She couldn’t be more wrong. The only one I want is that pretty little green-eyed beauty. Stalking her is my main priority now. Ensuring she’s safe is my only job. It is a relief though to know that her friend doesn’t suspect anything. Hopefully, everyone else will be none the wiser to my intentions too.
“I know, Tea. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. It’s just…yesterday, it felt… I don’t know. Like there was some kind of connection between us. But now, I realize how stupid it was for me to even think that.”
She is so wrong. There was definitely a connection. Damn, it makes my dick so fucking hard to know that she’s interested. I saw it in her eyes and in that racing pulse, but I wasn’t sure if I was miscalculating her need. Misreading fear for desire.
“Okay, so can we talk about Cooper now? What did he say to you in class?”
“He said he wants to be alone with me tomorrow night.”
I nearly crack the phone within my grip. The blood sizzling so hot in my veins I’m about to go commit murder. Who the fuck is this Cooper? Oh. No. I know exactly who the little shit is. He’s the one tagged in the photos with her. That football jock with an arrogant smile. That piece of shit little kid is not going to lay one fucking finger on my girl.
“So, are things official between you two?”
They fucking better not be. She’s mine.
“No. At least, I don’t think so. I told him I wouldn’t kiss him until our first date, but I don’t even know how I’m going to get out of the house tomorrow night to go to his party. My dad told me I have to come straight home after the game. And with Bones following me around, how am I going to sneak off?”
Sneak off?The fuck I’m letting her go anywhere. I’m going to be locked to her ass if need be.
“I have an idea,” her friend says, and my teeth clench down tighter. I’m not sure I’m a fan of this girl. She’s a bad influence on my Zoey. “We’ll come back here after the game. Then we’ll wait until the coast is clear and that huge biker takes off. Once he’s gone, I’ll distract your dad while you go out the back. You’ll sneak out to the street where my car will be parked. And then I’ll come out and meet you. What do you think?”
I think I’m not going anywhere tomorrow. I’m going to be staked right outside her door and if she thinks about going anywhere, I’ll be bending her over my knee and spanking that round little ass for being a naughty girl. I’ll tell Pritchard I saw one of the Venomous Vipers lurking in his neighborhood, and so I want to stay close. Keep an eye on things. He won’t question my motives. He’ll be thanking me.
And I’ll be punishing that naughty daughter of his with my dick.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Zoey has the fucking nerve to reply. “Fingers crossed it works.”
Oh, she is in so much trouble. And the kid…the one trying to sniff up my girl’s skirt, is going to lose his good fucking arm if he dares to come near her.
12
Zoey
Ican’t get comfortable. These sheets are making me sweat. My pajamas are making me feel claustrophobic. And my thoughts are itching my nerves. It all keeps replaying. Yesterday. Today. The stupid question I asked him. His harsh words and the cruel way he looked at me. It was like I was an immature child who didn’t know my place. I feel like such an idiot.
Worst of all, the rejection is resonating deep. I shouldn’t be upset. It should’ve been common sense that a man like him wouldn’t be interested in me. He’s a grown man who runs with a biker gang, and I’m a nineteen-year-old student in high school, who cheers at football games on Fridays and passes notes to my friends in class. I don’t know how I could’ve been so blinded by the truth.
That uncomfortable humiliation roils in my stomach, and I flip over onto my back.
“Are you having trouble sleeping, little one?”
A scream slips out, but suddenly his big hand is covering my mouth, smothering my shout with his large palm.
“You need to be quiet, naughty girl. Wouldn’t want to wake daddy now, would we?”
The fear starts to subside as Bone’s voice rasps at my ear. His warm breath provides a sick sense of relief. I shouldn’t be at ease with this man. He broke into my home, into my room, and I have no idea what he intends to do with me. Punish me for accusing him of being a stalker.
“Now, we need to get a couple things straight. That stunt you pulled earlier, trying to throw me off your tail, is never going to happen again. I’m here to protect you, and you’re going to make that job very easy for me. Do you understand? After school, you get in your car and come straight home.”
He thinks I was trying to ditch him, but I wasn’t. I merely wanted to know if he was following me.
“I didn’t know if you were tailing me or not. I just wanted to see.”
“I think your exact word was ‘stalking.’” He leans in closer, and I feel the tip of his nose brush across my cheek. His stubble scratches against my flushed skin, leaving a trail of tingles. “I didn’t like you saying that in front of your friend.” So, that’s why he came. To punish me for my mistake. “That’s supposed to be our little secret. No one’s allowed to know of my dark intentions except for you.”
He slides his lips along my ear, making me shiver under his hold. I’m overloaded by everything. The sensations running through my body. My thoughts, which are mangled in confusion. I know I should be fighting him off and screaming for help, but I want to pull him closer and let him have his way with me.
“You’re mine now, Zoey. My little toy to play with whenever I want.”His toy?“If you say one word to anyone, you’ll have to face the consequences.”
