He greeted his friends, hugged a few people, laughed that soft little laugh of his—
And then he walked up to me.
Up close, he was even more dangerous. His cologne—something warm and clean—hit me first, then the details. Thefaint flush on his cheeks. The confidence in the suit. The nerves under it.
“You look… great,” I said.
My voice came out low. Rougher than I meant.
Jamie’s eyes flicked away, that blush deepening just slightly.
“Thanks.”
Then he stepped closer. Much closer. Close enough that I felt his breath on my ear before his lips got there.
And then he whispered something I absolutely did not expect.
Something filthy.
Something dark.
Something that didn’t belong in the middle of a family-friendly birthday party—and yet fit perfectly between us.
“I still think about that night,” he murmured, voice silk-wrapped sin.
“About that masked stalker man who was at our house, a couple of weeks ago. I know I didn’t told you about him, but I suspected you knew, because we have cameras all over the house, and you’ve probably seen everything yourself. I keep thinking about him pinning me, chasing me. About how he felt.”
A pause. A smile I couldhear.
“Sometimes I think… maybe I already figured it out. Figured out who he is.”
Another breath against my ear, sending a bolt of heat down my spine.
“If I’m right… maybe we can pick up where we left off tonight.”
My heart stopped.
The room blurred.
The floor dropped.
Every neuron in my brain fried at once.
Heknew.
Or at least he thought he knew.
And worse—
he liked it.
He wanted more.
By the time I snapped back to reality, Jamie was pulling away, tapping my shoulder with a teasing, purposeful little pat.
“I’ve got a guest to greet,” he said softly, lips curving just enough to be dangerous.
“We’ll talk soon.”
