Page 74 of Vicious Temptation

The world is a special kind of cruel because if he were anyone but Philly PD, my legs would already be wrapped around him. I’d let him put those massive hands wherever the hell he wanted just to find out exactly what a man his size is capable of doing to me.

I’ve never been the type to deny myself a man I wanted when I knew he wanted me too, but Thiago isn’t just anyone. He’s the one man I know I shouldn’t have.

My phone rings, saving me from making a decision I’ll probably regret tomorrow. I let my shirt drop and step away from him.

“Pizza’s here.”

Thiago’s hand curls into a fist at his side before he lets out a slow breath, as if forcing himself to reset.

Same.

“You never did tell me your flavor of choice.”

I move toward the door, and he falls into step behind me.

“Spicy pepperoni, extra cheese, and hot honey.”

A laugh slips out of him. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“It’s cute that you think you know me.”

“I’m taking notes.”

I stop so suddenly that he nearly walks into me. His hands land on my shoulders to steady us both, their weight making me acutely aware of how little space there is between us.

“Is that right?” I ask, tipping my head back to look at him. “And what exactly do you think you know so far?”

His thumbs brush lightly against my skin as he studies me.

“I know you pretend not to care about people nearly as much as you actually do,” he says. “You found an injured snake that probably wanted to kill you and brought her home because you saw yourself in her. And I’ve seen you with Zara. You love hard, Remi. I can see that.”

I don't know what to do with the fact that he sees that so clearly.

“I know silence bothers you because there’s always noise somewhere around you. Or you make the noise yourself.” His mouth twitches. “Then there are the lollipops you keep in crystal bowls like somebody’s grandma.”

I bark out a laugh. “Fuck you.”

His smile lingers as his eyes drop to my hands. “I’ve also noticed you’re always fidgeting with something when you get nervous or maybe get stuck in your head.”

That wipes the amusement from my face.

His gaze returns to mine. “You do it constantly.”

“That’s creepy observational skills for someone I’m definitely not friends with.”

“Occupational hazard,” he says, his eyes locked on mine. “I also know you’re reckless enough to invite a cop you barely trust into your home after a shootout.”

“That doesn’t sound very smart.”

“Maybe.” He steps a little closer. “But I think it means you wanted me here anyway.”

I can’t bring myself to give him a smart-ass response.

A man who pays this much attention is dangerous. Thiago is already noticing details I never meant to show him, and the worst part is how much I want to let him keep looking.

“How’d I do?” he asks.

“Barely scratched the surface,” I say, grabbing the front of his shirt.