Page 43 of His Addiction
“Such a charmer,” she said, trying to cover the heat creeping up her neck.
His focus fixed on her, and everything faded into the background. Not a single glance at the women passing by, who almost snapped their necks trying to get his attention.
“Shannon, even the sound of your voice makes my dick twitch.”
“Ugh! Seriously, Jamie?” Her laugh caught in her throat.
“Nothing could change that, so tell me what you won, love.”
“Okay.” She took a steadying breath. “I won the finals in a show jumping league. Which means I’ve qualified for the European equine championships.”
When Jamie stared in silence, her stomach dropped.
12
Shannon
“You ride horses?”
“Yeah. Told you it was nerdy.” She shrugged. “I used to get heckled at school and called stupid names.Saddle BagsandWinnie Weirdowere about as creative as they got.”
“I would’ve kicked their asses up and down the corridor if I’d known you back then,” he said, a slight crease in his forehead.
“I would’ve enjoyed watching that,” she shot back, her smile widening.
“You actually like horses? You’re competing in the equine comps?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged.
“I fucking love horses.”
She inhaled, a teasing smile curving her lips. “Really? You’re not just bullshitting me to strengthen your endgame, are you?”
“Endgame?” Jamie leaned back in his seat, one brow arched in amusement. “That's what we’re calling it now?”
She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “You tell me. You strike me as the type who always has one.”
He smiled. “When I want something, Shannon, I don’t need to scheme. I just decide how to take it.”
“Oh?” she said, not backing down. “And what if what you want doesn’t come easy?”
Jamie leaned forward, his voice low and certain. “Then I raise the stakes, especially when the rewards are worth it.”
She didn’t blink. “So thisisa game to you?”
He leaned forward, his presence pressing into her space like gravity.
“I don’t play games other than poker. When I want something, I take it. When I make promises, I keep them. I don’t fold. And I don’t chase a hand unless I’m planning to own the table,” he went on, his gaze locked on hers, unflinching.
“You play poker?” she asked, half to steady herself, half to mask how easily she’d let him take control.
A slow, dark smile curved his lips. “I’m a master at it.”
“And you like horses, too?” she teased, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
“Yeah.” He returned to his seat, sitting deep. “I’ve loved horses ever since my dad dragged us out to the country when I was twelve. We rented this rundown cottage that stank of cow shit—proper middle-of-nowhere stuff. Next to it was a field full of big, muddy horses. Back then, they looked massive. Intimidating.”
His gaze softened just a touch as he remembered. “There wasn’t much to do, so I’d sit on the gate for hours, just watching them. They’d always come over. Let me touch them. They trusted me, even then. That stuck with me.”
