He and his minions used to call me that back in school. In fact, Zach started calling me that the very first day we met in detention. All because I borrowed someone’s carrot sticks without asking. I replaced them the next day. Not that anyone cares about that.
I lick my sweaty lips. “No, I wasn’t stealing.”
Keeping his eyes on me, he tosses the keys over his shoulder. They land somewhere on the floor with a clatter that makes me flinch.
Somehow, having both his hands free has tipped the situation from terrible to catastrophic.
“Do you know what happens to little thieves like you?” he asks, softly, running his eyes up and down my body again.
A body that’s exploding. My skin is flushed and riddled with goose bumps. They are so sharp that it’s painful.
“I told you I wasn’t stealing,” I repeat but with a little more heat.
He ignores me, all bunched up and tall. “They get punished.”
Oh man, is he growing right in front of my eyes?
I scoff and pretend to be brave. “What is this? Your kinky fantasy? Am I supposed to call you sir now?”
At this, Zach steps inside the bathtub and I barely, barely, manage to not squeak. He’s bringing his dangerous, naked bulk even closer to me.
Don’t look at his thing.
“Maybe,” he replies to my earlier question. “A little respect would go a long way. Since it looks like your fate is in my hands.”
“If you come any closer, I’m going to scream,” I warn him.
“Yeah?”
“I’m not joking. And then, I’m going to sue your ass for sexual harassment.” I nod for good measure. “That’s right, asshole. I know my rights.”
Or I will. As soon as I get out of here, I’m googling the shit out of this.
Zach cocks his head to the side, still advancing toward me. “Do you wanna know what I’m gonna do to your ass?”
Jesus.
I stick my hand out, careful not to touch him. “Can you just stop with the sexual innuendos? I wasn’t stealing, okay? I was just trying to make your life a little difficult.”
Zach stops, comes to a sudden halt in his tracks. “What?”
I admit, “I was going to flush them down the toilet. That’s it.” When he keeps silent, I glance at him. “It’s only fair. After everything you’ve done to me.”
He remains silent but watching.
There’s no expression on his face. Nothing but pure intensity, and I can’t look at him. He’s too close. Too large.
Too naked.
His smell and the heat of his skin surround me like two strong arms and I can’t break their hold.
When I feel him leaning toward me, I snap my eyes up at him. My heart’s in my throat, ready to fly out of it as I realize that any second he might touch me.
Again.
Oh my God, he’s going to touch me.
I’m about to scream when a great rush of water rains down on my head like some heavy weight. It takes a second for me to understand what has happened.