Chapter 2
Marcus
Watching Lily leave the restaurant with a self-satisfied smile, I return my gaze to the prick who I could tell wasn’t giving her the attention she deserved just from her body language.
She’d been playing around with the food on her plate, not looking at him while he pretty much shouted his thoughts at her.
I heard those thoughts from my spot at the bar, saw her raise her eyebrows and roll her eyes so many times I thought they would fall out of her head.
The prick was talking utter shit. And to her?
Did he not know who he had in front of him?
Lily Chambers may grate on my last nerve, but she knows her football. And that prick clearly didn’t.
So I moved to be in their line of sight, hoping she’d spot me. And what do you know? Her eyes instantly found mine. It didn’t take long for her date to figure out who she was looking at and sprint over to me.
Seriously, man, you’re on a date with a stunning, intelligent woman. What are you doing, leaving her?
Yes, I have just given Lily a compliment in my head, but I won’t be telling her those thoughts.
She would never let me live it down. I love it when I fuck with her and get her riled up.
I get to see that fire in those mossy green eyes, which change with her mood, and my favorite shade is the deep, stormy green, which she has when she’s mad.
I won't pretend that I wasn’t happy when she didn’t give this prick a second date; she deserves so much better. A fucking dead fish deserves better. But I plaster on my fake as shit smile. “Look, Craig.”
“It’s Carl.”
“Mmm hmm.” I know what your name is, dickhead. I just think you’re an asshole. “I’m going to head off.” I offer him my hand while looking over his shoulder, my eyes trained on the door Lily just disappeared through. “Was nice to meet you.”
It wasn’t.
I put my empty bottle on the bar top, moving past the douche in front of me, his mouth hangs open as I dismiss him, and I find myself following the direction Lily went.
She can’t have got far. I don’t like the idea of her walking alone at night through London. My mama brought me up better than that.
Stepping outside, the sharp chill whips around me, forcing me to pull my winter coat tighter around me.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the weather here.
Scanning the street and spotting a flash of red, my lips morph into a huge grin.
There she is.
Picking up my pace, I quickly catch up to her. “Chambers,” I call out.
Her head snaps up, a stony expression on her face, and I can’t help the shit-eating grin that creeps onto mine at her expression. “Why are you here?” she asks.
Setting my pace to hers, I walk by her side. “I live this way, Chambers.”
I don’t.
“Well, keep your distance.” Her tone is irritated as she hugs her arms tighter around herself.
“Why? Do you get off on the stalker vibe?” I move to take a few steps back. “I could get on board with that.”
“God help me.” She groans, her heels clicking on the pavement with me three steps behind her for a few beats.
My eyes linger on her shape and the way her hips sway with each step, her hair whipping around her in the slight breeze.
I know I shouldn’t be looking at her like this, but damn, it’s hard not to.
“For fuck's sake, Diaz, if you’re going to follow me, just walk next to me. You’re creeping me out. ”
Lengthening my stride until I’m at her side, I tuck my hands in my pants pockets. “So, Chambers isn’t into stalkers. Noted.”
“Why are you the way you are?”
Crowding her space, and towering down over her, I reply. “You love me the way I am.” She shivers slightly at my proximity, making me frown because she’s never seemed affected by me before. I must have drunk more than I thought.
“No, I really don’t,” she whispers back.
We walk in silence, but my head is loud as I try to understand her reaction. “I know you don’t live this way, Diaz. Why are you still here?” She sighs as we enter the underground station.
“It’s late, Chambers.” I shrug.
“And? I’m a big girl. I can get myself home.”
“I know.”
“Good.” She tips her chin definitely, fire flaring in her eyes.
“Plus, one of my hookups lives this way.” I smirk.
They don’t.
“Wow, you really are something else.” She rolls her eyes as she storms ahead. I laugh as I catch up, and we quickly make our way to the deserted platform.
“A man has needs.” I stand behind her, gliding one of my hands to rest on her hip, my lips a fraction away from her ear as I tease.
“As do you.” I fully expect her to push me back, but she leans back into my chest, and my grip instinctively tightens on her hip.
The clean scent of her shampoo assaults my senses, and my cock twitches at her closeness.
What the fuck?
The sound of the train pulling into the station snaps my attention back, and I release her reluctantly, stepping back as she fusses with her hair.
Shit, she was affected as well.
Striding onto the train and taking a seat opposite her, my mind races with what just happened.
Shaking it off, I look across at Lily, our eyes connecting.
I expect to see deep green angry eyes staring back at me, but my breath catches in my throat when bright questioning eyes stare back.
She holds my gaze, almost daring me to look away first, but I can’t.
I won’t.
I will never back down from this woman. I live for her snarky insults; most people love to kiss my ass, but not her.
The dare in her eyes gives me the urge to fuck with her even more.
The train isn’t full and there are plenty of seats, but I move to take the one next to her. My body heats instantly when my shoulder brushes against hers.
“Can I help you?” Her eyes drift to my mouth before quickly darting back up to mine.
“Why are you in my space?” She audibly swallows when her bare leg presses against mine.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I did a full on double take when she walked across the restaurant earlier.
Chambers turns heads, even if she doesn’t realize it.
“I think you like me in your space.” I tuck a red lock behind her ear, trailing the backs of my fingers down the column of her neck. My heart thunders in my chest because she still isn’t backing away.
How far can I push this?
“I think it’s you who likes to be in mine.
You seek me out, Diaz.” Her tone is sultry, and my body comes alight with her words; the beat of my heart pounding in my ears.
My gaze briefly dips to her mouth as my fingers grip her chin lightly.
I’m battling the urge to pull her lips to mine, proving to her how I definitely don’t disappoint the women I’m with.
The train lurches to a stop, and whatever spell we were under is broken as Lily jumps up to exit the carriage. My eyes go to her round ass as she leaves, and then focus on her shapely legs that I envision framing my face.
Jesus Christ, what’s going on?
Am I seriously thinking about fucking Lily Chambers?
Is she seriously thinking about fucking me?
No, she hates me, and I hate her.
Liar.
We walk in silence as we exit the station. The street is empty and eerily silent as we continue to walk side by side. My fingers lightly brush against hers, and a small jolt of something goes through me as she lets out a small gasp.
Fuck it.
Quickly, I grasp her hand, swinging her into a dark alleyway.
Pushing her against the wall, I bring her hands together above her head.
She stares up at me as I lower my face to hers.
So close that I can see every freckle dusting her flawless skin.
“What are you doing?” She’s breathless but doesn’t attempt to escape my hold.
“I’m not sure.”
Her chest rises and falls with every breath while I feel like I’ve stopped breathing, neither of us daring to move until she whispers. “Let me go, Marcus.”
She never calls me by my first name. The shock of it makes me release her.
Ducking under my arm before she rushes out of the alleyway and across the street.
What the fuck just happened?