Page 47 of Ruthless Creatures
He laughs and laughs, his broad chest shaking, his hands clutching his stomach, until finally he sighs and looks down at me, shaking his head.
“You’re adorable when you’re angry.”
“Don’t make me kick you in the shin. I’ve got a temper, just so you know.”
Leaning down to brace his arms on the table on either side of my body, Kage gazes deeply into my eyes.
“Good. I want you to speak your mind with me. Tell me when I’m out of line. Kick my ass if I need it. Because one thing I can guarantee you is that I’m not an easy man. I’m definitely gonna piss you off.”
I smile sweetly at him. “Really? Shocking.”
“Smartass.”
“One hundred percent. I guess that’s somethingyoushould know aboutme. Also, since we’re being so open and whatnot, I’m not sure how I feel about the whole ‘take you over my knee’ thing. I don’t like the idea of being spanked.”
“What if I could guarantee you’d like it?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “That issosomething a man would say.”
He smiles. It looks dangerous. “We’ll table it for the time being. Any other pet peeves I should be aware of?”
His eyes are so filled with lust, I can barely concentrate. “I’ll make you a list.”
He chuckles. “I’m sure you will.”
We stare at each other until he leans closer and puts his mouth near my ear. He whispers, “You still have my number?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good. Use it.”
He inhales against my neck, makes a sound of pleasure low in his throat, then straightens and grabs his coat off the back of the chair where he left it.
Then he leaves as abruptly as he appeared, closing my front door behind him.
When Mojo wanders into the kitchen a few minutes later, yawning, I’m still sitting where Kage left me, feeling my heartbeat in every part of my body, feeling the slight brush of his lips against my neck on every inch of my flesh.
TWELVE
NAT
The next day, I call Sloane on my lunch break at work and tell her the whole story. She’s silent when I finish, until finally a low whistle comes over the line.
“Wow. This guy is really something else.”
“What do you think I should do?”
“I have two words for you. The first word starts with ‘Fuck,’ and the second starts with ‘Him.’”
I say drily, “So subtle.”
“Fine, then. What do youwantto do?”
Agitated, I turn and pace the other direction in the teachers’ lounge. The turkey sandwich I brought for lunch lies uneaten on the table next to me. I don’t even know why I made it this morning. I suppose I thought my stomach would be more settled by now.
But it isn’t. Kage has a way of disturbing all my bodily functions. I’m sure if I ever saw him naked, I’d drop dead from a heart attack in two seconds flat.
“He’s just… alot. You know what I mean?”
