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“I know.”

I don’t look away from her, and to her credit, neither does she.

Anna opens her mouth to speak and then closes it.

“Say it,” I command.

“I can’t give you everything right now.”

“Then give me something.”

She shifts her weight. “I won’t lie about what I’m doing, where I am. No excuses.”

“No pulling away,” I add.

“No pulling away.”

Ripping off the stupid blond wig, she shakes out her long pink hair. Fuck, she’s gorgeous. I study her, weighing her offer. This doesn’t fix our problem, but it’s a start. My palm kneads the back of my neck. She’s got a past, and I’ve always said I’ll let her wait until she’s ready, but fuck, I wish she would just tell me what’s going on.

“Why are you working here?” I ask, sighing.

“I need the money.”

God, it’s like we’re back to square one when she used to sit in my chair in silence. “Why?”

“Look, I want you, but I need you to respect this boundary. I will tell you eventually. I’m giving you every other part of myself. Why isn’t that enough?”

“Because I want all of you,” I bite out. Her breath catches and my gaze drops to her mouth. I lean in, and she lifts her chin to meet me. I hover my lips over hers and she leans in, but I retreat at the last moment.

“Casper . . .”

I want to see her chase it, witness the enthusiasm she keeps shying away from. She needs to stop acting like she’s incapable of being the badass who survived those scars on her back. I want that woman, the one who isn’t afraid to share her darkest secrets. But she’s the only one who can tear those walls down.

She tentatively leans in a second time and I pull back.

“Did you think I was going to let you have it that easy?”

Anna shakes her head and tries a third time, pausing before she reaches my lips. I smile and withdraw again. She’s waiting for me to give in.

“Show me you want it.”

She blushes, tips her face up to mine. She’s going to have to take it from me, see that she’s strong enough to lead. I need her to know I’m not affected by chaos—I can be her safety. If only she lets me.

“I said . . .” I cup her chin and level our stare. “Show me you fucking want it.”

She swings a leg over me, straddles my lap, and grips the back of my neck, guiding my mouth to hers. The kiss wrecks me on impact.

There she is.

Our connection is still there.

I make a low growl against her lips and she shivers as if it pulses through her whole body. My hands slide up her thighs, slow and deliberate, until they settle at her hips. Her kiss grows more vicious and I smirk, my palms roaming until they grip the globes of her ass. I haul her against my stiff cock and she moans into my mouth.

“You have no idea how good you look wanting more.”

Her hips roll, and she presses her forehead to mine. My thumb traces along her jaw as she grinds.

“You’re allowed to want. To take. To use me however you like. Be messy . . . demanding . . . shameless. Don’t hide any of it.”