Page 1 of Prey Tell
PROLOGUE
THE OFFER
Chase
Eight Years Ago
I’m just slipping the pink rubber gloves onto my hands when I hear a crash and subsequent moan coming from the front porch. Muttering under my breath, I walk over to the front door and throw it open.
“Parker,” I growl, taking in her small, slumped body sitting on the large porch swing. She’s fumbling with the straps of her heels as a string of curses leaves her lips. “Are you fucking drunk?”
She snaps her head up and glares at me. “I’m not drunk. I tripped on the stairs because these heels are trying to kill me.” Her eyes swing to the gloves. “I never knew you were so domestic. Pink is undoubtedly your color.”
I lean against the doorframe and smirk. “You always know what to say to make a man swoon.”
She narrows her eyes at me before she continues fumbling with the tiny straps. “Why are these ankle straps so hard to unbuckle? I don’t understand why we women constantly torture ourselves like this. For example, why are these holes so hard to find in the first place?” The instant the words leave her lips, she glares up at me. “Don’tmake some sexual innuendo right now, Ravage. I’m not in the mood to spar tonight,” she says, using her nickname for me.
“Let me,” I offer, snapping the rubber gloves off and shoving them in the back pocket of my suit pants.
Walking over to where she’s sitting, I fall to my knees and pull her left leg up first, exposing one of her creamy thighs. I clear my throat and focus on the task at hand. Much to my chagrin, she’s not wrong. The buckles are tiny and it takes me a solid minute to slide the thin strap off from around her delicate ankle. When I grab her other leg, it takes an inordinate amount of self-control not to run my fingers up her toned legs.
When I finish, I sit back on my heels and grin. “It wasn’t that hard.”
She blinks a few times and looks at something behind me, refusing to make eye contact. “Is Jackson asleep?”
“Yeah. Those toddlers will be the death of him one day,” I mutter, standing up. I’m referring to the little crotch goblins he teaches every weekday. I’d been cleaning up after our dinner so that it was one less thing he had to do tomorrow.
She snorts. “Probably. But he’ll love every second of his hard-earned demise.”
I hold the front door open for her as she walks inside before me, heels dangling from her fingers. I study the way she sets them down by the door neatly—the way she lingers and gazes around longingly. Pulling the gloves on, I walk over to the sink.
“So, rough night?” I ask her.
She hops up onto the counter next to me, crossing her ankles as her hands grip the edge of the countertop.
“No.”
“Parker,” I warn her, my tone low and intimidating. I pick up the first plate and begin the arduous process of cleaning up after her sloppy brother. “You know, I can always tell you’re lying because your voice drops an octave.”
She twists her lips to the side, looking so fuckinginnocent.Except she’s endured more than any eighteen-year-old ever should.
“Fine, you caught me.”
I start to load the dishwasher, knowing my silence is eating at her. “I also know you’re lying about being drunk.”
She scoffs. “I had two drinks. I’m hardly falling over my—”
“Front steps?” I finish, looking over at her as I quirk a brow. “Juliet Parkeractuallywent to a party and indulged in… fun?” I tease.
She swats my arm. “I can be fun sometimes. It’s rare though, so you better soak it all up now while you have the chance, Ravage.”
I set my plate down and turn to face her. My eyes bore into her light-green ones, and then they perused her heart-shaped face, the dusty rose of her lightly freckled cheeks, before tracking down her slender neck. My mind memorizes the way her dress—which is toofuckingshort—clings to her smooth curves—the slim waist that flares into rounded hips. When I’m done, I meet her eyes again, but this time, her cheeks are tinged with pink.
She’s playful tonight. I’m enjoying it, and it might be my new favorite version of her. Leaning closer, I can see the way her chest rises and falls at my perusal.
“Oh, I plan to savor it, Parker.”
Something shutters behind her eyes and her lids lower slightly as she considers my words.
