“Arguing over which movie to watch. Cade wants some nineties horror flick, but Samson wants to watch an eighties dance romance.
“It’s not a dance romance. It’s a movie about forbidden rhythm.”
I arch an eyebrow at him, but he doesn’t notice, just scoots over to make room for Neo, who is taking a seat far too close to him.
“You know what? Wylder, why don’t you choose?” Ansel says, and I freeze, staring at the back of Neo’s head. He hasn’t looked my way, hasn’t even acknowledged that I’m in the room.
I step around the couch and take the seat right next to him. Our legs brush, and I press my knee into his. Then I scoot over slightly, my ass horrendously wedged between two couch cushions as I nod toward the TV.
“And I’m the deciding vote?” I ask, reaching over and prying the remote control from Neo’s fingers.
He huffs, but says nothing. He also doesn’t move away, which brings me far too much pleasure. I half expected him to rush out of the room the moment I appeared.
I flick through the movies before landing on one. “How about this one? It’s about vengeance and murder.”
I give Samson a pointed look, and he raises his eyebrows in response. He’s pretending not to know what I mean by this. Hell, I don’t even know what I mean by this. But I want him to stay away from Neo.
Or else.
I click on it and it starts playing. My eyes move to the screen, but I’m too focused on Neo, on his body next to mine, on the way he smells, the small movements he makes as he tries to sit still.
I could pull him onto my lap again, but he didn’t like that. Though, he did say that I wasn’t to do that during work. And this isn’t work.
I look at him from the corner of my eye, and my skin heats.
I don’t like him sitting so close to Samson, whispering in his ear, talking to him, giving him attention.
While, at the same time, ignoring me.
My body is now a furnace. My hands reach for him before I can stop myself.
I pull him into my side, and he stiffens.
“Seriously?” His cheeks turn that pretty pink that I like.
“Yes. You’re not on my lap, as requested.”
He finally meets my gaze. Across the room, I see Ansel biting back a smile. But I ignore him. I’m only focused on Neo, trying to gauge his reaction to this, to my arm wrapped around his waist, forcing his body against mine.
“Fine,” he mutters, and my chest flares in triumph. He doesn’t mind this.
“Fine,” I repeat, and Neo rolls his eyes, turning his gaze back to the TV.
It’s not enough, but it’s something.
After a while, he relaxes against me. The monster growls in satisfaction, happier than he’s been in days.
I thinkI’mhappier than I’ve been in days, which isn’t a good thing. It means this isn’t enough. That I’ll want more. More of Neo’s attention.
I just have to figure out how to make it happen.
15
NEO
I have no idea what’s gotten into Wylder.
After our date, I tried to give him what I thought webothwanted. Space. It meant I wouldn’t keep falling for him, and he’d get the peace he’s been demanding since I moved in.
