“If I catch you trying to get in there, you’ll be sorry.”
I jerk, surprised by his voice. I didn’t realize he’d followed me upstairs.
“Yeah, got it. No need to bark at me.”
“Did I raise my voice?” His gaze travels over my face, lingering on my mouth, possibly admiring his new property.
I start to walk away, and he catches my arm to stop me. His grip isn’t rough, but it’s firm. His bicep bulges, straining his t-shirt. His arms, as always, can’t go unnoticed. The air between us crackles with electricity, and where our skin touches there’s more than body heat.
“Hey.” His green eyes narrow, but his voice is low. “Just so we’re clear, this is my house. I bought it and pay the mortgage.” He lets that sink in. “I make the rules.”
I don’t acknowledge out loud that I’m impressed he’s been able to afford a nice house in this affluent neighborhood where real estate must be very expensive. Instead, I counter with, “You must like that. I know you hate following other people’s rules.”
“That’s not what I hated.” He leans closer, so I can smell the mint flavor of his toothpaste. “So we understand each other? You’re the help, with one important difference.” His gaze drops to my lips. “If someone who works for me doesn’t meet expectations, I fire them. But you, I’ll punish.”
Punish?What does that mean? And why does the threat seem so sexual? It draws me in, like a planet to the sun. But I shouldn’t forget that to get too close would be dangerous. When Shane shut us out of his life, it broke my heart. I don’t intend to get caught up in him ever again.
“I’m not planning to break the rules.”
“You never do.” He gives me a little shove away from him as he releases me. “Now don’t tempt me to make you get on your knees. I’m saving that for later.”
My body stiffens. “No, you’re not. Today, I cleaned. The other…service can start tomorrow. I have to work on a project all evening since I lost the day to moving in and doing chores.”
“Not my problem.”
“Shane—”
“Not. My. Problem.”
He walks away, leaving me to watch him warily. I’m attracted to his body and the thought of touching it makes my mouth water, but I’m not naive enough to assume it’ll change things between us.
Shane is uncompromising. His resolve itself can be punishing, and that’s what is in store for me. Why else would he let me be here? Plenty of women would give him blow jobs on command, and they wouldn’t have to be given a place to live in exchange. He doesn’t really need me. This is his way of getting revenge.
With anyone else, I would never have made this kind of deal. A frown tugs at the corners of my mouth. Was my subconscious operating with more in mind than Casanova and the internship? Maybe.
I really want to settle things with Shane, but he’s never made that a possibility until now. If we’re forced to live together—to do intimate things—his walls will finally have to come down.
I want closure. I’m so desperate for it, it tastes like a snow cone on a hundred-degree day. Imperative, almost.
Because every time I see him or hear about him, the ongoing cold war slices me like a knife. Living with him will shake us out of the status quo. It has to.
And we’ll either get past our bitter past, or we’ll reach a new level of toxicity that makes me not care if we ever do.
4
AVERY
Shane has his dinner delivered. The Thai food smells amazing and makes my mouth water. I feel like an idiot for not thinking about what to do about dinner. I have the school’s meal plan, but while living with him, I’m off campus. I don’t have time to take the bus back before dark tonight, and I don’t have room on my credit card to get food delivered.
“Hey, I don’t have any of my own groceries here,” I say. “I guess I could text one of the guys I know to bring me food.” I wait, hoping he’ll offer to share.
He doesn’t look over. “No visitors in my house. If you wanna see someone, see him somewhere else.”
“Can I have some of that? I’ll buy groceries for me tomorrow.”
“There’s plenty of stuff in the fridge. Eat whatever you want. No need to buy groceries.”
“Thanks.” It’s generous and even, shockingly, a little kind. “What are you eating?”
