Page 50 of Consume Me

His jaw clenches, giving me immense pleasure. It’s a lie, but he doesn’t know that. I plan to go to The Cave afterward.

He eats the distance between us in three long strides and backs me into the wall behind me. His spicy, sensual scent andheady nearness envelop me. I can’t think straight. The more I ignore him, the more he’s in my face.

Lifting his hand, he caresses my cheek with his knuckles, tsking lightly. “Poor bastard. I really thought you’d be a good girl. While you’re on your date, write his eulogy as well.”

“Sorry, not sorry.” It takes everything in me not to clench my fingers into his shirt and climb him like a monkey in heat.

His hand moves to my chin, gripping it gently but firmly, forcing me to acknowledge how trapped I am by a simple touch, by him just looking at me.

“You’re dying to unleash that side of me, aren’t you?”

But our moment is interrupted when Bailey walks down the stairs. He takes a step back while she glances from me to him, then walks past and out the door.

When the rest of the group comes downstairs, we pile into the cars to head to the estate.

Abigail taps her finger on the wheel in excitement. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to the track with us?”

“Not my scene, but have fun,” I say.

“And you, Bailey?” Celine asks.

“I have an essay due, so no. But enjoy it.”

“I can’t wait,” Abigail says. She really loves to race, and I am more comfortable knowing they’re on the race track than when they used to race at the cliff.

“What bet do you two have going on now?” Celine asks Abi.

“One I have to win.”

“That guy would give you anything you want anyway,” I offer.

“I know. But a little fun never hurt anyone.”

I didn’t go to any of the dinners when the old matriarch ruled, but I like the ones with Cassandra. She involves us and genuinely cares.

The butler leads us to the dining room where she’s waiting for us. A smile curves her lips, but I catch the worry lines etched in the corners of her eyes. My body tenses automatically, aware of what that means. Nothing new.

“Any plans for tonight?” she asks, sweeping her gaze over each of us knowingly.

“Ma’am, please, we need some fun,” Celine says, looking at her mother with puppy-dog eyes.

“I should prohibit you from racing,” she replies, raising a brow.

“But we’re careful. It’s better to race in a safe environment than keep doing it at the cliff,” Kaden says.

“Is that okay, Dane?”

“Ma’am, the Family is my biggest sponsor. My team doesn’t even bat an eyelash at us racing, and the security guards know the drill.”

“I should be more strict. But you’re only young for such a short period,” she says, sighing. “The security team will be there.”

Groans echo around the table, but I don’t catch who they’re from because Blake keeps staring at me, completely stealing my breaths.

“And what about you?” she asks the rest of us.

“Home,” Bailey says.

“Meeting with some friends,” I answer.

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