Page 16 of The Trap

“Riveting,” I clip, offering him a half-assed nod, taking another step forward when he stops me, this time with his handgrazing my arm. His barely there caress immediately sends a prickled current to my skin.

“You know, for someone who claims they aren’t in a hurry, sure seems like you are,” he points out.

Touché.

Ignoring the plague of goosebumps he’s inflicted upon my skin, I take another step forward, loosening myself from his touch. “I’m just tired and want to go home.” My voice thankfully comes off flat and unbothered, which is the total opposite of how I’m feeling inside.

“So soon?” he asks, and I can’t tell if he’s excited or disappointed.

Again, I nod, physically biting my tongue so I don’t say anything else that will delay my exit. Trying to keep my sights on the door, I take another step, but his laughter distracts me, pulling my gaze from the door to his gray irises.

“Where is home exactly?” he asks and I immediately shudder at the accusatory tone in his voice.

I’ve never had Brett pick me up from my house, let aloneinvitedhim to it. I don’t live here. I live as Raiden Ramos, in Sleepy Hollow. Them knowing who I am and where I live wouldn’t bode well for me.

Not answering, I try to take another step forward, hoping it will signal to him to get out of the way, but of course it only causes him to settle against the door further. Straightening my posture, I draw in a deep breath, trying to distract myself from the things my mind is fantasizing about at this moment, from the thoughts I’ve had since the moment I saw him for the first time, in the foyer right where we are now, except it wasn’t just him and me. It was a drunk Brett and a half-buzzed me, strolling in the door to find a shirtless Colson, standing there with a beer in his hand, eying me up like fresh meat…much like he’s doing now. Only difference is, this time we’re alone. And with Brett’sunconscious state it’d be so easy to indulge myself with Colson. Still, it’s too risky because something tells me he would be much more attentive than his brother, exploring every inch of my body. But with exploration leads to discovery and in this case, Colson discovering the flash drives I stole and all my tools I keep in my garter, would lead to even bigger problems, that I don’t have time for.

A throaty hum erupts through the silent air. “Earth to Sally.” He snaps his fingers before settling them at his chin, rubbing them like he’s amused, “I asked you a question. What, am I too much of an asshole…or how do you say it?…Oh,ben-day-hoe, to respond to?”

A deep and genuine chuckle rumbles in my chest. “First of all, it’s pronounced ‘pendejo.’ Second, Ialsocalled you pathetic on top of that…I heard you, I’m just not in the mood,” I add, trying to move around him, but he remains in my way.

“For me or for him?” he asks so matter of fact that it catches me off guard, and, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say it sounds like he’s jealous.

“What’s the matter, Cole? Bummed that you’re my last choice?” I chastise, noticing the way his jaw clenches against the sting of my words. Even though he’s most definitely not my last choice –if Ihada choice that is – because he is exactly my type. Sexy, arrogant, and smart…too smart. It’s one thing sneaking my way into Brett’s life, pretending to be something I’m not so I can get what Carmine needs, but Colson… if I were to try to fake things with him, he’d catch on. Even worse, he'd catch me and not let me go.

He pushes off the door, closing the space between us. I swallow hard when he lowers his head to hang above mine. “Are you sure about that?” he mutters.

I stand upright, trying to maintain a stoic front. “Positive,” I lie.

Taking another step forward, he lowers his mouth to my ear. His smoky scent invades my every sense, his warm breath traveling to my center.

“I don’t believe you,” he whispers. Taunting me. Purposely trying to get me to crack. But the jokes on him, I’ve had years to practice a perpetual poker face and, no matter how charming he is, he won’t change that.He can’t.

“Move,” I demand, though my tone withers as he tips my chin upward, squeezing it in his warm, rough palm.

Raising his other hand, he motions for me to continue.

“Move what, Sally?” he reprimands.

I tilt my chin forward, rolling my eyes but it only tightens the hold he has on me. His long, thick fingers sear into my jawline and I let out a sigh that is equal parts exasperated as it is wicked. Pouting my bottom lip, I flutter my eyelashes obnoxiously. “Pretty please will you stop being a fucking asshole and move out of my way? With a cherry on top?”

A growl erupts from him. Adam's apple vibrating with anger as he lowers his head. His lips hover over mine, so close that we are almost forced into a kiss, elevating the heat between my legs to a needy throb.

“The next time you insist on having cum spilled down your throat, ditch my brother and make your way to my room.” He smirks at me. “I want to see how pretty you’ll look with my cock filling that lying little mouth of yours.” He pauses, pressing his lips against mine in a tender kiss I don’t have time to react to. His grip tightens on my chin once more. “I’ll taste sweeter lingering on these soft lips of yours.”

Disgust rattles me as the wet warmth lingering at my center increases, breaking the barrier at the apex of my sex, as it drips down my inner thigh, sticky and abundant…just from his filthywords alone. The longer I stand here pretending I don’t want him, the more I feel myself unraveling. This is too tempting.He’s too tempting. I breathe, trying to signal to my brain to ignore the ripe need that’s attacking every inch of my body as I’m forced to deny myself of him. Now, I realize why Carmine assigned me Brett because Colson is too persistent. Too manipulative and skeptical…he’s too much like me.

I tear myself from his grip. Ignoring how I already miss being in the forced proximity of his hold as I step back, trying to get my wits about me.

“Thanks, but no thanks, there won’t be-” I stop myself from saying ‘a next time.’ I don’t want to be too obvious, though the way that his eyes are laser-focused on me, creating a deep crease in his brow, lets me know I might have already said too much.

“Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me. I’m just a thin layer of sheetrock away when you’re faking it in my brother’s bed.” He winks playfully but it doesn’t remove the unease written across his face.

“Oh please,” I scoff.

“There she is, my little liar,” he sneers. His words are meant to be condescending, insulting even but I don’t know if it’s because he’s right – that I am a liar– or that I’m getting a preview of how mild degradation sounds from his lips directed towards me, but that pet name creates a literal inferno in my core. I can’t let him know that, of course. So, call it inspiration, but I lick at my lips before doing what I do best…lie. Feeding into his disdain for me while giving into my need to rile him up.

“You’re gross,” I spit, saying it loud and clear as a to signal my throbbing pussy to back off. We don’t have time for her right now. Not when the finish line is so close. “Get the fuck out of my way.”

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