5. Wrath
WRATH
Mia and I weren’t exactly close, but I knew her well enough to know when she was up to something.
And the second she opened the front door, I knew something was up.
She was all dolled up like she was about to hit the town.
She was wearing a fitted sweater and mini-skirt, and it looked like she’d put on fresh makeup and curled her hair.
As far as I was concerned, she didn’t need the makeup or the fancy hair.
She was beautiful without it. But then, she’s always had a strange effect on me.
Just one look at her, and I’d find myself wanting to get closer, and if she happened to smile at me or even in my direction, I’d get this weird warm sensation in my chest.
I didn’t like the feeling.
I didn’t like it at all.
It was one of the many reasons I’d always kept my distance—which made me wonder why the hell I’d offered to help her out with her fucking lights. I silently cursed myself as I watched her eyes light up and a smile sweep across her face. “Hey. You came.”
“I said I would.”
“Yeah, but things happen.” She shrugged, then nervously motioned me inside. “Come on in.”
“So, you said your fan isn’t working?”
“Yeah, it was fine one day and dead the next.” She motioned for me to follow. “Come on. I’ll show ya. It’s back in the bedroom.”
With my toolbox in hand, I followed through the kitchen and into the living room.
I’d been in her place before, but I didn’t remember how fucking girlie the place was.
The living room had these big, plush velvet couches in various shades of pink.
I’m sure they cost a small fortune, but they reminded me of Pepto Bismol.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, every inch of the place was covered up with throw pillows, fuzzy blankets, and candles.
Her bedroom wasn’t much better. It was all lavender and white, and she had one of those girlie-tufted headboards.
There were pictures of flowers on the walls and lace curtains on the windows.
The second bedroom wasn’t so bad. She’d turned it into a home office, and it was pretty basic.
There was just a white desk and a computer monitor on one wall and a bookshelf on the other.
Sadly, it wasn’t the room with the fucked-up fan.
Mia walked over to the edge of her bed and lifted her hand towards the ceiling. “Well, this is her.”
“Hmm.” It was just a basic fan with a light kit. I saw no reason I couldn’t fix it, so I asked, “And the light?”
“It’s in the bathroom.”
I stepped past her and made my way into her bathroom.
I was pleased to see that it was just a basic ceiling mount.
I hoped that meant it would be an easy fix.
I placed my toolbox down on the counter, then flipped the power switch.
Just like she’d mentioned earlier, the light started blinking.
I figured it was just bad wiring, so I asked, “You got a ladder or something?”
“Yeah, hold on a sec.” She stepped over to the closet and pulled out a small step ladder. “Here ya go.”
“Thanks.”
I flipped the switch, then placed the stool under the light.
When I got up to it, I turned on the flashlight on my phone and shined it on the base.
I was about to remove the lightbulb when I noticed that it wasn’t properly screwed in.
I gave it a firm twist, making sure that it was tight, then said, “Okay. Try it now.”
Mia flipped the switch, and light filled the room. I waited a moment to make sure there was no blinking, then told her, “That’ll do it.”
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe it was just the stupid light bulb.” Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “I should’ve checked that myself.”
“It’s fine.” I stepped down the ladder, then carried it into the bedroom. “Hopefully, the fan will be just as easy to fix.”
I killed the power to the fan, then walked over and placed the stool beneath it.
Mia gave me a funny look as I started up the first couple of steps, but I ignored it and started searching for the issue.
As soon as I touched it, the entire fan swayed—which meant it hadn’t been mounted properly or something had bumped it and bumped it hard. “Did you do this?”
“Do what?”
“This?” I gave the entire fixture a shake. “It’s like something hit it.”
“No, I ah... I don’t know what could’ve done that.”
I could tell by her high-pitched tone that she was lying, but I didn’t press.
Figured it didn’t really matter. Either way, it had to be fixed.
I stepped down and grabbed my toolbox from the bathroom.
I got my Phillips head screwdriver, then made my way back up the step ladder.
I was just about to start removing the light kit when I noticed something dangling from one of the fan blades.
I reached up and pulled it free, only to find that it was a gold tassel from a pillow.
I held it out in front of me as I asked Mia, “You got any idea how this got up here?”
“No… I have no idea where that came from. I certainly don’t know how it got up there.”
Again, with the high-pitched voice.
I had no clue why she was lying, but I was over it.
I glanced over at the bed and immediately spotted a pillow with the same kind of tassel. “You seriously gonna stick to that story?”
“Fine.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “It was a stupid idea anyway.”
“What was a stupid idea?”
“I lied about the fan and the light.” Her eyes locked on mine as she admitted, “I told you that in hopes of getting you over here.”
“And why would you do that?”
“Because I wanted a chance to talk to you without the brothers around.”
I stepped down from the ladder and tossed the screwdriver back in my toolbox. “I don’t do well with games, Mia.”
“I’m not trying to... I just.” She looked to the floor with a defeated sigh. “Just forget it. You can go.”
“If you’ve got something to say, say it.”
“Fine.” Her eyes made their way back to mine as she announced, “I think we should go out.”
“Go out?”
“Yeah, you know.... date.”
I was a man who was rarely ever caught off guard, but hearing that Mia wanted us to date took me by complete surprise. I’d always thought Mia was beautiful. I’d had more than a few inappropriate thoughts about her, but I never dreamed she’d ever be interested in me.
I certainly never thought she’d want to fucking date me.
I was completely thrown by the idea and had no clue how to respond. For a split second, I actually considered taking her up on her offer. It was fucking Mia. I’d be a fool not to at least consider the idea, but it didn’t take long for reality to creep in.
She wasn’t just a brother’s daughter.
She was Stitch’s daughter. There was no way around it. She was off limits, so I grabbed my toolbox and started for the door. “I don’t date.”
“Seriously?” She sassed, following me into the living room. “That’s all you got? I don’t date!”
“It is what it is, Mia.”
“That’s a copout, and you know it.” There was no missing the anger in her voice when she snapped, “If you aren’t interested in me, just say so.”
“I never said I wasn’t interested.”
“Then, what is it?” Mia perched her hand on her hip as she asked, “Your dick only gets hard for hang arounds?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. You’re killin’ me with this shit.”
“Just looking for an answer, Wrath.”
“You want an answer I can’t give.”
“Why?” She stepped closer. “You afraid to admit how you feel?”
“You’re walking a fine line here, Mia.”
“Walking it? Hell, I’ll stomp all over it. I don’t care.” She stepped even closer, then placed her hand on my chest and smirked. “I’m not scared... Are you?”
“You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”
“Tell me you don’t want me... Tell me you don’t want to sleep with me right here and now, and that will be that. I’ll never say another word about it.”
“You know I can’t say that.”
“Then, you do want me.”
“Mia.”
“Just tell me... Stop thinking about what you should or shouldn’t say. There’s no one here to judge.” Mia pushed. “It’s just you and me.”
She looked up at me with lust-filled eyes, and I was done.
Without answering, I put my arm around her small waist and pulled her body close to mine, and for the first time that night, I finally had her right where I wanted her. I knew this whole thing was a mistake. I knew it would blow up in my face, but she’d pushed me too far.
I’d give her what she was asking for, and then, that would be the end of it.
“Can’t make you any promises.”
“I’m not asking you to.” Her voice was low and raspy as she said, “I know what this is, Wrath. You don’t have to worry.”
With that, all my resistance broke.
I lowered my mouth to her neck and began trailing kisses along her collarbone. She inched closer with a wanton groan, and it was all I could do to keep myself from bending her over the kitchen chair.
There was no denying that I wanted her. Hell, I wanted her more than my next breath, and if the look in her eye was any indication, she wanted me just as much.
My hands roamed across the curves of her body, and damn, she felt so fucking good.
When she inched closer, squirming against me with a whimper, I feared that one night with her wouldn’t be enough.
“You need to know, I don’t do soft and gentle... I don’t make love.” Her eyes remained trained on mine as I told her, “I fuck.”
She raked her teeth over her bottom lip as she considered what I’d said. It only took her a blink before she said, “Then, fuck me, Wrath. Fuck me like you fucked Jasmine that night in the family room.”
Damn.
I lowered my hand to her waist, then slowly trailed along her inner thigh.
As I got closer to the hem of her skirt, she widened her gate, giving me access to trail further.
Her breath quickened as the tips of my fingers grazed the lining of her lace panties.
My cock throbbed against my zipper, knowing she was already wet.
Fuck.
She shifted her hips forward and rested her head on my shoulder, closing her eyes as I continued to slowly caress her—teasing her and making her even wetter for me.