But when he looks at me like that, desire burns inside of me, and I can’t think of anything else.
I shift in my seat again, settling his hand inches above my knee, and watch raptly as his calloused fingers grip my exposed thigh. They tighten and relax as he drags his palm back and forth, massaging every inch of bare skin from my knee to the edge of my skirt.
I’m a spectator to his teasing, melting into my seat as he touches me until my insides are burning.
A crazy woman would hike her skirt up and beg him to keep going, daring him to push it farther.
But I remember begging him to kiss me when we were kids. If he rejects me again, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it, because what I want from him now is much bigger than a kiss.
I want him to make me forget everything.
“How many questions would you have if I didn’t take you home right now?”
“What?”All I wantis for him to take me home right now. I’ve been so focused on him that I hadn’t realized he pulled into my driveway and stopped short.
But there is also another car in my driveway.
“Oh my God,” I mumble.Elliot.
“I’ll tell him to leave.”
“No, I should talk to him and get it over with.”
He sighs, gripping my thigh as he pulls the rest of the way down the driveway, and I’m not sure if he plans to let go.
“Thanks for bringing me home,” I utter quietly, staring out the window at my front door. Elliot still has a key. He’s probably waiting in the kitchen with a glass of scotch, waiting to lecture me.
“I’m not letting you go in there alone,” Hayes says gruffly.
“It’s just Elliot.”
“As a lawyer, you should know this isn’t an argument you’re going to win.”
I fling my door open, ripping my leg from his grasp, pretending that I don’t immediately miss the warmth.
“Don’t-” I point at him before we get to the porch, “start a fight.”
“Yes, boss.”
I roll my eyes and take a deep breath before entering my home. The space that keeps being violated over and over again by unwanted men.
“What the hell are you doing?” I screech as my point is proven once again.
Every drawer is opened, every cabinet. My bedroom door is wide open, and clothes are dumped on the bed.
“Where’s the ring?” He yells, storming into the living room and coming to a halt when he sees Hayes behind me. “What the hell is he doing here?”
“The ring is none of your business. It was a gift, and I don’t have any obligation to return it.” I ignore his latter question, feeling the fumes rolling off of Hayes already because of the mess.
All Elliot has to do is light a match to ignite the explosion that’s about to happen.
“That ring is worth more than this damn shack.”
“Then it will do wonders for a charity ofmychoosing,” I respond calmly. If I don’t act bothered, maybe Hayes will behave.
“You bitch.” As soon as I hear that word, my eyes slam shut. That’s all it will take.
I expect the atomic bomb, but what I get is the soft click of the deadbolt on the door being locked.
