My eyes narrow as Gianna scurries past the fountain, looking over her shoulder.Always such a Little Suspect.The sight of her is all I need to pick up my phone and stand. I dust myself off and stomp out the cigarette.
‘I’ll call you back,’ I clip into the phone before hanging up.
Why is my Little Suspect sneaking around in the shadows?
Dark curls flow behind her as she rushes down the alley on the side of Paradiso. Chuckie pads along by her side, and the way he doesn’t take his eyes off her lets me know he’s on guard.Good boy.
I wait a few moments before following her.
Where the hell are you going?
As I round the corner, I stop short, hanging back to stay hidden in the alley. I watch as Gianna grips Chuckie’s collar with all her strength, pulling him back as he flashes his teeth and snarls at a blond man in front of her.
Who the fuck is that?
I strain my ears, but Chuckie’s growls at whoever this fucker is drown out their conversation.
I hang back, craning my neck to catch a look at the man’s face, but he doesn’t turn my way. The only thing I see is a striped prep shirt tucked into khaki shorts. The guy slips Gianna a piece of paper, his movements sending Chuckie into a frenzy. I can relate. My body heats as his fingers graze against hers. Every muscle tenses, wanting to rip his hands away from her.
The ridges along Chuckie’s spine stay taut until the man leaves and is well out of sight. Gianna crouches down and gives Chuckie a few calming pats before unlocking the door and heading into Paws on the Coast.
I wait a beat before slipping through the door too. The bell dings as I enter, but I have no interest in hiding. I put the lock in place behind me.
Going after the sound of her steps, I meet her down the hallway as she’s exiting a storeroom, a sack of dog food in her arms. I’m burning. The air shifts, like it always does when she’s near. The more I tell myself to stay away, the wilder my obsession becomes. I cannot fucking help but be drawn to her.
When she notices me, she yelps and drops the bag and kibble scatters all over the lino floor. Before I even know what’s happening, she slaps me. Hard. Tingles spread hotacross my face, and I let loose a chuckle.Fuck. Yes.She really is a fiery Little Suspect.
‘Ryker!’ She rips the AirPods from her ears, stumbling back as recognition sets in. ‘Fuck. I didn’t know it was you. I didn’t mean to …’ She pauses and shakes her head. ‘Actually, you know what? Yes, I did. How did you get in here?’
‘The door was open.’ I hike a thumb over my shoulder. ‘You should start locking things if you don’t want people following you.’
‘That doesn’t explain why you’re stalking me.’ She scowls and turns, returning a moment later with a dustpan and broom. She starts to lean down, but I take the items from her hands.
‘Nice jacket.’ I flick at the embroidered number on the left side of the fabric. ‘Got the hots for forty-four?’
Her cheeks flush pink, and she folds her arms across her chest as she mumbles something to herself.
‘Fuck off, Ryker.’ She purses her lips with an unimpressed smirk.
I drink her in – the soft lines of her face and the length of her perfect neck. My tongue runs along the back of my teeth, fighting the urge to taste her.
‘I’m just teasing.’ I sink down, sweeping the kibble into the pan. ‘Let me do it for you, Little Suspect.’
‘Getting on your knees for me?’
My insides flare, the image of her standing over me, wearing nothing but that jacket – my jacket – comes to mind, and I fight back a groan. ‘I’ll always be on my knees for you.’
I look up and see Gianna’s chest moving with her shallow breaths. I rise, emptying the sweepings into the trash beforehanding the dustpan back. She reaches around the handle with shaky fingers, but I don’t let go. Leaning down, I brush my lips against her ear. ‘If you want me on my knees for a different reason, I’ll eat you all night long. I’ll devour you until you cry. All you have to do is ask, Gianna, and I swear to fuck I’ll do it. I bet you taste like my new favourite meal.’
Her body shudders and my cock throbs at how responsive she is. She swallows hard before a sardonic scowl twists her lips. She snatches the dustpan from me, throwing it back into the room behind her.
‘If you’re gonna be here, help me feed the animals. Grab the bag.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ My body tingles at how easy she is to rile up.
She moves past me, and I hear her intake of breath as her breasts brush against my arm.I feel it too, baby.I pick up the bag, sling it over my shoulder and follow as she leads the way to the back.
‘Do you work here now?’ I ask.
