Naughty or Nice(7)
He looks at me and I wonder if he can feel my racing heart. He probably thinks it’s fear when I know it’s excitement. Not that I would ever admit that aloud. He brings my hand to his mouth, where he kisses my palm gently and the move surprises me. I swallow hard to try and get the lump out of my throat.
“No one is asking you to pay for it.” He kisses my palm again before releasing my wrist.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say I won’t be paying with cash, but I can’t bring myself to take away from his generosity. Even if it isn't real and he has another angle I’m not seeing yet, I’m still going to take it. It’s been too long since someone was nice to me or wanted to take care of me.
“You should pack a bag. You can’t stay here tonight.”
“Of course I’m staying here.” Where else would I stay? Not having somewhere to go sends me into a panic. I’ve been alone since I lost Grams, but in this moment I truly feel alone and it’s a realization that rocks me.
“It will be too cold. Nick will only leave the heat high enough so the pipes don’t freeze. That won’t be warm enough for you to stay.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got blankets and stuff, I’m sure I’ll be okay.” I take a step back from him.
Maybe I could call Linda from the clinic and see if I can stay with her. No way am I asking my brother to stay with him. If worse came to worst I’d just have to suck it up and hunker down tonight. I don’t want to have to ask Linda since she has her hands full with her life and kids.
“I won’t let you stay in a cold house. You will stay with me.” My mouth falls open in shock. He didn’t even ask me. It’s a demand, and I can read it in every line of his body that he isn’t backing down from this.
“I don’t even know where you live,” I blurt out as I look for a reason not to go to his place.
Going home with him feels intimate. I’ve never gone home with a man before. I’ve thought about it before when I’d lie in bed at night wondering what it would be like to be with a man.
“You’ll be fine. My sister lives with me,” he says.
“Yeah, because that’s reassurance. I have a brother, so you telling me your sister lives with you means nothing.”
His eyes narrow for a second as he tries to read me. Crap. I’ve said too much. It makes me wonder how much Brian knows about what Slate told me to do. Maybe he doesn’t know anything at all. I hadn’t thought of that until now. Maybe I’m being used to seduce him so Slate can keep Brian close. We all know Slate wants to work with him no matter what the cost. I’m reminded that I’m supposed to be agreeable and it takes away the indecision. I should be pissed, but relief slides through me that it’s out of my hands. I don’t want him to ask about my brother and I need to get this done. Then I have to come up with a plan.
“Never mind. You’re right. I’ll stay with you.” He steps so close to me so that I have to look up at him.
“Why do you keep doing that?” His hands come out and grip my hips as he holds me close and keeps me in place. His lips trail softly down my neck and I’m a puddle in his arms.
“Doing what?” I feel him smile against me and I close my eyes tight.
“How do you go from hot to cold so quickly?” He kisses me below my ear and I gasp when I feel his hot tongue. “You want to get close to me then run the other way?”
A small laugh comes from me, then he tightens his hands on my hips. “It doesn't matter,” I say dismissively as I try to maneuver out of his hold, but he doesn’t let me go.
“It matters,” he growls, making goosebumps rise across my skin.
“Does it? Does it really matter?” I throw back at him.
He begins to respond, but I cut him off. “Answer one question for me. You aren't going to stop until you get what you want from me, are you?”
His blue eyes widen a fraction and I can tell he’s trying to figure out what to say. My brother is good at that, too—making sure he says things in a way that keeps him from answering a question. He always tries to make everything seem fine when it really isn’t.
“I’ll get my bag.” He lets go of my hips reluctantly and I move away from him.
“I can’t,” he finally says with something like determination in his eyes. “I can’t stop.”
Maybe he knows that Slate ordered me to give him what he wants if he’s willing to admit he won’t stop coming for me. It stands to reason that he’d do just about anything to get what he wants. Including making deals with the devil.
When my eyes meet his, I have the strangest feeling that I’m actually the one with all the power and he’s the one at my mercy. It’s just too bad I have no idea what to do about it.
Chapter 5
Brian
She glares at the menu like it’s personally offended her. Her eyes narrow and she pulls it closer to her as she scrutinizes every detail. I don’t open mine because I’m too busy memorizing every detail of her. The way her blonde hair is tucked behind one ear and lies over the opposite shoulder. I see the tiny silver bird earrings she’s wearing and wonder where she got them. Her sweater hugs her tight and every sweet curve is caressed to show off how sultry her body is. I fist my hands under the table because they’re empty. I want to delve into her softness and get lost in her light.