“Or what?” I take a step toward him. “You gonna spank me, daddy?”
My pulse races as he stalks closer, backing me up until my shoulders hit the door, palms splayed beside my head, boxing me in.Shit, he’s not fucking around, is he?Zeke’s lip lifts in a sneer as he drags his gaze—full of annoyance and disgust—down my frame, before landing on my eyes. “Keep it up and I just might,mocoso.”
Fuck this.He wants to be a dick; I can be one right back. A grin tugs at my lips as I look up at him from beneath my lashes, arousal and anger vibrating through my body in equal measures. The combination is heady. Thrilling. “Do it,” I spit out. “I fucking dare you.”
Zeke’s gaze dips from my eyes down to my lips for a split second before coming back up. He growls—literally growls—before shoving me into the door one more time. Then he stalks up the stairs without a backwards glance while I’m left standing there, stupefied.
What the fuck just happened?
Chapter Seven
Elias Carnell
Parking my car in front of Katie’s house, I grab the pack of seltzers off the seat before getting out and locking it. The afternoon sun is scorching in the sky, the air sticky. I’m in shorts and a tank top, and my body is already lined with sweat. Katie steps out onto her porch, barefoot, with her hair in a messy bun.
“Get the hell in here,” she barks. “I’m thirsty and wanna hear the tea.”
Chuckling, I jog up the steps as we move into the air-conditioned living room. Her house always smells like clean linen, no matter what. It’s been that way since we were kids.
“Is your mom here?”
Katie shakes her head. “She’s working a shift at the diner tonight.”
Once in the kitchen, she takes the seltzers from me. Shoving them into the fridge, she pulls two out, handing me one as she cracks hers open. We go out to her sunroom, sitting on opposite ends of the couch, Dermot Kennedy playing softly through her Bluetooth speaker.
“So, tell me everything.” She grins before taking another sip.
She’s referring to the date I went on last night with Jay. I texted her vague details first thing this morning, leaving out the angry giant who cornered me upon my arrival home.
“There’s not a whole lot to tell.” I shrug. “We met at Lowrey’s. Had a few drinks, danced a little.”
“That’s it?”
I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me at her apparent disappointment.
“I mean, yeah.” Taking a sip first, I add, “Besides the steamy kiss on the front steps.”
Her eyes go wide, making me chuckle more. “Shut up!”
“It was a good kiss too.”
“Oh, my gosh. This is so exciting.” She’s sitting with her legs tucked up underneath her with the seltzer can resting on her lap, like a little kid enthralled in a fascinating story. “So, what now? Have you talked to him since?”
“He texted me this morning, but I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Why not?”
Shrugging, I tip the can back, taking a sip. “I don’t know. Just haven’t.”
Last nightwasa lot of fun, and I enjoyed Jay’s company. And kissing him was nice. Something I’d be willing to do again, even. But… I don’t know. I hate this mental block I’ve got up when it comes to dating. Something always seems to hold me back, but I need to destroy that wall, and maybe Jay could help with that.
So, grabbing my phone, I pull up the unopened text message from the number I haven’t saved yet.
Unknown: Hey, it’s Jay. So, if you’re still wanting to get together again, when are you free?
Glancing up at Katie, I flip my phone around so she can see the message. “He wants to know if I want to go out again.”
“Do you?”
