Page 22 of Right Number, Wrong Man
She marches toward me and stops on the other side of the ticket counter. I loose a breath, grateful for the barrier between us. It’s for her own safety, cause I’m one snarky comment away from pushing her to her knees.
She slaps her hand onto a stack of dollar bills, sending them flying, too. “Did you know that being an asshole is not a substitute for a charming personality?”
A prickle runs across my skin and my hands tingle.
I could reach over. It would only take a split second to grab her by the neck, pull her in, and seal those defiant lips with mine. We’re so close I can smell the sweet popcorn on her breath.
If I kissed her, would she taste like it or like her pink raspberry lip gloss?
I straighten to my full height, leaning forward. My body shadows hers and my fingers twitch as our gazes lock. “You better shut your mouth right now or I’ll shut it for you,” I bite out.
Hailey exhales sharply through her nose. “Get over yourself. You’re not my dad!”
I almost moan. Christ, I wish she didn’t say that.
My cock is already so hard I’ll be nursing blue balls for the foreseeable future and now I can’t stop thinking of her calling meDaddyin that sweet, sullen voice of hers.
“That’s true, cause your parents would never punish you for anything,” I shoot back. “Is that why you turned out to be such an annoying brat? Do you give me lip cause you never got a rise out of your folks, no matter how hard you tried? Maybe you’re looking for someone to finally put you in your place.”
Her eyes go wide and my breath stops like I’m drowning in those pools of amber.
“Why are you always such a colossal prick toward me?” she asks, a flush traveling up her cheeks.
“Aw, do you think you’re special? Hate to burst your bubble, but I’m a colossal prick tothe entire world.”
Hailey huffs. She raises her hand like she’s gonna slap me, and I don’t think.
I act—like an idiot.
My fingers snap around her slender wrist and she gasps, the tips of her ears turning as pink as her face.
I’m not hurting her, not yet.
But damn, she’s so fragile in my hold. If I wanted to, I could snap her bones like twigs.
How much pain would it take to make her beg?
I shake her arm in a careful, but firm warning. “Not another word or I’ll lay you bare-assed across this counter and spank some manners into you. Let’s see how long your attitude lasts with a sore rear.”
Hailey’s jaw drops.
Jeez, what kinda demon possesses me to say these things tonight?
I let go and she backs away instantly, eyes shimmering with an undefinable emotion. Fear, I reckon.
I scared her.
She thinks I’m a cold-hearted killer and she ain’t wrong. Many men have suffered and died at my hands, but I’d rather gut myself than ever seriously harm her.
My dick throbs in disagreement.
That ain’t the whole truth. Idowant to hurt her, but in the way she likes. The way that makes her perfect little pussy weep. We only had one night, but I know her body better than she knows it herself.
Hailey likes to hurt with her pleasure, and no other man can make her scream like I could.
“Sorry,” she mumbles.
My chest tightens. Suddenly, I wanna give her a hug.Iwanna say sorry. Instead, I scowl and pick up the money.
