Page 53 of Off Season

I can’t help but giggle.

He gives me a serious look. “Come back to my place. My couch doesn’t pull out, but I do.”

“Hmm, tempting,” I sarcastically respond. “You sure you don’t want to be an interior decorator and paint my insides white?”

He smiles. “No, but I do believe in love at first choke.”

I bite back my smile as I contemplate going home with him. I really do prefer having the home-field advantage. It’s usually a stranger and I don’t ever go to a stranger’s home. I suppose if there’s anyone I can trust in this situation, it’s him.

He rubs his thumb over my lip. “Get out of your head. I’m not going to hurt you. Just the opposite. I want nothing other than to make you feel good.” He softly kisses me. “Let me in.”

I think for a moment before eventually nodding. “How far away do you live?”

“Hmm…a few blocks.”

“Let me down. I’ll walk.”

“Nope. I’m not giving you the chance to change your mind and run away. Hold tight, princess. We’re going for a ride.”

I left my jacket inside. It’s freezing cold out here. I should go grab it, but being wrapped in his warm arms sounds like a better idea to me. I’m sure Ripley will grab it for me.

He basically runs, while holding me, for what must be at least ten blocks. It’s way more thana few. He manages to do it while barely breaking a sweat.

I look down at him while playing with the back of his hair. “This bodes well for your stamina, kitten.”

“Baby, I’m going to fuck you all night. Prepare for your first bottom orgasm.”

I shrug. “Hmm. We’ll see. You couldn’t close the deal last time.”

He scrunches his face. “You were close. If the bed didn’t explode, you would have.”

“Maybe yes. Maybe no.”

He eventually stops at a large skyscraper and smiles warmly at the doorman as if I’m not wrapped around him. “Good evening, Evan. It’s a nice night, isn’t it?”

The doorman, a big-bellied middle-aged man in a green uniform complete with a doorman’s cap, nods. “It’s a little cold for my old bones, Mr. Gonzales. You seem to have grown a pretty lady since you left.”

“I sure did. This is Kamryn Hart.”

I smile. “Nice to meet you, Evan. He won’t put me down. He’s basically kidnapped me. Can you please call the police?”

Cheetah shakes his head. “Don’t listen to her, Evan. She likes to play pretend. Tonight we’re going to pretend that she’s a cell phone and I’m going to be the charger.”

I can’t help but giggle at his ridiculousness. “I didn’t know you wanted to play pretend, kitten. Why don’t we pretend that I’m the egg and you’re the chicken? Then we’ll know once and for all who comes first.”

Evan lets out a deep laugh. “Ooh. You’ve found your match in this one, Mr. Gonzales.”

Cheetah sighs. “Evan, I’ve told you a thousand times. Don’t call me Mr. Gonzales. Call me Sir Cruz Gonzales, Knight of South Philly.”

Evan laughs again as he opens the door for us. “You two kids have fun. Try not to bring the building down tonight.”

I shrug. “It sounds like he’s challenging us, kitten.”

Cheetah nods. “Sure does. Challenge accepted, Evan. Prepare for this building to crumble.”

We can hear Evan still chuckling as we make our way across the giant marble lobby and into the elevator.

I take in the opulence and let out a whistle. “Damn, this place is fancy.”

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