Page 39 of The Games We Play

“Like I said, play with fire and you’re gonna get burned,” Cruz says to Ember and Hudson after we pass, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s right.

14

NAOMI

I’m still kicking and screaming as I hang over his shoulder when he pushes the entrance doors open and exits out of Afterburn.

He doesn’t stop, or appear to be struggling, as he carries me around like a zero gravity duffle bag. Making his way down the front steps, he turns toward the parking lot, then continues walking past my car.

“Where are we going?” I ask, louder than necessary.

No response.

“Are you going to say anything or just continue to establish your dominance by sheer force?”

No response, again. Instead, he slaps my ass.

I squeal moan, surprised at the slap, and I feel it in more places than just my ass.

“You really are a caveman, you know?” I smack his ass right back, being that I’m only inches from it.

I hear the click of a door handle, then my body’s momentum changes and I fall back into a seat. His large truck is slightly lifted, so gravity doesn’t change much when he places me down and moves my legs inside the truck.

“Wait, I drove here,” I said, pointing at my car.

“I’ll bring you back later.” He shuts the car door and I watch him as he walks around the front of the truck. He side-eyes me as he passes by. His pupils are blown out—desperate with desire, but there’s a playful threat behind them, and I can’t help but want to challenge both.

He gets in the truck, starts it, then reverses out of the parking spot. As he pulls onto the freeway, I finally ask, “Okay, so where are we going?”

Shocking, no response.

Apparently, he only speaks ifhedeems it necessary. Great. I’m next door neighbors with a partial mute who watches me do yoga every morning. Oh, and apparently pleases himself while I do it.

My cheeks flush at the feeling of when he told me that. I knew he had been watching, but I had no ideathatwas going on. I find myself shifting in my seat at the vision.

“What are you thinking about?” I jump, because…well, he spoke.

“Nothing,” I snip back quickly.

He glances down at my hips, then back up to my face. A slight smirk crosses his face.

Hiding my internal eye roll, I realize I need to maintain some power here.

The heat is on low, but it is still warm enough for me to take a layer or two off.

Leaning forward, I take off my jacket, folding it in my lap.

I skim over the outfit I chose to wear today; it’s the least sexiest outfit to strip out of, ever.

Leggings, an oversized, baggy shirt that hangs over my shoulder, with leg warmers and heels.

Nothing about this outfit screams sex.

Oh, fuck it. I have a tank top on.

I strip off the oversized shirt, pulling it over my head and folding it on top of the jacket that still lays on my lap.

Seamus’s eyes flicker my way for a split second before returning to the road.

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