Resist Me(21)

“Sleep well?” He rubbed his eyes and yawned.

I jiggled the cuffs in the air. “How do you think I slept?” I growled.

“Stiff?” he asked, a playful smile spreading across his lips.

“Sounds like your problem, not mine.” I laughed, but inside, I was secretly dying.

We had been so close to having sex last night. What had started out as a plan to get him to let me go had turned into something more. The memories from Joey’s wedding night came flooding back, and I wanted more. I’d rather him think it had all been just an act. That was preferable to admitting that I wanted him.

“Can you take these off now? I have to pee.”

James stood, stretching his muscles and showing off his body. The man had no shame. I didn’t either. He grabbed the key off the desk near the door and sat on the bed, staring at me.

“What?” I snapped, annoyed and over the entire situation.

“I like you like this.” He smiled, rubbing his chin as he ran his finger across his lips.

“Well, you better memorize it, because you’ll never see me like this again,” I muttered, chewing the inside of my cheek.

“I bet I will, Izzy. You can’t resist me forever.”

“I didn’t know you were trying, Jimmy.”

Starting at my wrist, he lightly ran his fingers down my arm and traced a path to my chin. He stroked my cheek and stared into my eyes. “I’m telling you now. I love a good chase and a worthy adversary. You. Will. Be. Mine,” he said calmly, swiping his thumb across my bottom lip.

I swallowed hard, trying to get the lump that had formed in my throat to disappear. “I don’t go for the caveman shit,” I insisted, trying not to let him hear the delight his words had caused me.

“You do. You just won’t admit it.” He leaned forward, kissing the corner of my mouth.

I closed my eyes, savoring the scent of him. He smelled amazing. The light hint of musk and leftover cologne invaded my senses.

I turned my face and said, “I have to pee or I’ll do it right here.”

“You always have an excuse. Keep running, but I’ll get you in the end.”

What a cocky-ass motherfucker. I’d grown up with cocky. I knew it well. My ability to sniff it out had been honed since I was a child. I’d spent years trying to avoid it. It wasn’t that I wanted a pussy; I just didn’t want someone who felt like they owned me. No one told me what to do. I was Izzy Gallo. Slave to no one and master of my destiny.

I glared at him, about ready to start shifting in the bed from having to go and the effect James was having on me. “Please let me up,” I said, playing the sweet card.

“Do your business and then let’s hit it. I want to get you home as soon as possible so I can get back to Thomas,” he replied as he reached for the cuff. Holding my wrist, he worked the key in the lock, freeing me.

After pulling my wrist down, I rubbed it, soothing the spot the metal had rubbed against all night. “Thomas should be your priority right now,” I said as I rolled off the other side of the bed and away from him. “Not me.”

“I’m a multi-tasker.” He laughed. “Plus, your sweet ass is the one in front of me, so you take the top spot.”

As I walked by the bed, he reached out quickly and swatted my ass. I jumped, turning to face him, and glared. “What the fuck was that for?”

“I couldn’t help smacking that beautiful ass. Next time I do it, I’m going to be buried inside you and you’ll be begging me for more.”

I grabbed my clothes off the floor near his feet and stood, leaning into his space. “You’ll be the one begging, Jimmy. You bet your tight, hard ass on that one.”

The corner of his mouth turned up and his emerald-green eyes sparkled. They were an amazing shade of green. A picture would never capture their beauty and the depth of color. I needed to stop thinking of how beautiful he was and stick to my guns. James would not get what he wanted from this girl.

“Doll, I’m flattered you noticed my tight, hard ass.” He laughed, grabbing my face quickly and planting a kiss on my lips.

I felt the spark, just like the one I’d felt the first night he kissed me in the elevator. We had electricity—enough that we could probably light up a small town for a year—but no spark was worth dealing with his smug ass every day.

Pushing him away, I smacked him. “Don’t ever do that unless I want it.”

“Oh, you did,” he said, shaking his head and breaking out into laughter.

I placed my open palm against his head, pushing him backward. “Clearly we need to go over when no means no.”

I could hear his laughter as I walked toward the tiny bathroom. After closing the door, I tossed my clothes to the floor and leaned against the cool wooden surface. Sealing my eyes shut, I rested my hands on the door, and breathed.