Chapter 16 Kiera
KIERA
“This is you, Bunny.” Spencer smiled as we stopped in front of the guest room — my room, for now. As she reached past me to open the door, her hand brushed my waist ever so slightly.
I didn’t miss the light flexing in her jaw at the contact, quickly covered up by that megawatt grin of hers. That same charming grin had disarmed me once already despite my orientation, and now it was resurrecting those nervous butterflies.
That smile probably got her a lot of favors. Hell, I wasn’t even her target demo, and one grin had me ready to do anything she asked for — including willingly letting her lock me up in this strange room.
I looked at the open doorway, then back at her. “Is this entirely necessary? I’m not going to burn the place down, if that’s what she’s worried about.”
Spencer sighed, leaning a hand against the doorframe. “Necessary? Probably not. But you’ll learn to pick your battles with Dom after a little while here, and trust me — this is not a hill worth dying on.”
It seemed I still had a lot to learn about this place — and about my new roommates.
As Spencer spoke, my eyes drifted to her hand flexing over the doorframe — strong fingers hooked over the edge of the mahogany, taking the brunt of her weight with ease. A network of veins and tendons crossed over the back, and around the knuckles some light callouses had taken shape.
Based on the smoothness elsewhere, I’d be willing to guess the callouses formed from hard work rather than neglect. Whatever she did for a living, it involved her hands.
I cleared my throat, remembering where I was — and who those hands belonged to. “I just think that what Dom doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
Spencer smirked, bringing her body closer to mine in the doorway. “Is that so? Where are you so eager to get off to anyway? Got a hot date we don’t know about?”
“Yeah right.” I scoffed, stepping past her into the bedroom. “I don’t think I’m going to date for the next eon. It just went so well for me last time.”
“Really? That’s a damn shame. I’d hate it if some asshole ruined all your fun. Maybe you just need to try something new.”
“Nice try,” I laughed, shooting her a glare as I walked to the center of the room. She hadn’t exactly been subtle about her advances up to this point, but it never hurt to know exactly how attractive she found me.
Who knew, maybe one day it would work to my advantage. Maybe that day was today.
The real shame was that I didn’t swing that way — Spencer was objectively gorgeous, shaggy hair and sweet dimples made her defined muscle just a little bit less intimidating. And her dark eyes were to die for, a night sky of depth to stare into.
But more than her looks, it was her energy that drew you in. She was magnetic and knew exactly what to say to keep you hooked. It was easy to lose track of yourself until you were firmly in the palm of her hand.
Most other women — hell, most men — would probably be swooning at having her undivided attention.
Instead, I stood firm in the doorway, wondering how flirting came so easily to people like Spencer.
I’d been called a flirt before, but never when I was actually trying to give that impression.
My attempts at actually flirting, even with men, could be summed up as awkward at best, disastrous at worst.
Maybe that was why Spencer was so flustered by my presence — because I wasn’t really trying. She was probably used to people fawning all over her, as charming as she was. Working for it, even fruitlessly, was probably an entirely novel experience.
But if I had such an effect on her when I wasn’t even trying, how much headway could I make if I actually stoked the flame of her desire?
Could I do that? Flirt… with a girl?
It can’t hurt to try.
As she turned to leave the room, dragging the door shut behind her, I decided to try my hand. “Spencer, wait!”
The door stopped midswing, shielding half of her body as she turned to face me. “Need something before I go?”
What did I need? I wasn’t sure what I was angling for — I just wanted to know what I could get away with, I suppose.
I looked up at her with big, fluttery eyes, rocking on my heels as I scrambled for some sort of ask. “You sure you can’t just leave that door unlocked, beautiful? I won’t go anywhere. I just… like knowing I’m not trapped.”
Spencer’s eyebrow shot up, her voice flat. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“Oh yeah.” I nodded a bit too emphatically, but it wasn’t a lie, even if I didn’t mean it the way she thought I did.
“So you wouldn’t mind if I came over there and kissed you?” She adjusted her footing, her body sliding out from behind the door as she gave me a once over. I could feel my skin prickling under her attention, turning me instantly into a marionette with the strings cut.
Where do I put my hands? Am I smiling enough? Do I want this?
I’d kissed ugly guys for less. With my eyes closed, Spence could probably pass for a man anyway — and wasn’t my freedom worth it?
I nodded, biting my lip for good measure.
But Spencer just laughed, that smirk of hers turning devilish. “Nice try, straight girl.”
My face burned red as her laughter echoed through the room. “Fuck. Was it that obvious?”
“Always is. But don’t worry, Bunny — next time you ask for it, you’ll mean it.”
The burning in my cheeks deepened. In your fucking dreams.
But before I could stammer out a response, Spencer wrapped her fingers around the doorknob, the teasing in her gaze replaced with something more genuine.
“I promise I won’t be gone too long — I’ve just gotta check on some stuff at the autobody.
If you’re a good girl, I’ll let you out as soon as I’m home. Got it?”
“Got it.” I flopped down on the bed, crossing my arms over my chest in the only act of protest I could get away with, it seemed.
With one last smile, Spencer swung the door shut. I could hear the metal lock thunk into place, then her footsteps fading down the hallway, and then…
Silence.
The flirting attempt had been worth a shot, even if I was deeply embarrassed about it. Spencer was right about one thing — the next time I tried it, she would certainly believe that I meant it. I just needed to get a little better at it was all.
Wouldn’t be hard with Spencer and Leo around to observe in action.
I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that I was staying here. For now, this big, sprawling mansion was home.
Something about the thought made goosebumps prickle at the base of my neck.
When I tried to picture this place full of life, it looked so different from the wreckage that littered the place. In my mind, it was a warm summer day. The wallpaper was still original. And always, there was the sound of children laughing.
Before I could get too swept up in the vision, my phone buzzed. My shoulders stiffened — there was no good answer to who might be calling, but I wasn’t sure if I was more stressed or relieved to see that it was her:
My mother.
Probably better than Gabe, if marginally.
With a deep sigh, I picked up the phone and swiped across the screen — I could only dodge her for so long, after all.