

I pull her toward me, wrap my arms around her back, and fuse her lips to mine

Moving my hand, I cup her face as I kiss her The kiss starts off soft at first withhow she responds When she lets out a soft sigh and arches her back, I deepen it

Pressing my lips more firmly to hers, I kiss her faster

I slide ue in her mouth

Minutes pass, or maybe just seconds, but I’m lost in this woman

I want more

I will alant more where she’s concerned

Then she’s pulling away and looking at me with confused eyes that are hazy with lust