Addicted After All (Addicted, #5)

by Krista Ritchie

Connor takes his hand off Rose’s and rubs his lips, as though trying to hide his irritation. But I can’t tell for sure. “I pick the only choice you’re giving me.” And then Ryke says, without missing a beat, “Kiss Loren. For thirty fucking seconds.” Yeah. He got us both back in one strike. My stomach has caved. And my eyes flit up to Connor, who is studying me, mostly. I can’t read his expression, but he’s definitely not uncomfortable like most people would be. I’m confident in my sexuality enough to do the dare—I just worry about the cameras pointed at us and how this’ll affect his reputation more than my own. He has more to lose, being the CEO of Cobalt Inc. I notice that Sam has covered his eyes again, acting like this is not happening. It may not. “Can’t fucking do it?” Ryke challenges Connor, who I doubt has ever quit a game, even a “juvenile” one. Without removing his gaze from mine, Connor says, “I’m just weighing my options.” He’s not Rose. Ryke’s phrase would’ve egged her to do it, too prideful not to—but Connor is more logical about his actions. And then he rises. “Stand up,” he commands to me. “Are you sure—” “I can handle the backlash,” he says, and his eyes briefly flicker to Ryke. I get it. He values his friendship with Ryke this much—that he’s willing to risk criticism or a new headline in the tabloids just to even the playing fields again. “Stand up.”

Oh my lord