Page 47 of Clashing
“I wonder how. Couldn’t be because your door isn’t fucking locked.”
“God, you’re so bossy.” She wrinkled her nose. “What are you doing here? I’m still riding the crimson wave, but it’s not as bad. The first three days are the worst.”
Thank God.“I need to talk to you, but first, how hard is it to lock a door?”
“Really?”
“I entered your apartment without you noticing until I fucking touched you. That doesn’t bother you?”
“No.” She stirred the contents of the pan over the stove. “You come up here all the time. Do you want it to bother me that you came into my apartment?”
“That’s not the fucking point. The point is I could be someone else. A robber or worse.”
“But you’re not, so why are you making such a big deal about it?”
“Because Icould’vebeen.”
“Yeah, and this building could catch fire, I could shatter my hand and not be able to do art anymore, and someone could break into my truck.Could.You need a chill pill.” She waved her spoon around. “Lots of things could happen. If we worry about that shit all the time, we’d never have any fun.”
“Those are different scenarios. This is basic knowledge to protect yourself from shitty people.”
“Okay, sugar baby. I’m sorry.” Her mocking tone twitched the hand that demanded I spank her raw. She laughed. “You’re seriously a poster child formanopause right now. Stop being so bitchy. Is it that time of the month? Are we synchronized?”
A muscle in my jaw ticked nonstop. “I want you to remember this moment. When your period was the only thing keeping me from making you scream my name until your throat hurts and your ass turns purple. Probably the only time in your life you’ll be thankful you’re on your period.”
“Man.” She exhaled overdramatically. “It’s that sweet talking that gets me every time.”
“Scarlett.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. No one could piss me off like she could. “Would you please lock the fucking door? It’s not that hard, is it?”
“I’m a creature of habit and locking my door isn’t habit.” She lifted a shoulder, and I wanted to scream. More so when she pouted at me. “Aw, are youworriedabout me?”
“In the same way I’d worry about a child who’s about to stick their finger in a socket.”
“Jeez, Ryker. Lighten up. What are you doing here anyway? What’d you want to talk about?”
She approached and slid her hands up and down my arms. Although my brain recognized she was on her period, my cock did not. I inhaled slowly, reminding myself why I was here.
“I need to talk to you about . . .” I paused, trying to remember the speech I’d prepared, wondering how I could possibly pull it off when her hands were curling around my biceps.
“You seem stressed.” She kissed my cheek and uncrossed my arms. Pressing her body into mine, she rested her cheek on my chest and circled her arms around me. “What’s wrong?”
Fuck.I hadn’t mentally prepared for a hug. I tried to form words, but every word I planned flew out the window with her in my arms. Then she was guiding me to the wall and logic didn’t care what I came to do.
I snatched her wrists when she reached for my belt. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you relax.” Her sultry smile loosened my hold. “And thanking you.”
“Thanking me?” She undid my belt and unbuttoned my jeans, lowered the zipper, and caressed my cock on the way.
She kissed my neck and shoved my jeans down. “For being so sweet the other day.”
Instead of pushing her away like I should’ve, I reveled her full hips in my hands and hauled her closer. “You’re on your period.”
She dropped to her knees, tugging my boxers with her until my cock sprung free. “You’re not.”
Fuck.Confronting her now was supposed to be safe, a time she couldn’t seduce me. Except her hand wrapped around my cock and she licked the tip while staring up at me with those beautiful brown eyes.
“Scarlett,” I groaned. “You don’t have to do that.”
