Page 7 of Naughty & Nice

“Just making sure you’re safe,” I say, pushing from the wall and stopping in front of her.

“Totally unnecessary and unneeded,” she says through gritted teeth. “Could you please get out of my way?” she demands, staring up at me with nothing but irritation in her eyes.

“Maybe I don’t want to,” I tease, cocking my head to the side.

She lets out a massive sigh, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s been holding her breath since I climbed into the car all those hours ago.

“Wilder.”

I take a step closer.

“Mmm… I love it when you say my name like that,” I whisper, dropping my lips to her ear so only she can hear.

Her entire body tenses as my breath rushes down her neck.

“You need to stop this,” she demands, although her voice isn’t as strong as I think she’d probably like. It’s raspy and full of need.

She remembers…

“I’m not sure you mean that, Rebel.”

I can sense her confusion long before I pull back and see it written all over her face.

Her brow is wrinkled and her lips are pursed. She looks cute. The exact opposite of the nickname she didn’t know I’ve given her.

I understand why she’s confused. She is the furthest thing possible from a rebel.

She has every reason to be wild. To drown out her past and her issues with outlandish behavior. But she’s gone in the opposite direction.

She’d be happier spending her nights in her room reading a book than being out partying. Or at least, she was until that night not so long ago…

“You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you?”

She holds her head higher and lifts her chin in defiance. It might work if I didn’t know her so well.

She’s been a part of my life for years. A part of our little fucked-up family for as long as I can remember.

But that night… I saw her in a whole different light.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” she argues firmly.

Reaching out, I wrap my hand around her hip and tug her forward, eliminating the space between us.

“Wilder,” she snaps, attempting to fight me.

But I’m stronger. So much stronger.

“Do you want to know a secret, little rebel?”

“No,” she cries a little too loudly. “No,” she repeats. “I don’t want to know anything.”

“Well, that’s a real shame, because I’m going to tell you anyway.”

Her nostrils flare as she sucks in a deep breath through her nose, although much to my delight, she’s no longer fighting to get away.

Leaning closer again, crushing our bodies together, I let my lips brush her ear, loving the way she shudders.

“I can’t stop thinking about it.”

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