“Shut up. I know. But you’re still here, aren’t you? I can’t get rid of you.”
That makes me laugh and him scowl. He has no idea how right he is. I’ve always had this little…problem. I tend to fixate. Obsess. It drives my brothers crazy. Gets me into all sorts of mischief.
This is the first time I’ve fixated on a person, though. It’s not my fault. It’s Ansel’s. He’s just so fucking intriguing.
I can’t get enough.
He sighs in resignation. “Get onto the bed.”
“Good choice, butterfly,” I whisper, and then jump up onto my feet, a maneuver that makes his lips part in amazement and shock. Itis very impressive, I’ll admit. Not many people can do that while with their ass on the floor.
“Who the fuck are you?” he rasps.
I shrug and walk toward the bed, lowering myself onto it.
“Just a simple man,” I lie, flopping back onto the bed. In my excitement, I forget my hands are supposed to be tied behind my back. Instead, they’re in my lap, the rope dangling around my wrists.
He eyes it, and then that bewildered gaze slams into mine. I shift up, sitting against the headboard and watching him intently.
“I shouldn’t bother tying you up, should I?”
He sounds kind of sad about this failure, and it makes my heart twist. “You can do whatever you’d like.”
“But you’ll just get out of it again.”
“Probably, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up. Never give up until you’re dead, Ansel. Always fight like hell until then.”
He turns to the right and blinks before determination sets into his gaze.
“Fine. I won’t give up.”
He rushes toward me and grabs my wrists, pulling them to the sides and restraining them to the rickety headboard. He straddles me to secure my left hand, and my mind flashes to him straddling me for other reasons.Fuck. Why did I have to be kidnapped by Ansel? He’s too fucking tempting for me to think straight.
Naturally, I don’t make it easy on him. Now that I have him on me, I want to keep him there as long as possible. Maybe he’ll realize he likes it.
“Stop wiggling,” he grumbles. “I mean it.”
I bite my bottom lip to keep a smile at bay, but he catches it.
“Stop smiling.”
But his own lips are twitching slightly as the rope tightens against my skin. It bites into my wrist, and I know I’ll have a bruise there later. Fine by me. I’d like a little memento to remember him by.
When he’s done, he sits up, looking proud of his accomplishment.
He’s still straddling my lap, and when he realizes how close he isto me, a blush spreads across his face and neck. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m a snack.”
“You are, though. I’d love to taste you.”
His throat bobs, and he shakes his head. “I won’t be distracted by your flirting.”
“Good. Don’t ever let your victim distract you. Stay focused.”
He nods but doesn’t move off me.
