Raising the bottle to his full lips, he finishes off the bottle and throws it in the trash bin close to where we stand. I lean against the railing and purse my lips.
“I stole that, dickhead,” I admit.
He raises an amused eyebrow before chuckling again.
“Stealing at a party being held by the federal government? Not to mention you’re sneaking around.”
He leans in, trapping me between his muscular arms, his lips only inches from mine.
He whispers, “you know I can see right through you, right?”
That could mean any one of several things. Maybe his obsession with my father and my resemblance to him has given me up, or I’ve lost my touch. But the way he’s leaning into me, he’s like a predator that’s cornered its prey. The line is blurred on pretense.
Perhaps we’ve looked at Brenner’s and Collins’s relationship all wrong, and he doesn’t care about making a move on the girl talking to his best friend. Maybe Brenner’s wants and needs override his conscience, as mine does.
He leans in closer, lips brushing against my cheek to my ear, his trimmed beard tickling my skin.
“The curiosity in your eyes when I’m close to you.”
Well, at least he doesn’t know who I am and is just driven by his dick.
“Not interested,” I volley.
“Don’t buy it.”
“Don’t have to.”
Brenner moves his mouth away from my ear and meets my glare, his eyes bouncing between mine in search of something. Once again, I’m locked in his icy hold.
Liam Brenner is the forbidden fruit in this mission. If he weren’t untouchable, I probably wouldn’t want him as bad as I do.
But I do want him.
And I fucking hate that. My pussy is a goddamn traitor, but neither she nor Brenner will get that satisfaction.
Nothing is tastier than the one thing you’re told you can’t have, which is exactly why Brenner has been so persistent. His broken pride won’t let this go. He thinks I want Collins, not him, so I’m the tastiest treat he’s ever fucking seen. But, as much as I would love to take a bite of that forbidden fruit, everything relies on this mission.
“Am I supposed to believe Bastian is your type?” he pushes away, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“I imagine you think you are. You’re only attracted to me because I don’t want you. And you have no idea what my type is.”
Brenner studies me, digesting my words. He absentmindedly strokes his beard, considering if my assessment could be accurate.
“There’s a fire inside of you ready to burn this world down, Mila,” he says, shifting his body to lean against the railing beside me.
He stares straight ahead as if he’s lost in thought.
“Bastian isn’t wild enough for you. Stealing wine and sneaking around a place full of federal agents isn’t a thrill you’ll get out of him.”
Catching me by surprise, he pushes off the railing and walks toward the door.
“You don’t know dick about me, Liam. And I suggest you stop thinking you do,” I snap.
Brenner spins around and snaps his hand out, gripping my chin. I’d cut it from his fucking arm if I could. Submission is not something I swallow easily.
“Such a mouth on you.” he runs his thumb along my bottom lip.
“Remove your hand, or I’ll break it,” I snarl.