Page 7 of Mr. Wicked

I needed to be nearer.

I needed to fill my nose with her scent.

Once I did, I was surprised at how much I liked it.

For someone whose comebacks bit like a habanero, her aroma was soft.

Lavender and vanilla.

I wanted to rub my nose across her neck and really take it in.

“Hold on a second, let me see if I have this straight.” As I used her words, I rubbed my palm across the side of my beard, my eyes leaving hers to take a dip down her body. “You’re accusing me of following you and skipping out on my bill. And you have the nerve to ask me to buy you a drink?”

Her lips puffed out like a duck. “Sounds about right.”

“What if I had a better idea ...”

As a woman came out of the restroom, Jovana moved out of her direct path by sliding over to the wall of the hallway. I followed, resting my shoulder against a spot about a foot from where Jovana was, positioning my body identically to hers.

The new placement gave us more privacy and less distance between us.

A win in my book.

“Tell me your idea, Grayson.” When she said my name, she sounded breathless.

“Well, first, where do you live?”

She huffed out a burst of air. “That’s forward, isn’t it?”

My cock was fucking aching to be inside her.

I didn’t have patience for this forward bullshit.

“I live two blocks from here,” I told her. “Are you closer or farther than me?”

She tucked a chunk of hair behind her ear, showing light-pink nails and gold rings on two of her fingers. “I’m about a fifteen-minute train ride and then five blocks from the train station.”

“That won’t do.”

She searched my eyes. “I’m confused.”

“Don’t be, Jovana. It’s simple. Why have a drink here when I have plenty of liquor at my place? Your place was an option until I heard how far it was. Fifteen minutes and a walk—nah, that won’t do.” My brows raised as a thought began to nag at me. “Unless you’re going to tell me you have other plans for when you get off work ...”

“And if I do?”

A grin wanted to come through, but I wouldn’t let it. “I won’t believe you.”

Although she checked her watch, I was positive she knew the time. She’d just said she was about to clock out, so she had a general idea, at least. I assumed she just needed a break from my stare. “I was going to go home.” She glanced up at me and took a breath. “You know, eat. Catch up on some things that I couldn’t get done because I had to work tonight.”

“There’s an excellent pizzeria on the corner, one block away. I’ll grab you a slice.”

“How do you know I even like pizza?”

She was turning into quite the challenge.

Most of the women I’d been with didn’t take this much finessing.

“Here’s something you should know about me, Jovana. I don’t compromise. Ever.”

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