Chapter 31

I shake my head slowly, sure I’ve heard Shane wrong. “What?”

“Tell me this weekend wasn’t the best sex of

your life.” He takes a step toward me. “Tell me that you didn’t enjoy every single second you spent with me.” Another step. “Tell me you were lying when you said you loved me.”

“Please don’t ruin this,” I whisper. “We still have one day left.”

“That’s what I’m saying.” He catches my elbows. “What if we had more than one day?” Shane slowly tows me closer until I’m pressed against his chest. “Stay. Give us a shot.”

“I’ve been single for six days.”

“So?” He skates his hand up my back to dig into my hair and urge my head back so he can kiss the long line of my throat. “Stay.”

I’m losing ground and losing it fast. Letting this man get his hands on me was a mistake if I wanted to have enough energy to fight what he’s saying. Still, I try. “You can’t possibly want to fuck again. Max just caught us.”

“And if he was that torn up about it, he’d still be here yelling at us about it.”

Fuck, that hurts. “Cruel.”

“Logical.” Shane keeps kissing my neck. “Come back upstairs, Lily. If you don’t want to talk about it today, we won’t. We can save it for tomorrow.”

I shouldn’t. For better or worse, I’ve accomplished what I set out to do, and staying means something beyond revenge. I can’t stay forever. No matter what Shane is offering, eventually he’ll come to his senses and then that broken heart chaser will stop being theory and will become my reality.

But I already hurt so much. What’s one more day?

I skate my hands up to loop my arms around his neck. “Yes.”

He hooks the back of my thighs and lifts me so I can wrap my legs around his waist. Shane carries me back up to his bedroom, and I laugh a little as he shuts and locks the door. He gives me a severe look. “I don’t want any more interruptions.”

“Me, either.” I kiss him.

Shane walks us to the bed and lays me down. “If you were mine, I’d want you only in little dresses like this.” He pushes the fabric up just enough to bare my pussy. “You have no idea how crazy it makes me to know that there’s nothing stopping me from being inside you.”

“Oh yeah?” I prop myself up on my elbows as I watch him strip. I’m not even remotely ashamed to say I give my shoulders a little wiggle so my straps slip off and falls to bare my breasts. “I thought you said I was a little slut for dressing like this.”

“You are. My little slut.” He steps out of his jeans and advances on me. “I’d take you out, Lily. Wherever you want to go. We’d see how long we can last before I’m up your skirt.”

“Mmm.” I reached down and stroke my pussy. “You going to finger me at dinner, Daddy? Take me into the bathroom and have me for dessert?”

He skates his hands up my thighs, watching me dip a finger into myself. “I ought to bend you over the table and fuck you right there in front of everyone.” He squeezes my thighs. “I won’t, though. You’re just for me, Lily. No one gets to know how sweetly you taste or how pretty you are when you come except for me.”

He’s claiming me with his words the same way he’s previously claimed me with his body. I take a shuddering breath. “Shane—”

“A fantasy.” He yanks me to the edge of the mattress. “Let me have my fantasy, baby girl. It’s the least you can do since you’re leaving me.”

Iwake up before dawn. Every part of my body hurts, but I don’t let that stop me as I climb out of bed and stagger to the dress we discarded at some point. I don’t know where my black dress is, so this will have to do.

I pause in the doorway and look back, determined to memorize this moment. Shane is sprawled on his back, the sheets bunched around his waist, his broad chest on display. It’s almost enough to tempt me back to bed. To pretend our deadline hasn’t come. To take him up on everything he’s offering me.

I can’t.

I just…can’t.

“Lily.”

I jump. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”

“I was the moment you moved.”

I shift, torn between walking out the door and running back to the bed. “I have to go, Shane. I…”

“It’s too soon.” He sits up. “You need time to work through your shit.”

“Yes.” I exhale in something like grief. “It’s a lot of shit.” It will take longer than seven days to get over this. It’s not even getting over Max as much as it’s getting over the failed relationship. I need time and space to process, but I don’t know how long it will take. “I can’t ask you to wait for me.”

“You don’t have to.” He drags his hand through his hair. “You’re it for me, Lily. I’ll wait as long as you need.”

My chest aches, but I don’t argue. I don’t ask him what happens if he’s waiting forever. “I’m going to go.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

“No.” I take a quick step back, even though he’s barely shifted. “If you get up, I’m going to second-guess myself and then I’ll end up on your cock again. Which means we’ll be having an identical conversation next time we surface.”

He curses softly. “Text me when you get home.”

I don’t tell him that even that much communication is probably crossing a line. “I will.” I pause. “Do you want the videos?”

Shane holds my gaze. “Only when you’re ready to start again. Send them to me when you’re ready to be mine, baby girl.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I whisper. And then I flee.

F E B R U A R Y

5:48pm

Shane: How are you holding up?

Me: It’s been rough.

Shane: What can I do?

Me: I just need time, I think.

Shane: Take all the time you need, Lily. I mean it.