“Yeah.” Ody watched him. “What do you want?”
Mano hesitated.
“You wouldn’t have come if you didn’t want to be here,” Ody said.
“I only came because you insisted! And because you said—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he cut him off with a faint smile. “You came against your will.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping. “Not because you wanted to be alone with me.” He moved in until their faces were inches apart. “Not because you wanted me to touch you. To kiss you. To whisper in your ear.” His breath was warm against Mano’s skin. “Right, Mano?”
Mano’s eyes fluttered shut, his breathing growing uneven.
“Not because you wanted to pick up where we left off in the room,” Ody murmured. “You came with me against your will. I dragged you here.” He held Mano’s gaze, watching his chest rise and fall.
“That’s how it is, right?” Ody said, his voice low and teasing. “Just like you’re about to do something else against your will…” He paused, letting the silence stretch between them.
Mano shivered.
Then Ody whispered against his ear, “Get in the back.”
Mano stayed frozen, his pulse racing.
Ody stepped out of the car, opened the back door, and slid into the middle seat. He leaned back against the seat, stretching his legs slightly apart, watching Mano with quiet confidence. “I’m waiting.”
Mano didn’t move.
A slow smirk spread across Ody’s lips. “Don’t make me come get you.”
Chapter 47
Mano’s heart slammed against his ribs. For a moment, he couldn’t move. From the back seat, Ody watched him with a steady, piercing stare that made Mano’s pulse spike harder.
He swallowed hard. This was insane. They were alone. In a deserted parking lot. And Ody was sitting back there like he had already decided how this was going to end.
His hand closed around the edge of the seat. Why was he suddenly so nervous? His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. Ody was still there. Leaning back in the seat, legs apart, watching him with that infuriatingly confident look. Waiting.
Mano exhaled slowly. Ody leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his neck. He jerked back, eyes widening.
“You coming back here?” Ody asked with a sly smile.
Mano glanced around awkwardly. “W-why?”
Ody chuckled. “Have I ever told you how much I like it when you stutter?” He shifted closer from the back seat.
Mano retreated until his leg bumped against the glove compartment. “W-why do you want me back there?” he asked, avoiding his gaze.
“Come here and you’ll see.”
“I’m fine right here.”
Ody’s expression hardened. “I said, get in the back.”
“Don’t order me around,” Mano said, annoyed.
Ody’s eyebrows lifted, pleasantly surprised by the defiance. “Didn’t you say you came here even though you didn’t want to? Because I insisted? That means you do as I say.” He held Mano’s gaze. “Good. Now get in the back. Or I’ll come get you myself.”
Mano stared at him, chest rising and falling like he was fighting something inside his own head. Then he opened the door, stepped out, and climbed into the back seat beside him. Once the door shut, he pressed himself against the window, putting as much distance between them as possible.
Ody slid closer, pressing his body against Mano’s as he leaned near his ear. “Everything I’m about to do to you…” he whispered. “I’m gonna do it against your will, right? You don’t want this, huh, Mano?”
