"Why do you look like that?" I question, squeezing between him and the wall to walk into the kitchen to get the plates.
"Like what?"
"Like a man who didn't just get lucky and wants some."
He steps into the room, and I feel him move behind me, the sweats he had pulled back on the only thing keeping his erection contained as he presses himself against my back. He moves my hair until it hangs over one shoulder and starts trailing kisses up my neck. One hand comes around me until his large palm is pressed against my stomach, pulling me against him. Plates forgotten, I brace against the counter with both hands. He just gave me four delicious orgasms, and already, I want more.
I open my mouth to beg for just that when he holds my phone up in front of me. "He's called five times."
"Huh?"
Shane's chest moves against my back. Even though I heard the hardness in his voice, he laughs at me and my reaction to his touch. He knows what kind of power he holds, but he doesn't get cocky about it.
"Your ex," he clarifies.
"So? What about him?"
This time, Shane doesn't laugh. He moves, setting the phone on the counter, and uses both hands to turn me to face him. I don't look away, letting him see the truth in my eyes.
"It doesn't matter, Shane. You can't act surprised that he's stalkerish in his persistence when I never hid it from you."
"Fuck, Nik, I didn't say you did. I just don't get the nonchalant attitude about his calls."
"Well, I've tried for months to tell him to leave me alone. I've tried telling him that he and I wouldn't ever be a thing again. I've tried telling him I had a new boyfriend. Nothing works, so no, I'm not surprised he's still calling."
"This is normal?"
I nod. "Has been for the past six or so months, yes."
"You don't return his calls?"
"Yeah right, big boy." I snort.
"Why?"
"Why, what?"
"Why don't you call him back?"
"I think you need to sit down. Maybe eat something. Clearly, you're lacking sustenance if you're asking me that question."
"Let me rephrase," he says, lips twitching. "Why don't you call him back now?"
"Okay, handsome, I'll play. Why should I call him back now?" I ask, mimicking his stress on the last word.
His lips stop twitching and his smile forms. Devilish. Yeah, no doubt about it.
"Humor me."
I shrug. The last thing I want to do is have Seth encroach on my mood when it was finally turning around. However, I know Shane wouldn't ask me to do so if he didn't have a reason.
Picking up my phone from the counter, I bring up my missed calls and press 'Douche Lord.' Before I can bring it up to my ear, Shane's hand shoots out, and I watch as one long finger taps the speakerphone button.
"Nik Nac! About time!"
"What do you want, Seth?"
"You weren't a
t school."
I look up, my confused gaze clashing with Shane's angry one.
"I'm taking some time off," I tell him, not convinced that I'm lying, but I can worry about my job's future after this junk.
"I see. Well, want me to come over?"
"Why would--" I start to argue, but when Shane's devilish grin turns into a cold, calculating, evil smirk, the words trail off.
Then he shocks the crap out of me and mouths, "Do it," to me.
"We can talk, babe. You've got time today without work and all. Didn't you always say that's why you couldn't talk? Always too busy."
Again, Shane's mouth moves. "Do it." I shake my head. "Trust me," he continues.
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and welcome the pig into the wolf's den. "Sure, Seth. Come on over. We can talk."
The phone is out of my hand, call disconnected, and Shane's mouth is plundering mine. Straight up owning me. I'm honestly not sure at this moment who is the predator and who is the prey, either.
THE HEAVY KNOCKING ON MY front door makes me jump. Shane places his fork down and leans back, waiting and ready. I'm sure his every instinct is telling him to lead, but instead, he's waiting for me to take that role.
"Ten minutes. I figured he would have gotten here quicker than that," he adds, wiping his mouth and standing. He offers me his hand, helping me to stand from my chair. My lunch feeling unwanted in my stomach now as my nerves make me nauseous. "Trust me, Nikki."
"I will. I mean, I do. I do trust you, Shane."
Even through the hardness that he's holding himself, his touch is tender. "Nothing will ever touch you, Nicole. I mean it. You'll see that I'm worthy of that trust with time."
The knocking starts again, this time louder and impatient.
"You ready?"
I answer with a nod of my head. Wrinkles deepen in the corner of his eyes as he smiles a toothy grin at me. I stand mutely when he tugs his sweats lower on his trim hips, his deep V more pronounced and the fact he's not wearing underwear obvious. He shifts, pulls them even lower, and assesses his handiwork. Then he lifts my hands and pulls my fingers through his hair. He looks tussled and well loved, if I'm being honest.