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Olivia had nothing against strippers. She loved Magic Mike XXL. A shirtless Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, and Matt Bomer all in the same movie? Yes,
“At least now I know why Sammy was so besotted with you back in the day. You have beautiful breasts.”
“What are you doing?” He leaned closer until their mouths were centimeters apart. “I’m going to kiss you,” he said calmly. “Do you want me to kiss you, Olivia?”
“I forgot something,” he said. Her brow furrowed. “What—” The rest of her sentence died as Sammy’s lips claimed hers and pleasure exploded throughout her body.
“I didn’t get over you, Sammy. I never did.”
“I’m not lying.” Frustration echoed in Olivia’s words. “I was young and stupid and let my mom make me doubt myself. I did a lot of things I’m not proud of, but our breakup destroyed me. All these years, I held onto my anger over the things you said because it was easier than owning up to the fact that I still want you. I always have.” Her lower lip trembled. “I’m not lying,” she repeated.
“Say it,” he ordered, and fuck if that didn’t turn her on more. Olivia loved control outside the bedroom, but she had a real weakness for dominant males inside the bedroom. It was the one place where she could let someone else take the driver’s seat. “Tell me what you want.” “I want you.”
“You can do better than that.” Sammy tsked, looking disappointed. “Be more specific.” “I want you to—” She flushed, her chest hot with embarrassment. “I want you to fuck me.” “Where?” “Anywhere.” The answer slipped out of its own accord. A wicked gleam entered Sammy’s eyes. “You shouldn’t have said that.”
We weren’t ready for what the real world had to throw at us. Sometimes,” he said softly. “It’s not about love. It’s about timing.”
Sammy was in love with Olivia again—more than he’d ever been. And he had no clue if she felt the same toward him. Aw, fuck.
Sammy sank onto her perfectly made-up bed and covered his face with his hands, pain shredding his heart into a million ribbons. The silence was deafening. Other than the faint trace of her perfume, it was like she’d never been there at all. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. The words echoed back at him, heavy and sorrowful. He closed his eyes, trying to breathe. It hurt. The air, the silence, everything. It hurt so fucking bad he might as well have fed his heart through a wood chipper and stomped on the resulting pieces for good measure.
“I should’ve aborted you like I’d originally wanted. You were an accident; I only wanted one child. But I had a moment of weakness and kept you, and you’ve been a disappointment ever since. This isn’t about love, Olivia. It’s about survival. Those at the top survive; those on the bottom don’t. The fact you’ve never understood that is exactly why you’ll never have my approval.”
The moment I set eyes on you in that crappy orientation room in Shanghai nine years ago, I was a goner. Not a day has passed since that I haven’t thought of you, and I wish...I wish I could run away with you and hole up in the mountains somewhere, just the two of us. No Internet, no meddling families, no overreaching bosses...just us.” He laughed softly. “That sounds stupid, doesn’t it?”
He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers, waiting for his heart rate to return to normal. He never wanted to leave. He’d give up everything—his business, his family, his life—to stay here with her, in this magical place where the world couldn’t touch them, forever. “I love you.”
“It’s selfish of me, but when I woke up after you left and realized you weren’t there, I was devastated. I thought I could handle being away from you, but I can’t. I’ll always need you in my life.
“Sammy.” A tear slipped down her cheek. He rubbed it away with his thumb, his chest aching. “I love you too. With all of my heart.”
“I know that! I’m not playing a game.” Olivia sounded as frustrated as he felt. “Then what? Are you punishing me for what happened in San Francisco? If so, I’ll fucking get on my knees. Beg. Call your boss myself and tell him I’m the one who fucked up—”
“Yes,” Sammy said when Olivia opened the door. She still wore her bridesmaid dress, and it was clear she hadn’t gone to sleep yet despite the late hour. She blinked in shock. “Yes, take as much time as you need. I don’t care if it takes weeks or months or years. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here. I’ll wait—forever, if I need to.”
