Page 21 of Wicked Games We Play

Lily rolled her shoulders to relax some of the tension that had built, but it was a difficult task when your wrists were cuffed behind your back.

I swallowed the laughter caught in my throat. “I bet you’re wishing you had taken my advice and stuck a pair of extra panties in your purse. Am I right, Flower?”

“You’re an asshole.”

“I’ll uncuff you and let you get to your date, but first, let me leave you with a parting gift. Something to think about while you’re with another man tonight…” She took a step back when I took one forward, finding herself pressed against her car again, and the moment I reached her, I crowded her space.

My hands flew up, one tangling in her hair while the other cupped her cheek, and I crashed my lips into hers, doing everything I could to sear the memory of me into her brain. Our tongues collided and teeth crashed together as I poured everything that I could into my kiss. Anger, lust, jealousy, and something else flowed from my body and into hers as I worked to steal the breath straight from her lungs.

I smiled into the kiss when I felt her body melt into mine and she could no longer control the soft moans that escaped. All that was, was encouragement to keep me going.

Yanking her back by her hair, I tilted her mouth to allow me better access, taking my time to explore, all while knowing that the clock was ticking, making her even later for the date she had been on her way to. Shifting the kiss into something slower and deeper, I silently reminded her why she will never find another person on this planet more suited for her than me. Why I was the better man. The man for her.

Breaking our kiss, I reached wordlessly around and unlocked each side of the handcuffs, pulling them away and pushing them into my pocket as I pressed one final kiss to Lily’s temple.

Saying nothing, I retreated to my unmarked SUV, pulling the flashing red light from the top as I got in. My heart was racing, watching Lily through the windshield, wishing she wouldn’t go on her date but knowing that she would just to spite me now.

My hand slammed onto the gearshift and I threw the car into drive, peeling off the shoulder of the road, frustrated and horny as hell.

Figuring I needed to torture myself one last time, I glanced in my rearview mirror and watched Lily as she stood frozen, rubbing her wrists and watching me go.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Iwent on the stupid date. I really shouldn’t have, but I forced myself to after everything that had just happened with Noah. Adrenaline still coursed through my veins as I made it to the restaurant, walking in just shy of fifteen minutes late. The restaurant smelled of dumplings and soy sauce, and had low lighting, like it was trying to be a cozy and romantic spot. The upscale Chinese restaurant really wasn’t my cup of tea, but I hadn’t wanted to be rude when Oliver had suggested it, raving that it was the best Chinese food he had ever eaten. Shoving my phone and keys into my purse, I looked around the restaurant for Oliver, frowning when I couldn’t find him.

The hostess approached the podium and greeted me with a warm smile. “Welcome to Prosperity. Will you be dining alone?”

I shook my head. “Table for two, unless you’ve already seated a man named Oliver? But I don’t see him,” I told her as I looked around once more, just to be sure. The hostess's eyes traveled down the list of names on the clipboard in front of her before she glanced back up at me.

“No, ma’am, I don’t see an Oliver on the list. Table for two, then?” she asked again. Irritation bloomed in my chest, although it wasn’t her fault at all.

Gritting my teeth, I said nothing, choosing to nod my head once instead. She pulled two menus out and gestured for me to follow her. As she led me to a table near a window in the back, I resisted the urge to immediately pull my phone out of my purse. I sat down, forcing a smile to my face as she sat my menu in front of me, and the second one in front of an empty chair.

“Your server will be with you shortly,” she said before spinning on her heel and walking away, not bothering to wait for a reply.

Unable to resist any longer, I reached around and pulled my phone from my purse and pulled up my text messages.

Nothing.

I pulled up the SparksFly app.

Nothing.

Going back to the message chain between me and Oliver, I typed out a quick message.

Me: Just got here and grabbed us a table toward the back. See you soon?

Our server, a lanky young man dressed in all black, approached the table, so I flipped my phone over, setting it down to give him my full attention.

“Good evening. My name is Parker and I’ll be your server tonight,” he told me, his voice quivering slightly. “Can I get you something… uh… anything to drink?” I smiled warmly, noticing the slight tremble in his hand as he held the notebook to take my order. It was then that I noticed an older gentleman, also dressed in all black, stationed a few tables over, watching him closely.

Realizing tonight must be his first night on the job, I decided to kill him with kindness, because I too was fighting nerves, although for an entirely different reason. “Hi, Parker,” I said, voice dripping in sugar, “is tonight your first night on the job?”

“Se… second, ma’am. Still trying to learn everything.”

“Ah, well, I remember my first week at my job. I was terrified. Take a deep breath, Parker. I promise this will be your easiest table of the night.” His shoulders eased slightly at my words, and I glanced at the drink options briefly before returning my attention back to him. “I’d love a kettle of hot tea, and a water please.”

Parker scribbled my beverage order down on his notepad and began to walk away before awkwardly turning back toward the table. “I’ll bring those right out for you, ma’am.”

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