“Yeah, that photo’s my favorite too.”
“What?” I gurgle, too shocked to even speak coherently. “Wha-? How? Where?”
The sly smile on his face grows even wider.
“I might have lied to Caitlin, actually. My intentions aren’t entirely pure when it comes to you, Cammie.”
“Oh my God!” I cry, utterly humiliated, and finally able to speak again. “How did you get these? These are private! Did you hack into my phone or something? Oh my god!”
Troy throws his head back and laughs, although it comes out as more of a hoarse chuckle.
“No, I didn’t hack into anything. You sent these to me.”
I shake my head furiously.
“No way! You must have gotten into my cell somehow because I didn’t send those to anyone, much less you!”
He shakes his head with mock-regret.
“I’m a pilot, Cammie, not a computer whiz.”
“Then explain how you got a hold of those!”
He shrugs again, a smile on his face.
“You sent them to me, like I said.”
Time stops as I inhale and exhale, my breathing labored. “There’s no way. I would never.”
But then Troy stops to fiddle with his phone a moment. He brings up a text thread on his screen, and lo and behold, my name is right there with my smiling image.
“It’s a fake contact!” I proclaim. “It has to be. Show me the number.”
He does, and it’s my phone number as the contact.
Oh my god, I really did send him those pictures.
Furiously my mind spins. What happened that night? I’d been enjoying myself, definitely, since it was my first night in the apartment. I was all alone, snapping those pics. Was there a peeping tom? After all, this was before I got my curtains hung up.
But then, suddenly I realize what must have happened. I must have face-dialed or butt-dialed him at some point or another in the next day, and now, every single X-rated picture I took is now in the handsome man’s possession.
Immediately, I shift gears.
“I am so sorry about this. I didn’t mean to send those to you. They were something I did in private, and never in a million years did I think they’d get out. I’m so embarrassed…”
Troy pockets his phone and grins again.
“That’s okay, although I must say, I’m a little disappointed. I thought those photos were a special gift for me. So you’re saying it was an accident?”
I sputter.
“Well, yes! What else would it be? I must have accidentally tapped my phone somehow. Sometimes when I’m sleeping, I’ll roll over onto it, or it hits something in my purse. I’ve almost dialed 9-1-1 a few times.”
Troy pretends to frown, although I can see a smile lurking at the corner of his lips.
“Well, that’s definitely too bad. I liked those photos, Cammie.”
I gasp, my heart fluttering. “You did?”
He nods. “They’re very nice, shall we say,” he says with another knowing grin. Then, the gorgeous pilot takes a step towards me, and suddenly, I realize just how close we’re standing. Unsure of how to behave, I take a step back but he keeps following me. Soon, I’m pressed against the wall, staring at him with wide eyes as my bosom heaves.
“What are you doing?” I ask, breathless from the proximity.
Troy’s blue eyes gleam.
“It may have been an accident, but I think you wanted me to see those photos, Cammie. You’re not the sweet, innocent girl everyone thinks you are.”
“I…”
“And as for me, again, I greatly enjoyed viewing them. I’d say I’ve looked them over a thousand times now? Something like that?”
“A thousand?” I gasp.
“Yep, a thousand,” he growls, smiling like a predator. “Do you like knowing that I adore those photos? That I look at them whenever I have a moment: while I’m in bed, or watching TV, or even when I’m supposed to be working?”
“You mean when you’re flying a plane?” I squeak.
He grins.
“Absolutely honey. I love looking at those snaps while I’m surfing the clouds. It’s my own version of the Mile High Club.”
My senses fail me and everything exits my mind. I know what Troy wants, and I know this is a bad idea because he didn’t even bother to call after getting my number. I should tell him to get out of my apartment.
But I don’t, because no matter how terrible of an idea this is, I want it. I’ve wanted it since the moment I first laid eyes on this irresistible bad boy.
As if he can hear me, he leans close.
“Good girl,” he whispers. “Accept what’s going to happen because there’s no way to fight it.” Then, Troy closes the small distance left between us and kisses me.
I explode with passion. His lips are ravenous, claiming me as if I belong to him. His tongue masters mine with one stroke and I part my lips with a breathy gasp. I could die right now and be a happy woman.