Page 4 of Wicked Games

He slides open a door and enters a home office. I pause in the doorway while he throws himself into the chair behind the huge oak desk.

“Why should I take you at your word?”

I’m numb to it at this point—happily so. “Caleb thinks I’m to blame for the video of me and him.”

Ian snorts. “Impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because I know who recorded it.”

My mouth drops open.

He continues, “Did he blame you publicly? Honestly, I doubt anyone would believe it. You make some rather hot noises in it, but I didn’t peg you to be an exhibitionist.”

My face gets hot.

He tuts, leaning back and putting his feet up on the desk. “Why did you come here?”

“I had to go somewhere he wouldn’t find me.” I try to keep my voice from trembling. This was the harebrained part of my plan. It hinges on Ian being rational, and I’m pretty sure he’s got a screw loose. “And I figured… here was good.”

“After what I did to you.”

I wince. “Especially after that.”

He watches me for a long moment. “You don’t have a stupid fucking crush on me, do you?”

“Not on your life.”

He doesn’t seem to believe me.

“I’ll just go, then.” I stand. “And that offer is off the table.”

“No. Sit.”

I grind my teeth and glare at him. “I’m really sick of people ordering me around.”

I put my bag over my shoulder and find my way back to the front door, ignoring the way his attention stings.

When I was a kid, I fell into a bush of stinging nettle. It’s a bit like that.

“Wait.”

I glance back. He’s in the hall, only a few feet away.

“I have a guest room,” he says. “My parents go to Los Angeles for the winter, and they’re already there. They’ll never know.”

“What’s the catch?”

He rolls his eyes. “The catch is that you keep your promise.”

Great.

“I’ll let you stay… for a kiss.” He circles me. “That’s your offer, right? To get back at Caleb. Kiss me.”

“Why did you kick me in the stomach?”

His eyes light up. “Ah. Do you still have bruises? Can I see?”

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