Page 108 of Dark Love

“You didn’t ask me a question.”

There’s that spunky independence again.

“But if you did, my answer wouldn’t be either. I don’t know you well enough… yet.”

That breathy ‘yet’ almost makes me lose my control. I take one last step, closing the distance between us, and lean my head down.

She tips hers up until we’re staring into each other’s eyes with our lips almost touching.

I want nothing more than to kiss her until she changes her mind, and I would with anyone else. But not Dahlia. I don’t want her to say yes because of a passionate moment. I want all of her, including her mind and her heart. Pushing her too hard, too fast, won’t get the response I want.

But tormenting her might. “You will.”

She closes her eyes and leans in.

“But not today. A beautiful woman told me today wasn’t the day to kiss her.”

Dahlia blinks up at me with a frown on her face.

Soon. Very soon, I’m going to kiss those sweet lips. “We should finish our movie.”

“Fine. But next time, don’t slam the door on my boss.” She sashays up the stairs.

There won’t be a next time with that guy.

***

I should have just gone and killed Adonis. What’s one more body in the ground and stain on my soul?

Instead, I’m pounding on Payne’s door way too early since Dahlia kicked me out to go to work.

How dare she kick me out? Why is she even working? My woman doesn’t need to work.

Payne pulls the door open bleary-eyed. “Why are you banging on my door at this horrific time in the morning?”

I push past him into the foyer. “I need a drink.”

“What did she do?” Payne closes the door and follows me.

“Dahlia didn’t do anything. She’s perfect.”

“Then why are you taking up drinking at seven in the morning?” Payne collapses on the couch rather than walking up to the bar in his living room.

“Because of her boss. I should just go kill him.” I pour way too much whiskey into a glass and join him.

“Do you want me to do it for you?”

And that’s the sign of a true best friend. “No, if he’s going to die, I’m going to be the one to do it. He’s got it bad for Dahlia.”

“Is he stalking her or something?” Payne sits up.

“No. He’s too smart for that. This Adonis guy—What a horrible name. His parents must have hated him—thought he would sweeten her up with soup. He brought her chicken noodle soup like it was some sort of prize.” I want to rip his head off of his smug—

“Didn’t you do the same thing—”

“Dahlia is mine. And I’ll kill anyone that tries to take her from me.”

Payne has the nerve to laugh.

---