Strife: Part Three (The Strife Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

takes a moment for her to reciprocate, but once she does, it's with more passion than I could have fathomed. Her hand reaches up, her nails sliding into the hair at the nape of my neck, causing a pleasant shiver to roll down my spine. She curls her fingers there, and I lower myself onto her, deepening the kiss, my lips molding to hers, my tongue exploring the slick cavern of her mouth.
    I'm intoxicated by her beauty, by the feel of her soft skin as I cradle her face in my hand. It's like she's cast some spell over me, but I know it's just the alcohol whittling me down to basal desire.
    I shouldn't be doing this. Shouldn't be touching her like this. Kissing her like this. It's wrong, even if it doesn't feel wrong.
    I take my fill of her lips, knowing that this can only happen once. Then I try to pull away. Her grip on me is strong, and she draws me back to her, lifting off the floor to chase me. I give her a few more chaste kisses before I summon my strength to disengage from her.
    She looks up at me with a confused expression, her gorgeous ringlets framing her face and making her seem almost angelic. She's far from an angel though. This is just an illusion.
    Her hands clutch at the front of my cardigan, still trying to pull me back down to her. I have to turn away, fearing the disappointment in her eyes. Gently, I place my hands on top of hers, peeling her fingers away from my clothing.
    “No,” I say softly, rolling off of her to sit and catch my breath.
    “What's wrong?” She pulls herself up, resting her chin on my shoulder.
    “We can't do this.”
    “Why not?” She slips a hand between the buttons of my cardigan, rubbing my stomach. Her nails raking over the thin material of my T-shirt causes my cock to throb with want. I can imagine them being less gentle on my back.
    “Because it's not right.”
    “Why isn't it right?” She pouts.
    “Because you're paid to sleep with me.” I face her finally though I dare not meet her gaze.
    “Is that what this is about?” she lets out a small laugh. “Any woman in the world would want to sleep with you, Dmitri.”
    “That's just it,” I sigh. “You didn't want to sleep with me before you knew who I was. Last night, you seemed so scared. So uncertain. You're different today.” I finally gather up the nerve to glance at her.
    Her lips dip into a frown as she considers my words. “Yesterday, I was scared,” she confesses. “I didn't know you. Didn't know what your intentions were. I didn't know if you were going to want to hurt me or...” She shakes her head and squeezes her eyes closed.
    “Pepper, I've never done this before. I've never had to pay a woman for sex. I've never wanted to pay a woman for sex. The fact that you're getting paid for this really bothers me.” Might as well throw it all out there, since it seems like we're both being honest.
    The shame in her expression makes me regret being so blunt. She stands, looking down at me with a coldness that causes a fissure in my heart. I reach up to grab her hand, but she jerks it away from me.
    “I get it, Dmitri. I'm just a whore to you. You don't want to sully yourself with my disgusting body.”
    “That's not it.” I'm on my feet in an instant, but she's already walking away.
    I try to capture her wrist, but again she pulls away. “Stop. Just stop, alright.”
    Doesn't she have any idea how hard this has been for me—how much I want her? The fact that I hurt her tears me apart. She didn't do anything wrong. And I damn sure don't see her as just a whore.
    It takes me a moment to realize that she's stalking off to the bathroom. I should let her go and cool down, but I'm worried that if I do, she'll lock herself in, and I'll have to carry these horrible feelings inside of me for God knows how long. I don't want that. I don't want us to both spend the rest of the night miserable.
    I wrap my hands around her shoulders and push her to the side before she has a chance to enter the bathroom. She stumbles,