Page 20 of Obsessive Cravings

I crossed my arms as she rose from the desk, the skirt falling to cover that delicate skin.

“I swear, I didn’t. I turned him down when he asked me out.” She chewed her lip, and I could see her emotion changing. “That asshole. I’ll kick his balls so hard he won’t be able to fuck anyone ever again.”

I choked back my laugh. She was a spitfire, and I loved it. I’d only seen her fragile side, but I knew she’d run from Mason and that took nerve. She’d also invited me to play with her, letting her hunter in to taunt his prey, so she wasn’t some frail flower.

I walked over to her, getting so close that she stepped back, the desk pinning her. Memories of her cry of ecstasy returned and the way her body had writhed below my touch, making it almost hard to keep up my charade. I reached out and picked up one of the loose strands of her hair, curling it in my finger like I’d imagined. “So you didn’t sleep with him?”

“No,” she murmured, her anger fading.

“Good. Are you sleeping with anyone else?”

A faint blush started on her cheeks, and I knew exactly why it was there. She remained quiet, and I tipped her chin back up to me. “Answer the question, Miss Brinks. Are you fucking anyone else?”

“Why does it matter?” she dared. “Why is that any of your business?”

I stepped against her, relishing the feel of her body pressing against mine. She exhaled wonderfully, and I slid my hand down her arm.

Leaning close to her ear, I said, “Because you are mine, Riley Brinks. And no other man will touch you.”

She shuddered, her body arching into mine, and I wanted to keep her there, to touch every inch of her and have her come undone for me. But this was a game…one I was failing at miserably. I stepped from her and turned my back, walking to my window.

“I’ll see that Matt packs his things today. That’s all. Miss Brinks.”

She didn’t leave and I could feel her eyes on me.

“That’s all?”

I glanced over at her. “Did I not make myself clear?”

“I…fuck. What if I…”

I turned to her, seeing the look in her eyes. The same one she’d given me in the elevator and on the street. Longing. She wanted me, but the way I was going about this bothered her sense of rightness. Her mystery lover confounded the situation for her because now she had two men she wanted, and I’d just laid claim to her.

“If what?”

She held her head higher. “What if I don’t want to be yours?”

I clenched my jaw, feeling my eyes harden. “Is there someone else I need to worry about, Miss Brinks?”

She stammered before saying, “Riley. It’s Riley. What if there is?”

I fought my need to grin because I knew exactly who that was, and I knew I’d be paying her a visit tonight to taste a little more of my girl. I strode to her, grasping her by the back of the neck and loving the sigh she released. “Then I’ll kill him for daring to touch what’s mine.”

Her mouth fell open, and I could feel the tremble of her nerves. “You can’t kill someone,” she said meekly.

“For you, I would, Riley. For you, I would burn down the world.”

Releasing her, I walked to my desk and grabbed my coat. She continued to stand there, speechless.

“Go back to work, Miss Brinks.”

I strode past her, leaving her there, and made my way from the building. My body was ablaze with my need for her, but I wasn’t ready to act on it yet. I would, however, play tonight. I’d staked my claim, and now it was time to let her know who owned her.

Chapter Twelve

RILEY

Idon’t know how long I stood in Greyson Tides’ office. His words played through my mind. I was his. It was such an arrogant and assumptive thing to say. To think I was an object to be taken and owned by him. I didn’t even know him. But I wanted him. Shit, I wanted him so badly I was aching. Yet all he’d done was give me words. He’d barely touched me.

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