Page 198 of The Night Shift
“Right, because all the vets over here have spontaneously burst into flames.”
“Okay, fine, then you come up something.” He just keeps smiling. “I swear to God, if you’re about to make another sarcastic comment —”
“I’ve really missed hearing your voice today.”
“It’s only been sixteen hours.”
“God, it turns me on so much when you count our time apart. Almost as much as that dress.”
My lips tighten in a line, and I blush. “Okay, that’s enough. Let’s go. We’re going to be late.” I push up from the bed,reaching for his hand, but before I can take a step, he tugs me back — hard and firm, so that I stumble against his chest. My fingers curl instinctively into the smooth lapels of his suit. He smells like cedar and something warmer. Something that makes my stomach dip low.Why? Why does he have to look so fucking good AND smell so nice? It’s not fair.
“April did say we could be a little late to dinner.”
My skin is hot everywhere. “April is an idiot.”
His fingers slip from my hand, only to settle at my waist instead, his touch trailing along the open back of my dress, featherlight. “Then let’s stop talking about her.”
“Agreed.”
“Let’s talk about how beautiful you look instead. Did I already say that?”
“I don’t have time to keep track of all your baseless compliments. I already know I’m pretty.” My hands stay flat against his chest, my breath coming in shallow pulls. His mouth is so close, I could tip forward and close the space between us. I want to. Ireallywant to.
Theo huffs a quiet laugh, his fingers tracing under the slit of my dress. “Pay attention, love. I never said you’re pretty.” His fingers skim along the edge of my panties, dipping in just a little. I shudder. “I said you’re fuckingbeautiful.”
The spot between my legs clenches.
He flips us around so that we’re facing the mirror. “Say it back to me. Tell me you’re beautiful.” His chest is flush against my back. He leans in next to my ear, eyes locked on mine through our reflection. “Tell me you’re mine.”
The way he saysmine. It’s not a request. It’s a fact I feel in my bones.
“I am not saying that.”
The corner of his mouth twitches like he half-expected that answer. “What if I beg? What if I drop to my knees and let you dowhatever you want to me?” With his eyes never leaving mine, he reaches into his coat pocket and pulls something out. A scalpel.Myscalpel. The one he had framed on his bedroom wall when I was riding his face like my life depended on it. “What if I let you cut me a little? I know how much you like seeing people bleed.”
He twirls the blade between his fingers, then trails it along my collarbone. My throat has gone dry. A shiver rakes down my spine. I feel my pulse hammer under the blade.
Idowant to cut him. I want him to cutme. I want to watch my skin split and the blood well up. I want him to soothe the sting with his tongue. “You’re making me sound like a psycho murder cult leader.”
He gently tucks the scalpel behind my ear. “Mhm, I am quite devoted to you.”
“Stalking me isn’t enough? You want to worship me now too?”
“Baby, I already do.” He squeezes the inside of my thigh. Hard. A gasp catches in my throat. “Put your hands behind your back,” he says.
My eyes widen. “What?”
“Did you not hear me?” He pushes my hair to the side and presses a slow kiss to the back of my neck. “Or do you just want me to repeat myself because it gets you wet?”
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
Theo smiles. “That’s what I thought. Now be good and do as you’re told.”
Jesus Christ, I don’t know what the hell is going on, but my panties are soaked.
I obey, watching his hungry eyes through the reflection of the mirror as he undoes his tie with one hand, the movement so smooth and so fucking arousing despite the sling.
With his good hand, he gathers my wrists and pulls them close.
