Page 19 of Wicked Games We Play

I certainly wasn’t a dating pro, but it all seemed a little backward and toxic. Maybe by going on a date or two with someone else, I would feel differently. Or maybe I wouldn’t.

Turning off the light in my living room, I stepped outside of the door, turning to lock up behind me, instantly feeling tingles down my spine. The sensation of being watched crept through my veins, and I looked around nervously while gripping the key that was pressed inside of the lock. It was nearing dusk, and the beginning stages of the setting sun cast warm light onto whatever it touched.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

My neighbor a few houses down was finishing mowing his lawn, while another neighbor unloaded groceries from her car. I could faintly hear children playing through open windows.

Shoving the feeling aside, I pulled the key from the lock and moved toward my car, unlocking it with the key fob before climbing inside.

Before pulling out of my driveway, I programmed the name of the restaurant into my GPS app and previewed the route. It would take me around twenty minutes and was mostly highway. I could have taken an Uber, but I wanted to have my car in case my date ended up being uncomfortable or I just wasn’t feeling it.

Blowing out a shaky breath, I put my car in reverse and started toward the destination.

Once I hit the highway, I fumbled with the radio, flipping stations until I found a song I wanted to listen to. “Woman” by Doja Cat played through my car’s stereo and I turned it up, singing along with her at the top of my lungs, because why not? It was about halfway through the song that a red flashing light caught my eye in my rearview mirror, and I realized I was being pulled over. Only when my brain finally registered the flashing light did I also hear the siren that accompanied it.

Turning the radio down, I pulled over onto the shoulder of the highway and waited in my car. I ran my hands over my face, careful not to smear my makeup as I did so.

Of course, this was happening. I didn’t even know why I had gotten pulled over.

The knock at my window made me jump. Immediately, I pushed the button to roll the window down and was greeted by a face that, at this moment, I was ready to go to jail for.

On murder charges, that is.

Goddamit, Noah.

“What. The. Fuck. Noah,” I seethed, gritting my teeth as he leaned against my car with both arms pressed over my window. He wasn’t wearing a uniform. As a detective, he wore plain business clothes, and it made my heart skip a beat every time I saw him dressed professionally. It should be illegal to look that good in a button down and slacks.

He smirked at me, raising his Oakley sunglasses so that I was now staring into his sparkling chocolate eyes. “Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to step out of the vehicle.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not getting out of my car, Noah. What do you want?” I looked away from him, feeling my temper rise. Tears prickled my eyes, and I shook my head, refusing to let them spill over. I was so angry with him.

“Where are you headed all dolled up, Flower?”

“None of your business,” I spat, turning my head to glare at him once I no longer felt the sting of tears. “Why did you pull me over, Noah? I don’t have time for this.” Crossing my hands over my chest, his eyes followed the movement and lingered on my breasts, which I realized I was pushing up. I quickly dropped my arms and placed my hands in my lap.

“Get out of the car, Lily,” he commanded, opening the door for me.

“No.”

“Get out of the car, Lily,” he repeated. There was an edge in his tone that made me obey, despite not wanting to. “I’m going to ask you again. Where are you headed?”

My eyes locked with his and he searched my face, watching me closely while waiting for my answer. I didn’t want to tell him, but I also wasn’t a liar. I had planned on sending him a text later to continue our game, but it seemed like now was a better time to make my move. “I have a date,” I told him matter-of-factly while I crossed my arms over my chest again. My hip popped to the side, and I realized not only was I baiting him, I was being a brat while doing it. Oh well.

“A date,” he growled, his eyes flashing with anger, before they filled with a sadness he struggled to hide. “Are you seriously going on a date?”

For a second I felt an overwhelming weight of guilt set in and my conscious wavered. He was making me doubt my decision. “Yes, I am, Noah. This is me taking time for me.”

“I see,” he told me. “And what exactly does this date have to offer that I can’t offer you in spades?”

My attention turned to the gravel beneath my heels, letting it distract me from answering his question.

A car sped by us and I sucked in a gasp, startled by the proximity. Noah’s eyes widened at my reaction before he grabbed my arm, redirecting me from the edge of the road and around to the passenger side of my car. “He seems like a sweet guy,” I told him with a hint of cattiness to my tone. I was purposely poking the bear. “He listens. He’s not interested in a relationship and can give me exactly what I want. And he’llfuckme Noah, unlike you.”

I wanted to have some fun, not gain a husband.

He nodded slowly, his head bouncing while he held my gaze and took slow, deliberate steps toward me. With every step he took forward, I stepped backward until my back was pressed against my car. Resting his palms flat on either side of my head, he leaned a little of his weight against me and I sucked in a sharp breath, feeling his erection against my stomach.

“You want someone to fuck you, Lily?” he whispered into my ear. “You want me to push you to your knees and shove my cock so far down your throat that you’re gagging and gasping for air while your mascara runs down that pretty porcelain skin of yours? You want me to bury my cock so deep inside of you that you’ll feel me for days after? I can make you come so hard you’ll be ruined for other men for the rest of your entire life. But it won’t matter, will it, Flower? Because you’re mine. You have always been mine, and you’ll always be mine. I don’t have to fuck you to prove that to you.”

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