Page 54 of On a Fault Line

Oh, hell no. Does she want me to wreck?

I take a deep breath and then hold it for a few seconds, while counting to ten before releasing.

Penny downs the remainder of whatever water is left in the bottle, sputtering from probably drinking it too fast.

When I get to our building, I park the car and then help Penny out. It is now that I can see the full water damage to her outfit. She must have dumped the majority of the bottle on herself, as there’s not much on the seat or floor. Her hands cross over her chest, where the tank top is completely see-through from the fabric being thin and white.

Penny must be sobering up for her to all of a sudden care about her modesty, when just minutes ago she was trying to remove her clothes entirely.

Her skirt sticks to her thighs, and every movement causes the fabric to ride up higher, toward her squeezable ass cheeks.

I grab her bags from the trunk and usher her toward the elevator, feeling the relief that I have her back on my turf again.

Time seems to pass in slow motion as we make our way to my floor.

I unlock my apartment door, deactivate the alarm system, and go through my routine of removing my shoes and placing them perfectly under the storage bench. Then I feel it. A shoe hitting into my leg, as Penny toes it off and flings it at me.

“Catch.”

I look at her and wait for her to do it with the other one, and she stumbles backward into the door as she extends her foot.

“You’re going to hurt yourself. You know that?” Maybe she isn’t sobering up as fast as I thought.

She shrugs. “I don’t care. I’m having fun living dangerously. Today I was let off the leash, and I lived it up.”

“Is that so?”

Clicking her tongue, she gives me the biggest smile. “Yup. I’m gonna make you work for your money a bit and have a hella lot of fun tempting the beast within you if just to see how hungry he can get.” I watch as she pulls the hem of her soaked white tank over her head.

And then she?—

“Penelope!” I yell, pulling the sopping shirt from my face.

I stalk toward her, and she takes off in a mad dash through my apartment, squeaking like a mouse as she tries to get away.

A thrill runs through me as doors slam.

“Three,” I say loudly.

“Two!”

My hand rests at the back of my neck.

“One!”

I rub my hands together.

“Ready or not, you better hide! When I find you, I’m taking you for a ride!”

11

COLLINS

A nervous energy runs through me as I hunt for Penny.

I know she’s somewhere in the bedroom, and the excitement over finding her and fucking her is making the chase worth the effort.

“Iwillfind you, Princess,” I say, loud enough for her to hear.

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