“You forgot two years, didn’t you?” He pushes a beer bottle into my hand. “I doubt the next thing you want to forget is how to breathe. You never know what that...” He points at the solo cup, “...was spiked with.”
Nowthatsounds more like concern than a threat, but my brain’s already nitpicking, disassembling every word.
“And this?” I raise the beer bottle. “Roofied?”
“Kinky,” he huffs, the corner of his mouth twitching in an almost-smile. “It’s a sealed bottle. No drugs tonight, I’m afraid.”
I shove the beer into his hand, cocking an expectant brow. He doesn’t wait for instructions, popping the cap off with ease before he hands the bottle back.
Reckless. I’m so fuckingreckless.
I should be far away from him by now. I should’ve left the moment his head emerged from the water, but... I’m curious. He tries to come across menacing. He definitely wants to scare me, and I want to know why.
“So...” I start peeling the label to keep my hands occupied. “Are you always this friendly?”
“You’re not used to guys not fawning over you?” he bites back, his tone icing the air between us. “Jensen will gladly worship at your altar.”
If there’s one thing I’m not used to then it’s male attention, but I won’t go down that road with him.
“Takes a man to understand the importance.”
“Wrong, pretty girl.” He presses the bottle to his lips while I calm my heartrate over thatpretty girlcomment.
I don’t remember anyone other than my parents ever calling me pretty.
“Men are predators, not lapdogs. We chase.”
There’s a spark in his eyes, a greedy glint that makes my skin prickle. My mouth opens and closes, the words failing to come. The image his sentence summons into my mind leaves me vulnerable and insanely thrilled.
Is this how he sees the world? A battleground of predators and prey? Is that how he sees me?
Why do you care?
I have no idea. I also have no idea why I’m so affected by his raw, unfiltered honesty.
His smirk deepens as he basks in my silence.
“Chase?” I echo, forcing a dismissive chuckle. “I’d say you’re more the club and drag type.”
He cocks an intrigued eyebrow.
God, his kaleidoscope of bad vibes is addictive. Egging him on could easily become my go-to source of entertainment.
“Careful, Hailey. You’re stepping on thin ice as it is.” He chugs whatever’s left in his bottle, reaching back for another. “If I must own the caveman comparison... what’s the point of the club if they come willingly?”
I grit my teeth when blazing heat crawls up my neck, flushing my cheeks. I refuse to let him see how his words affect me or show that he ruffled my composure. That, instead of fearing him, I’m burning up.
There’s still that undercurrent of danger licking my temples, but there’s something else now and, whatever it is, it’s loaded. Tension sparks between us, as electrifying as it is unnerving.
He’s beyond attractive. Hotter than hell and as far as I’m aware, no one quite like him ever took one look at me.
No one quite like him ever crossed my path. I doubt there’s anyone quite like him in the world.
“Well,” I counter, injecting confidence into my tone as I wave my good arm around, fighting for an upper hand in this game. “It doesn’t seem they’re flocking in droves.”
He leans back, eyes darkening ever so slightly as his heated gaze roams my body. “I prefer a challenge.”
AmIthe challenge?
