Chapter 30 #2
He chuckles and looks down at my cleavage before his eyes come back to my lips. “You lie so prettily, Siren.”
My heart speeds up, and a rush of desire courses through me.
I need to get away from him. My tequila-infused brain cannot be trusted.
I step out of his hold and make my way over to the table, where Tally is already watching me. “Hey, I’m tired and tipsy, and I need to go to sleep.” I lean down to give Tally a quick hug before I grab my purse and jacket from my chair.
“You’re going home with him?” She eyes me, but there is no judgment, only concern.
“No, I’m going to my guestroom alone,” I state a little too loud, wanting him to hear it if he’s still standing behind me while I put on my jacket.
Tim moves to stand. “Should I walk you?”
I reach out to pinch his cheek. “You’re a good one, little Timmy, but I’ll manage.
Have a nice rest of your birthday party.
” He gives me a glare while Tally laughs behind her hand.
“Night!” I wave to the table before making my way to the exit, looking around in search of Saylor, but he’s still gone.
I lock eyes for a second with Nash. He’s leaning against a wall on the opposite side of the restaurant, sipping his beer. His gaze on me feels like a shark watching its prey.
Yes, I definitely need to get out of here.
The door falls shut a little too hard as I step out of the restaurant, leaving the music and chatter behind me. Thankfully, the street lamps reflect on the remaining snow. Not all of it has melted yet, and it provides enough light that it’s not too creepy to walk home in the dark.
The waves are crashing in the distance. It’s cold, so I pull my shoulders up and put my hands in my jacket’s pockets.
Suddenly, there’s the sound of heavy footsteps behind me. A surge of fear hits me when I turn to look at who is behind me. It’s North, walking casually a few feet behind, his hands in his jeans pockets. My fear immediately dissipates, as if I’m not in danger as long as he is behind me.
Who could be worse than Satan himself?
Funny how the presence of the devil can be reassuring.
I blame the tequila.
“Following me?” I quip, taking a few steps backward to maintain our eye contact.
“You live in my house, remember? Or are you too drunk for that?” North’s voice is laden with that familiar annoyance as if he’s already fed up with me again, his eyes rolling slightly.
I haven’t even said one word to him today.
“I’m not drunk,” I snap back, the indignation clear in my tone, just as my foot finds a patch of icy snow. My feet fly out from under me, and I hit the ground with a thud that knocks the wind out of me. “Ouch…”
North pauses, and for a moment, there’s a flash of something like concern in his gaze before he curses under his breath and comes over. He reaches out a hand to help me to my feet, pulling me up like I weigh nothing.
Fuck, that’s hot.
The unexpected jolt from his touch still vibrates through me as he gestures toward the boardwalk with a rough nod. “Try not to break your neck, please. I can’t have you dying on my watch. Hunter would never buy it as an accident,” he says, a teasing edge to his voice.
There it is again, that glimpse, that small flicker of the guy behind all the anger and assholeness he showed me when I hurt my ankle. Knowing there’s more to him, a layer to uncover, is so intriguing. Just as intriguing as the man himself.
“I make no promises,” I retort, the flutter in my stomach betraying my cool exterior. “But it’s cute that you think you’d care.”
I can’t help but tease back, hoping he plays along, hoping to get some more of the North he’s hiding from the world.
“I have a reputation to maintain. Can’t have it said that I don’t look after our... guests,” he shoots back, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, suggesting he’s enjoying our back-and-forth more than he’ll admit.
How much did he drink?
The silence that falls between us as we walk is thick with tension. His footsteps sync with mine, a steady reminder that he’s there, just inches away.
My foot slips on a treacherous patch of ice once more, my sneakers obviously not made for this weather, a gasp tearing from my lips as I flail my arms. Instinctively, my hand shoots out, latching onto North’s upper arm with a vice-like grip.
My nails dig into the fabric of his jacket, and through it, I feel the solid muscle of his arm.
“Fuck,” he hisses in pain, a note of surprise in his voice as he steadies me. His arm flexes under my touch, a mixture of steel and heat.
“Sorry,” I breathe out, realizing I’m practically hanging onto him for dear life. “I’m surprised you can even feel anything through all that ice in your veins,” I quip, unable to resist poking at his stoic demeanor some more.
Maybe I’m drunk, after all.
I release my grip, but the imprint of his muscle lingers on my fingertips.
He chuckles, a low sound that makes my heart skip a beat. It’s so warm it seems at odds with the cold air. “Oh, I feel plenty. For example, I’m acutely aware of how much of a pain you’re being right now.”
Ugh. This man is dangerous.
If this is what it’s like to have a civil conversation, some banter, with him?
What else can he do?
I turn my head to look up at him and find him already staring, but it’s not his annoyed or angry stare. It’s something like… interest?
As we reach his doorstep, he unlocks the door with a deft flick of his wrist. “After you,” he says, putting his hand on my lower back as I pass by him, and it feels possessive, claiming.
“Trying to steer me now?” I ask, tilting my head to give him a challenging look. “Afraid I’ll stumble into your precious collection of... what, bear traps and broken hearts?”
“Ha, you wish,” he retorts, his voice low, his breath brushing against my ear. “But do try not to break anything, including yourself. I’d never hear the end of it.” I have to step away from him because what I want to do right now is see if he can break me.
He scans me up and down as I leave my jacket and shoes on the coatrack. “What?” I ask, looking at him defiantly.
Having his eyes rake my body is doing things to me I don’t like to admit.
“You’re living under my roof now, Blue. Next time you go somewhere you could be associated with the Jones family, wear something less…” He trails off, his eyes on my cleavage.
“Less what?” I challenge, crossing my arms over my chest.
Oh, we’re back to asshole North now?
He takes a step closer, pushing me against the side of the stairwell, making me gasp in surprise. One of his fingers comes up to trace a line on the skin that is showing on my stomach, making goose bumps erupt in his wake.
“Less enticing,” he murmurs, his warm breath flowing over my lips. He’s already so near, but he moves even closer, his body pressing against mine and making my heart race in my chest.
“I can wear whatever the fuck I want,” I tell him, but it comes out breathy.
His eyes lock onto mine, and the magnetic pull he has on me grows even stronger.
The air is thick with tension, and I can practically taste the desire hanging in the space between us.
His eyes go from mine to my lips and stay there, then he leans in, tantalizingly close, and for a moment, I forget everything else.
I forget about the consequences, about him being such a dick, about the fact that I shouldn’t even be here. All I can think about is how badly I want this, how badly I want him.
But just as our lips are about to meet, he stops and whispers, “Go to bed, Blue. You’re drunk.”
I gape at him as he pushes himself off the stairway and turns to go upstairs, leaving me standing there feeling like a complete idiot.
I can’t believe this man!
I try hard to gather my composure before I make my way to my room, close the door, and let my back fall against it. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes.
What the hell just happened?
The worst part is I would have let him kiss me. I would have let him do so many things, and I’m not even entirely sure I would have regretted them.
A knock on the door startles me, and my fury burns hot again.
Who does he think he is?
Telling me to go to bed like a little kid only to come back to berate me some more?
I nearly rip open the door. “What do you—” I start but freeze when I see it’s Nash standing before me.
He searches my face for a second, but when I don’t say anything else, he grabs my head with both hands, crashing his lips down to mine while pushing me inside the room and closing the door behind us.