“I don’t know. Maybe I was bored. I needed some excitement. Why do you care so much anyway?” I tested the zip tie holding my wrists together. I’d seen a video online on how to get out of these things. Too bad I couldn’t remember it now.
Stray didn’t answer my question. Instead, he said, “If you’re looking for trouble, you found it. I may seem like a playful jackass but you have no idea what lurks below the surface. How bad do you want to find out, wildcat?”
I wrinkled my nose, shaking my head. “You really need to stop trying so hard with me, Stray. I’m not interested in being another notch on your bed post.”
My defensive reply was the best I could muster. I didn’t want him to know that his question had bathed my insides in heat and undeniable curiosity. What kind of beast lived inside Stray Hurley?
“So you keep saying. When I get done with you, you’ll beg me for it. Think I haven’t noticed the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention? You’re just dying of curiosity, aren’t you? You try to pretend like you’re too good for me, but we both know it’s an act. Tonight proved it. You’re fucking depraved, Codie.”
My mouth dropped open. I’d never been called anything so vile.
“Anytime I’ve ever looked at you, it’s been with absolute disgust. Iamtoo good for you, Stray. You need to accept that.” I tightly gripped the door handle with my bound hands. I needed to get away from him.
He glanced at the frantic way I clutched the door. A smirk crossed his face. “Settle down. I’m taking you home. What are you going to do? Leap out of the car onto the street? I fucking dare you.”
Part of me wanted to do just that, if only to prove him wrong. Somehow, a shred of rationality kept me from doing something that stupid. Stray wasn’t worth it. He was nothing more than an arrogant manwhore who thought far too highly of himself.
As we drew closer to my apartment, I frowned as a sudden realization hit me. “Wait, how do you know where I live?”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. You should be far more concerned about what that guy was going to do to you. If I hadn’t been there, you’d probably be fighting for your life right now.” Stray turned onto my street, pulling up in front of my building. He parked the car and turned to me, watching me struggle with the zip tie.
Everything began to spin. The world started to darken. I blinked furiously, trying to focus. “Are you fucking stalking me? That’s seriously messed up. I knew there was something not right about you.”
Stray scoffed. “Something not right about me? I’m not the one seeking out sexual predators. Do your friends know about your weird little kink? Does anyone?”
“That’s none of your damn business. Nothing about me is your business. Now get this off of me.” I held my hands out toward him. All I wanted was to get away from Stray, call Luna, and pass out in my bed.
He surprised me by pulling out a small switchblade knife and cutting the zip tie. I let out a startled gasp when he suddenly grabbed me by the throat, holding me in place.
Leaning in close so that his lips almost brushed against mine, Stray murmured, “If you’re looking for someone to make you feel like prey, beautiful, I’ll be more than happy to play the part. But when I fuck you until all you can do is scream my name, you will be sober, and you will never forget it.”
CHAPTER THREE
STRAY
Codie’s lips parted, her soft breath on my face as she stared at me with wide glassy eyes. Maybe I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her. Whatever fragrance she wore smelled like strawberries. I wanted to eat her up.
Angrily my lips moved on hers. I thrust my tongue into her mouth, tasting the remnants of alcohol on her breath. She froze, stunned by my sudden action. Then she was kissing me back.
Her mouth moved on mine with an unexpected aggression. This girl had a volcano inside her just waiting to erupt. I wanted to be there when it happened. To bathe in the molten lava of her dark side.
I hadn’t been watching her the way she suspected, although I had made it my business to know where she lived and where she liked to party. She was almost always at the graveyard parties the guys and I threw regularly. She also liked to frequent the Venom raves, which had always left a bad taste in my mouth.
I’d watched her at a few raves throughout the summer. Codie had a tendency to party hard. Drugs, alcohol, and impulsive decisions. Never had I seen her do anything as reckless as what I’d seen tonight.
Watching from across the room, I’d done a double take when I saw her accept the drugged drink after watching thatasshole dose her. A lot of people had a wild streak. Codie had something else going on. She was actively seeking danger. So maybe I would have to give her exactly what she was looking for.
She pulled back suddenly, as if she’d just realized she was kissing me back. Her hand came up like she might slap me, and I caught her wrist.
With a slow shake of my head, I chuckled. “Don’t even think about it.”
Staring at me like I’d committed the worst of offenses, she hissed, “What is wrong with you? You can’t kiss me like that and expect me to fall into your lap.”
“Would you prefer if I force you into it? That seems to be what you’re into.” With my free hand I reached for my belt, loving the horror that spread over her face.
“Let go of me.” Codie frantically tried to pry my fingers off her throat. “You’re sick, Stray. Nothing on this earth would ever make me touch you. Stay away from me.”
She scrambled to open the door, almost falling out in her haste. Despite how infuriating she was, I couldn’t help but be amused. Getting out of the car, I went around to her side, taking hold of her arm.
