Page 34 of Wicked Games We Play

“I’ll catch a Lyft, thanks,” I told him defiantly. He had pissed me off and riled me up enough times tonight. I wasn’t about to fall victim to his games again. Stepping away from him, I spun around to head toward the front of the club, but he caught my elbow before I could make it more than a step.

“Lils, c’mon. Let me just take you home so I know you made it safely.”

“No, Noah. I’m fucking pissed at you. You fucked someone and then you showed up here and ruinedmychance to fuck someone.” I crossed my arms, and hugged myself tightly, trying to will myself to be strong and not cry again.

“I didn’t fucking fuck anyone, Lily, goddammit. Seriously, do you really think I would do that when I’ve made my intentions about youmorethan clear?”

“Sure looked like it.” I folded my arms over each other, hugging my chest tightly. Tears prickled the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them show. I tried to turn away and shield myself, but he caught me mid-turn, holding me just below my shoulders.

“These games we’ve been playing with each other are going too far, Lils. I’m tired of them. I didn’t sleep with anyone.” Letting out an exasperated sigh, he threw his arms into the air before running a hand down his face. “I was trying to make you jealous. I took bad advice from a friend and obviously it backfired.”

“If you didn’t sleep with anyone, then whose shoes were those, Noah? You just keep random women’s shoes lying around your house?”

“No, I don’t just keep random women’s shoes at my house. They’re Rosie’s.” Well, that was a contradiction if I’d ever heard one. My words were lost, and I stared at him in disbelief. I believed what he was telling me, but also confused as to whythatwas his truth.

Who just leaves an eight hundred dollar pair of shoes at someone’s house and doesn’t go back for them immediately? I didn’t know Rosie personally, but from what I'd heard about her, I guess she’d be the person who would do that.

He eyed me skeptically, tilting his head as he took in my body language, which I hoped was giving him “fuck you” vibes.

“Wait a second,” Noah mused, with a grin pulling across his face. He crossed his arms. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” I said with conviction, my chin raising as I met his stare. He didn’t need to know that I actually was jealous and that he sank his claws deeper into my heart when he sent me that damn photo.

“You are, I can tell. Lily, listen to me right now because I’m only going to say this once, and I hope that you’ll believe me when I do.” He stepped closer, crowding my space before grabbing my head with both hands. His fingers weaved through my hair and his thumbs stroked my cheeks in a soft caress. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t think you’re mine, because I know you are. And since youaremine, I will never so much as look in another woman’s direction for the rest of the time I have on this Earth. Or in the afterlife, if there is one. You’re it for me, Lils. It’s a done deal, whether or not you accept it yet. As long as it takes, remember? Now, let me take you home please, because I’m sure as shit not leaving you here or putting you into a Lyft to get home.”

The icy tundra around my heart melted slightly—the idea of him caring despite my constant resistance made my insides feel squishy.

I quickly pushed the squish away.Too soon, Lily.I had to keep reminding myself of that or I could easily melt for him and fall right back into another relationship. He made me want to say forget it to my self-discovery path, but it was something that I desperately needed to do for myself.

“Fine,” I told him as I stepped backward and pulled out of his grip. “Where’s your truck?”

“I didn’t bring the truck, Lily. I’m on duty righty now.”

My head whipped around, taking in his appearance fully for the first time tonight. Noah wore black slacks and a charcoal gray long-sleeved button up, paired with recently shined black work boots and a black leather belt. Only slightly more dressed up than he normally was, but just as torturously handsome. His brown eyes sparkled as he smirked at me, knowing that I was practically salivating right now.

Between the anger flowing through my veins and the loss of an orgasm not so long ago, my rationality was all over the place. I wanted to punch him in the dick but wouldn’t be against dropping to my knees right now to suck it. I internally groaned.

Glaring at him, I gestured to the empty space in front of me. “Lead the way then,” I said with attitude. He wasn’t getting the pleasant side of me any more tonight. Nice Lily was gone, replaced with gives zero-fucks Lily, despite the butterflies that were settling in my stomach.

Stepping in front of me, Noah started toward the place where he had left his unmarked vehicle. I followed wordlessly, failing at my attempts to look anywhere but at Noah’s backside. Why did his ass have to look so damn good?

When we reached his unmarked Ford Explorer, I hopped into the passenger seat and hooked my seatbelt, keeping my focus straight ahead and refusing to let my eyes wander to my left when Noah climbed in. The sound of his door slamming and the vehicle coming to life filled the silence. I wasn’t interested in continuing to argue, so I closed my eyes while I let Noah drive me home safely, just like he had asked to.

CHAPTERTWENTY

The drive to Lily’s was painfully quiet, the air thick with tension. The words that I wanted to say to her were stuck in my throat, threatening to spill out, but I held them back. My patience was wearing thin and my time was running out.

Glancing at Lily, my heart somersaulted. Her face was unreadable as she stared out the passenger window. Everything in me screamed to take her hand, but I forced myself not to.

When we arrived at her house, I killed the engine and shifted in my seat to look at her.

“Lily—”

She met my gaze, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth before shaking her head. “Don’t, Noah. I’m exhausted. I just want to go inside. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

Without waiting for my response, she swung the passenger door open and hopped out, closing it behind her while I sat there opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water. I didn’t think twice before throwing open my door and getting out, following her up the path to her house and meeting her on her porch.

“Noah, what do you want? Didn’t we say all we needed to say tonight?” Her tone was defiant, and she crossed her arms, shifting most of her weight onto one leg, which made her hip pop slightly. I could feel my cock stir, loving when her attitude shined through, and I wanted nothing more than to push her up against the house and show her exactly just what I thought about it. But now was not the time.

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