Page 5 of PET

“Billie, get back here,” I hear Zeke shout after me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find him standing beside his car as he rests both arms on the roof of his car. I hate how he makes me feel just by looking at him. His stupidly sharp jawline and high cheekbones should be illegal. And when he wears his hat backwards like that, it does unspeakable things to my panties.

“Fuck off, Zeke!” I shout back.

His chuckle echoes toward me as I keep walking away. He can yell at me all he wants, but I’m not the kind of girl who will stop to listen. If he wanted to say something, he had the entire drive here to do just that. Besides, why would I give him a chance to speak? He doesn’t deserve to—

“Fucking stop, Billie!” he snaps as he grabs my arm and turns me toward him.

My head spins as I try to settle my gaze upon his handsome face, but a wave of his musky cologne wafts at me, and I let out a moan. His lips twitch into a grin—the kind that’s halfway a smile, halfway a threat. Fuck, he heard me.

“If I tell you a secret, can you promise not to tell Christian I told you?” he asks softly.

I lick my lips, fully prepared to answer him verbally, but I can’t seem to breathe, so I nod instead. But he surprises me when he steps into my space, enveloping me in his powerful aura. My legs shake and a frigid chill raises the hairs on the back of my neck as if I’m being grabbed by icy fingers.

“Are you ready?” he whispers, sweeping his breath against my parted lips.

I’m shaking, peering up at him through my hooded gaze. “Ready for wh—”

His mouth captures the rest of my words, swallowing them as he plunges his tongue into my mouth. My moan reverberates off of his bottom lip as his warm fingers replace the ghost of icy ones from seconds ago.

Zeke Lungren is kissing me. His tongue is down my throat! And goddamnit, I don’t want him to stop. My hands tangle in his white tee, pulling him to me. His mouth alternates between my top and bottom lip until I’m breathless.

Then he steps back with that grin on his swollen lips again. “Damn, Billie…”

I need something to hold me up. My breaths are coming out so fast I’m making myself lightheaded. Or maybe it’s because all the blood is rushing between my damn legs.

“What was that for?” I ask on a breath, licking my lips to taste him one last time.

He runs a thumb over his bottom lip, letting out a soft groan I barely hear, but it’s loud enough to make me nearly collapse.

“Let’s just say I was testing you,” he says, circling me like a vulture. “And you passed with flying colors, Billie. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”

My head is spinning, revisiting everything that just happened as I watch him walk back to his BMW.

“Wait, what do you mean you’ll pick me up in the morning?” I shriek, but he keeps walking, getting in with a grin. “Zeke!!”

The roar of his engine dissipates in the cool, foggy night as I watch his taillights disappear. The memory of his lips on mine gives me a heady feeling, and I can’t seem to move from my spot. Why did Zeke kiss me? Sure, he said he was testing me, but I still have no idea what the hell he was testing me on.

Turning, I make my way up the long, winding driveway to the front doors. I thought about climbing back up the side of the house to my bedroom window, but I’m not thinking straight right now. But as soon as I step inside, I know I fucked up.

“Where the hell have you been?” my uncle greets me the second the door is open.

I give him a glare, wondering who the hell he thinks he is. Sure, he’s my legal guardian for now, but it doesn’t mean he can run me. As far as he’s concerned, he’s only here so I can stay in my own house. I don’t need him to be a fatherly figure. I never had one growing up, so I don’t need one now.

“Went for a walk,” I answer dryly, closing the door behind me.

He snorts. “A walk? Dressed like a whore?”

Looking down at my belly shirt, skirt, and open-toe shoes, I understand where he’s coming from, but screw him.

“Didn’t think about changing,” I mumble.

He pulls his phone from inside his suit jacket, staring down at the bright screen when he says, “I’ve installed more security cameras throughout the estate. You will have a 9 p.m. curfew every single night, no questions asked. I will know where you are at all times. And you won’t go forwalkswithout permission. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal, but you’re fucking mad if you think I’m going to follow any of that.” I shake my head, moving around him.

But I don’t get far when he grabs my arm and pulls me to stand before him again. “You will follow them or we’ll have a massive problem. Like it or not, little girl, I’m your legal guardian now, and you’ll do everything I fucking say.”

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