Beholden (The Belonging Duet, #2)(35)
Spinning on my heels, I turn to face him. “I wouldn’t say never, darling.”
“When have I ever lost?” He cocks his eyebrow and it takes everything inside of me not to jump him.
For some inexplicable reason I find him sexiest when he’s like this. Who am I kidding? I find him sexy all the time. Damn dimple and abs—I didn’t stand a chance. I smile since this is the perfect time to finally get my time from that godforsaken obstacle course he made me run. “Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.” I give him my best seductive grin.
Jackson clears his throat as I slither up to him. “Show my what?”
“Time. I want to see your time.”
His head tilts and he looks off to the side. “I’m going out on a limb here, but are you talking about the O-course?” A slow smile creeps across his face as he figures out what I’m talking about.
“Yup,” I smirk and start to slide my finger down his chest. “You know, that photo you have of my time.” My brow rises as his breath hitches while my hand goes lower. “The one where you owe me a whole lot of shopping and a massage.”
Jackson grips my wrist before my hands reach his pants. “What about when you see how much I schooled you?” He leans forward dropping his voice into a low seductive whisper. “What do I get then, baby?”
The heat against my ear causes me to shiver and I hear him chuckle at my reaction. “What do you want?” I try to play it cool and not give away the way he’s making my body react, even though it’s blatantly obvious.
“What do you want to give me?” His deep voice travels from my head to my toes, igniting the low flame of lust into a raging inferno.
My breaths are shallow and my pulse is beating so loud I’m positive he can hear it. “Well, why don’t you show me and find out.”
“Nah, this is more fun,” Jackson says and stands up opening the door.
“You’re not going to think this is so fun in a few hours.” With my arms crossed I lean against the door so he can’t get through.
Jackson smiles and waits for me to move. He’s in no rush and it makes me want to stomp and scream at him. It seems he’s back to his playful, jackass self. The walker he uses to get around has a seat and he perches himself on it while I stand there. The smug smile on his face causes my irritation to claw its way up.
“I’ve got all day,” he sighs dramatically and starts to look around.
“I’ll make another deal with you,” I say. “Even though I don’t know why I bother since you don’t keep up your end anyway,” I tack on just for good measure.
“I’m all ears.”
He infuriates me when he’s like this. I don’t know whether to slap him or kiss him—maybe both. “We’ll go to the park and settle in for our beautiful date. Since you’re feeling better, you’ll tell me my time and I’ll tell you yours.”
“I’m waiting for the concession here,” Jackson cuts me off and taps his fingers on the chair.
I huff, “I’m getting there, Muffin. But you so rudely interrupted.” I smile and cock my head to the side. “As I was saying, you give up the goods and if I won then you take me to a Broadway play. Then, you’ll treat me to a spa day. If you win, then I won’t call you Muffin for at least two weeks, and I’ll run that stupid obstacle course again.”
“One month,” he says quickly, counteroffering my two weeks.
“Two weeks.”
“Not good enough, and you’ll do a lot more than the obstacle course. As soon as my leg is back to normal and I get the green light from the doc, you’ll start running with me every day.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “I think you have a better chance of me becoming a nun before that ever happens.”
“Take it or leave it, Kitty,” Jackson says, cocky and so sure he has it made.
“My final offer is three weeks.” I smile and place both hands on the walker, backing him into the wall. He’s completely trapped and his eyes narrow as he looks at the position he’s in. “And unless you want to become celibate, you’ll retract the running clause.”
His lips quirk up into a lazy smile. “You see, baby, I win. I have the time. I have the upper hand. I already know I smoked your beautiful ass. There’s no way in hell you beat me, so really this deal has to work in my favor. So you …” Jackson’s fingers wrap around my neck as he pulls me down, “… Are really the one who has to suffer.” His lips graze mine and I feel the heat of his breath against my mouth. “Take it. Or leave it.”
I can almost feel his smile against my lips. Unable to resist him and hoping this diversion tactic works, I press my mouth to his. My hands thread in his hair and my tongue plunges into his mouth. Controlling every aspect of the kiss, I push further. When he finally let’s go and starts to give back, I give him a moment. I need him to get lost in it so I can hopefully have him distracted. Plus, I know he’s already excited from our previous kiss. As soon as I hear the moan escape him, I push back and take an extra step out of his grasp. My lips tingle from the kiss and Jackson’s eyes are wide as he admires me. The bulge in his pants makes it obvious he was wanting much more.
With his defenses lowered, I move back another step letting him see who really has the power. “You better slow me down before I head out the door.” I pause for dramatic effect.