Tainted by Jamie Begley

me want you while you held yourself back?” Both , Sawyer admitted frankly to herself. “If you want me to respond, you have to kiss me the way I like to kiss. You didn’t. It was an okay kiss, nothing special.”
    “ W — w hat did I do wrong?” She frowned at him.
    S he had kissed him like she had the few other men she had kissed. She didn’t think she was as bad at it as he seemed to think she was.
    Kaden moved closer to her , keeping his arms by his side.
    “You want my mouth , you ask for it.” Sawyer licked her lips, wanting to disappear into the bathroom, but it had become a matter of pride with her. Despite all the warnings buzzing through her mind, she had never backed down from anyone yet.
    Feeling ridiculous , she forged ahead. “Can I kiss you?” Sawyer asked, feeling stupid.
    “ May I kiss you,” Kaden repeated the phrase the way he wanted her to express it.
    Sure now that she was gradually swimming out of her depth , she repeated his words. “May I kiss you?”
    “Yes.”
    This time Sawyer raised herself up to reach his mouth with hers. It was different from the moment their lips met. His mouth was warm and responsive, giving her what she had expected the first time she had kissed him. Her tongue timidly traced his lips, entering the warm recesses of his mouth when he opened his, allowing her entrance. He tasted like peppermint. The warmth making her want to draw closer to him.
    She leaned into him , giving him more of her weight. Her nipples under her thin sweater and bra hardened as she felt his chest against hers. Her hands swept across his chest, feeling the firm flesh covered with tats.
    He took his mouth away , drawing a reluctant whimper from her.
    “Did I give you permission to touch me?” She saw from his clear gaze that he hadn’t been as affected as she was by their kiss.
    “ N— no,” she whispered.
    “I expect you to ask , Sawyer.”
    She was definitely certain she was out of her depth , but she pressed on, not wanting to stop kissing him.
    “Ca n— ” At his frown, she stopped. “May I touch you?”
    “Yes.” Sawyer leaned back into him at the same time she reached up to take his mouth again. This time he met her halfway, taking control of the kiss, opening her mouth to his exploration. Her body melted against his, her arms hesitantly sliding around his neck as his hand curled around her hips, pulling her even closer.
    The chemistry between them could easily get out of control if she wasn’t careful , and she was about to call a halt, when again he pulled away from her.
    “They should be done getting the tire fixed by now . I need to check and make sure everything is okay.”
    Sawyer stood still , her breathing uneven, as she lowered her arms to her sides.
    “Goodnight , Sawyer.” He then left without waiting for her reply.
    Sawyer stood , staring at the closed door, until she felt the bus start moving again. She then went into the bathroom and took off her clothes before stepping into the shower.
    Ignoring the warning in her head had been the biggest mistake of her life; however, her fighting instincts had her refusing to back down from his challenge. She had to be smart and bide her time until he gave her the money he’d promised. Then Vida and she could disappear to live the life they had always dreamed. All she had to do was keep her distance from Kaden for the next three months. Then, she would be free.
    Sawyer knew it was going to be easier said than done.

Chapter Nine
     
    Sawyer sat at the kitchenette table drinking a cup of coffee, when the bus driver told them they were an hour away from R.J.’s house. She was looking forward to getting off the bus for a few days. She had been getting sick to her stomach from the motion of the bus when she had first started out with the band. Alec had given her a bottle of medicine—which she would dab a small amount behind her ear every morning— and it had made the constant motion of the bus more bearable; however,