Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re in some serious pain.”
In more ways than one, now that his level of arousal was reaching new limits. It didn’t help that she smelled like a fucking dream. Mandarin and orange blossoms. He should leave. Being here, being around her, only made things worse.
At the same time, though, her company gave him a sort of … mental release. He could spar with her. Argue with her. Rile her up. Not have to worry about adopting the social niceties that others obsessed over—Bailey didn’t give a rat’s furry ass how rude he was.
“Why won’t you just go fuck the touch-hunger out of your system?” she asked, clearly baffled. “This is seriously not the time to take a vow of celibacy. It’ll just keep getting worse.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” he deadpanned.
Ignoring that, she went on, “I don’t get it. You’re a dick, but you’re not stupid.”
“A dick?”
“Why make this harder for yourself?” She dropped her gaze to his crotch. “Like literally harder. You a masochist? Is that it? I never considered that before. Probably should have. Makes sense. You into kinky stuff, too? I had a friend who liked to wear cock cages. He also liked being choked during sex, according to his ex. Not to the point where he passed out or anything, though he apparently did once almost—”
“Stop talking about sex,” he gritted out, because his cock hurt so much at this point that it would hurt to walk.
“If even hearing someone talk about it is making things worse, you need to address the matter fast.”
He felt his nostrils flare. “I don’t remember asking for your advice.”
“That’s because you didn’t.”
“Then why give it?”
“I’m a giving person.”
“You give people problems and headaches—that’s about it.”
She smiled. “It takes the kind of skill you’ll never master.”
He clenched his jaw. “I really want to shake you right now.” Really, really hard.
“Then my work here is done.” She wiggled her fingers. “See you around, Eye Candy. Don’t forget the dish.”
It was amazing how much one measly little form of address could piss him off so tremendously. And her tone … God, that fucking tone that disdained him so effortlessly. Like he was some pretty boy with no depth of character or purpose in life.
It made him want to grab her by the throat. And then maybe squeeze just a little. Or kiss her. Or both. “My name is Deke.”
She sniffed. “So?”
This was seriously the wrong time for her to taunt him. His level of tolerance was at an all-time low. So much pent-up irritation was coiled in his stomach, pushing for a release. He crossed to her. “So use it.”
“Why?”
He dipped his head. “You don’t want to keep goading me, Bailey,” he warned. “You wouldn’t like what happened if you pushed me too far.”
Her eyes lit up with interest. “Ooh, what would happen?” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Would there be bloodshed?”
“Depends.”
“On what, Boy Toy?”
He inched a little closer. “On whether you’re much of a scratcher when you come.”
She did a slow blink, clearly taken aback. But then she snorted. “Like you’d ever put any part of yourself near my lady bits. Like I’d even let you or—what the hell?”
Deke really hadn’t meant to cup her pussy. It had happened before he could stop it. And now, as the heat of her warmed his palm even through her underwear and dress, he didn’t want to let go. “Looks like you were wrong on both counts.”
Her eyes went wide, and she smiled. “You’re being brilliantly bold. I’m quite proud of you right now. Didn’t think you had it in you. Go you!”
He stared at her, momentarily lost for words. “You’re not normal.”
Her smile ramped up. “I know. I kind of thought we’d already established that. Now, are you going to make me come, or are you just all talk?” It wasn’t a question. No, she was quite sure he’d back off.
His cat peeled back his upper lip, urging Deke to teach her a lesson. The animal wanted to show her that he and Deke weren’t so weak-willed. Wanted her to realize that she was wrong to dismiss them. Wanted her to actually see them rather than look through them.
Deke stared deep into her eyes. “You don’t know me as well as you think you do.”
She gave him a sympathetic smile. “Too proud to back down, huh? Okay, I’ll take pity on you and—”
He ground the heel of his palm against her clit.
She double-blinked, a light gasp escaping her. “Well, now. You’re just full of surprises tonight.”
Agreed. He was surprising even himself.
“But let’s face it, you don’t want this to go any further, so I think you should—”
He rubbed at her clit again, eliciting another soft gasp from her. “You have no fucking clue what I want.”
His cat growled, butting him, urging him to teach her that he wasn’t to be underestimated … which was right when the spicy scent of feminine arousal rose up to greet him. And something in Deke quite simply snapped.