Page 43 of Midnights
Then he turns the tables, giving me a pointed look.
“The real question is,” he stretches in his seat like he’s got all the time in the world, “areyougoing to scare Raven away with your moody, smartass comments? Girls like to be charmed, not glared into a corner, bro.”
“Real funny.”
Cam lifts a brow, daring me to deny it. I don’t.
“Charming’s overrated.”
Doesn’t matter, though. Women like Raven don’t stick around. They set fires just to watch them burn.
Cam has his own place, several, actually. But he crashes here whenever he’s in town. Sometimes I think he thinks I need constant company.
Once we're inside, he heads down the hall, kicking off his shoes as he goes. “I’m heading to bed.”
“Night.”
I reach for the glass of whiskey waiting on the side table, swirling the amber liquid before downing it in one long pull.
One night.
One night, and she’s already under my skin.
I set the empty glass down with a quiet clink, my jaw tightening as I try to think.
When I started my first business, Cam was right there with me. I offered him a partnership, but he said didn’t want to betied down.Which I get.
I do go out in the field sometimes. Lately it’s been more behind the desk shit. Build. Expand. Repeat.
When I made my first million, I did the usual—traveled, bought a few cars, you name it. I reinvested, built something bigger. Now, everything runs like a well-oiled machine, and a huge part of that is thanks to Cam. He works out the kinks and makes shit happen. He thrives on getting his hands dirty.
Real estate, high-end security, discreet personal protection, and occasionally dealing with the people who don’t play by the rules. Everything I do caters to people who have something to lose. People who need someone like me to keep it from slipping through their fingers.
Over the years, I’ve pulled strings, gotten people out of trouble, and out of the headlines. I know how to dig up dirt, how to erase it, and how to make sure people don’t come asking questions.
It’s all part of the game. That’s what keeps me in business.
I drag my hand down my face with a quiet growl.What the fuck am I doing?
Her scent still clings to my skin and I can still feel the press of her body against mine. That and the heat that pulsed between us every time she looked at me like she was daring me to make a move.
Rachel’s smartass blue balls comment? Yeah, that shit hit too fucking close to home.
I exhale slowly, rolling the tension out of my shoulders. She’s beautiful, stunning, actually. And that sharp tongue of hers is going to get her in trouble. She talks a big game, throwing out challenges like she’s waiting for someone to call her bluff.
And fuck, do I want to.
I run a hand through my hair, tightening my jaw as I head to the bathroom. Looks like I’m gonna need that cold shower after all.
I crank the water to freezing, strip, and step under the spray. The shock slams into me instantly, but it does nothing to drown out the thoughts racing through my head.
What I wouldn’t give to run my hands down her body, to grip those smooth thighs and hear exactly what kind of sounds she makes when she’s got no more comebacks left.
Fuck.
“What the hell am I doing?” I mutter to myself.
My fingers curl into fists as the water sluices down my back while my mind spins in circles with every dirty thought I shouldn’t be having about her. Her long, wild hair tangled around my fist. Her soft gasps as I press my mouth against her throat, dragging my teeth over her perfect skin. Her smooth, toned little body pinned beneath mine, writhing, begging…
