Page 24 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

“Is this a race? Because if it is, I can apply myself and get to your place before you do.”

I shake my head as I smirk and give my attention back to the light hanging above the crosswalk. As soon as it turns green, I turn the handle again, but Tanner takes off like a shot, and pulls in front of me, blocking every attempt to get around him.

Fucker,I think irritably as I try in vain to get around his pussy wagon.

And the irritation I felt trying to get around his fucking car only amplifies when I pull up toward the parking garage gate of my apartment and find him leaning on the driver’s side door of his far with that damn grin on his face.

“I win,” he says as I stop next to him and lift my visor. My eyes are narrowed into slits, and he laughs, only further adding to my annoyance.

Taking a deep breath, I tell myself not to kick the space between his legs and leave a nice-sized dent in the door. Instead,I lower the visor again and signal with the jerk of my head for him to follow me.

He can have the other spot I pay for.

The one I was saving in case I ever decided I got sick of the bike and maybe wanted something a little less conspicuous to zip around town in.

After I punch my code into the panel right before the gate, I slowly lead the way in, point to an empty spot, then pull into the one next to it.

Pulling off my helmet, I shake out my hair and reach into my side pocket for my apartment keys.

“So …” he begins conversationally after he steps out of his car. Tanner begins to rub his chin deviously as I blow out a breath and motion for him to follow me inside.

Some prices are a little too steep to pay, but when there’s something that’s so desperately craved, sometimes, concessions have to be made.

Chapter

Nine

He’s standing next to me as we watch for Monroe to enter her room.

It’s been a tense silence for the past hour and a half, but once he realized I was serious, he calmed the rich bitch shit down.

Tanner moves side to side on his feet next to me, his arms crossed over his chest as we continue to wait.

“What time does she normally show up?” he asks in a quiet tone.

I glance quickly around him at the clock on my nightstand, then turn my attention back to the window across the way.

“Any minute now. I’m going to change my clothes.”

“Yup,” he says not turning his attention away from the task at hand. “I’ll let you know if I see her.”

I shake my head and chuckle.

He says that like he knows what she looks like, I think as I pull my shirt off and toss it onto my bed. But it stands to reason that considering she lives alone, and I’ve given him that morsel of information, him sucking on it like a goddamn tit makes sense.

I roll my shoulders as I reach for my loose-fitting, over-sized black tank top and pull it over my head.

Stealing a glance at Tanner, I’m impressed to find that he hasn’t peeked yet. He’s still standing there swaying side to side like a fucking predator stalking his prey.

Good; that’s just what I need him to be. Monroe’sotherwalking nightmare.

“Hey, River,” he says, his tone suddenly becoming a syllable louder. “She’s home.”

I reach for one of the hair-ties next to the clock, snap it onto my wrist, then walk over to stand next to Tanner.

Moving the curtain aside ever so slightly, I nod.

I watch her go through her routine, letting time elapse so that I know she’ll be asleep by the time we get there.

---