Enraptured(24)

I opened the door and Dace's eyes widened. "Is that what you're wearing?"

I nodded, twirling to give him the full effect. "You like?"

"No." He shook his head, his lips tipped in a frown. "I think you should change."

I froze. "What?"

"You're showing a lot of skin, Ella."

"I am not!" I pushed past him to where my heeled leather boots sat. "Have you seen the other girls in the club, Dace?"

He folded muscular arms over his chest. "You're entire back is bared."

"Yeah, and that's the only thing I'm flaunting." I zipped up my boots. "Get over it. You act like I was raised in a nunnery."

"I don't." He scowled. "And you're showing your arms and shoulders too."

I narrowed 'don't test me' eyes on him. "It's called a halter top."

"It doesn't have a back." He pointed out again. "You're not even wearing a bra."

"I know." I forced a smile. "That's kinda the point."

"I don't like it." He said again - as though I hadn't realized.

"Just consider yourself lucky I'm wearing pants with it. I have dresses that do the same damned thing."

His eyes widened and he pursed his lips. "Put a jacket on."

"I will." I smiled innocently. "It's cold outside."

"You're going to be the death of me." Dace informed as I walked past the door he held open for me.

I poked him in the stomach. "Then stop acting like my older brother." I teased and he pulled back away from me as though my words had burned him. "And thanks for cleaning the kitchen." I added as an afterthought.

Dace closed the door and I locked up, shoving my keys in my pocket as I set off for the elevator. Dace still hadn't replied by the time we were in the elevator and I nudged him with my elbow.

"What's up?"

"Do you really think I treat you like a brother?"

"Well yeah," I laughed. "You're more hostile about boys flirting with me than my own father was." My heart lurched at the mention of my father.

Dace cringed. "I don't like the idea of you getting hit on by pieces of shit out for one thing and one thing only."

"The one thing you yourself happens to be 'out for'?" I quoted the words with my fingers and grinned sarcastically. He stiffened and I knew I poked a bruise. "I'm young, Dace. I just want to live."

He recoiled. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"Settle down." I rolled my eyes. "You're so dramatic."

"What did it mean, Ella?" He growled.

"I meant I want to live. I want to have fun and laugh and kiss under the stars and I want to have my heat swept out from under me." He looked straight ahead and I sighed in frustration. "Don't you want that?"

"No." He said flatly. There was nothing aside from anger in his tone, so I let it drop. There was no sense in pissing him off before work. That would make for one hell of a long night.

I didn't speak to Dace as I stormed from the elevator, through the lobby and into the chilly October air. When I arrived in the parking lot I realized I didn't know what Dace drove. "Where's your car?"

Dace pointed to my car and I rolled my eyes. "You want me to drive now?"

"No." He grabbed my hand. "My ride is behind yours."

"What?" Confusion screwed the features of my face as Dace led me to a shiny black bike and I laughed - like a hyena. It must have been one hell of a laugh, because it wasn't long until Dace was laughing at me.

"Are you all right?" He asked after regaining his control. His cobalt eyes swept over my face and I started laughing again.

"I'll drive." I snickered. "Apparently you're not in your right mind."

When I turned to walk back to my car, he tugged on my hand, refusing to release me. "You've never been on a bike?"

"No." I shook my head. "And I have no desire to get on one now."

He cocked his head and an amused light lit his eyes. "So, I'll be the first to take you for a ride?"

I shook my head. "I'm not getting on."

"You don't trust me?"

"I don't know you well enough to trust you with my life." I glared at the death-machine before glaring at him. "I'm not getting on."

Dace took a step closer to me and I held my ground determinedly. He dipped his head. "Get on, for me."

I shook my head. "No."

"If you do this for me I'll do whatever it is you want me to do."

I grinned. "Really?"

"Absolutely." I could feel his warm minty breath on my face and I shivered.

"No questions asked?" I tilted my head back so I could see right into his azure eyes. "You'll do anything?"