The words I spat at him earlier about us being convenient were bullshit, and I know he saw straight through it. That’s the thing with him—he always sees. It’s unnerving. I’ve managed to build up walls and keep everyone else out all these years, but he storms into my life when I least expect it and he just sees me. The real me, the vulnerable me that I try to hide from the world with my resting bitch face, dark makeup and tattoos. It’s like my armour doesn’t exist when I’m with him. And as much as I love it, I equally hate it because I know it gives him the power to hurt me like no other ever has.
“Let’s go for dinner?”
“I’m sorry, what?” I ask, his comment giving me whiplash.
He releases me and stands. “Let’s go for dinner.”
“Dinner? Just the two of us? Like a… like a date?”
He barks out a laugh. “No, not like a date. I don’t do those. More like two housemates going for food.”
“Housemates? Housemates with… benefits?” I ask with a smile.
I step up to him, ready to run my hands up his chest, but he stops me.
“I would ask you what you fancy, but I think I know the answer. So I’ll pick the restaurant.”
“Fine by me.”
“Grab your shit. Let’s get out of here before you cause me even more trouble than you already have.”
“Biff won’t say anything.”
“She won’t need to if you carry on.”
I shrug innocently. “Just having a little fun.”
“Yeah, that’s going to end with me in the fucking hospital.”
“Give him some credit,” I argue as I swipe my bag from the floor and throw it over my shoulder.
“I am. I could have said in a coffin.”
“Dramatic much?”
“Only time will tell.”
“Well, make sure you name me in your will. I want to take over your lease.”
He barks out a laugh. “Fucking hell, Kas. You don’t waste any time, do you?”
“My mum did actually teach me a few things,” I say, then instantly regret it when he turns his sad eyes on me.
“Come on, I think you’re going to love this place.”
The second we’re outside, he hands me my helmet and we climb onto his bike.
It’s only a short drive, and although my stomach rumbles, I could spend so much longer with my arms wrapped around him and the cool summer evening air on my skin.
He guides me into a small Mexican restaurant, and it’s not until we’re seated that he finally looks up at me.
“So, did you enjoy your first day at the studio?” There’s a twinkle in his eye. He knows exactly what he’s asking.
“You mean, did I enjoy watching you get up close and personal to that woman’s tits?”
“I didn’t see her tits,” he argues.
“She sure wanted you to, though.”
“You noticed that, huh?”
I roll my eyes at him. “It was hard not to.”
He nods slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips. “She was hot.”
“She was,” I agree, not wanting to get dragged into this. “You should call her.”
“I should?”
“Why not?”
The waiter chooses that exact moment to interrupt us to take our orders. Neither of us has so much as glanced at the menu, but Spike clearly comes here often because he rattles off his order before turning his dark eyes on me.
“I’ll have the same. It sounds great. Oh, and a pitcher of margarita, please.”
“A pitcher? I’m driving.”
“I know, it’s for me.”
“Long day?” Like you wouldn’t believe.
“Plus, a little liquid courage might help me make that phone call later.” I wink at him and it takes a few seconds for him to catch on.
Two can play at that game.
“You’re not going to be making any phone call.”
“Oh, and why’s that? I could really do with ending the night with a little… stress relief.” Stretching out my leg, I run my foot up his.
His eyes narrow on mine. “You’re playing a very dangerous game, Tiny.”
“One you started. So tell me, what were you trying to achieve, seeing as you keep telling me that you shouldn’t touch me?”
His lips part, but he doesn’t say anything, and I fear I may have just ruined everything by mentioning our reality.
Sitting forward, I place my forearms on the table and rest my breasts on top, ensuring he gets a great view.
His eyes drop almost instantly, and his tongue sneaks out to run along his bottom lip.
“Trying to make me jealous won’t work, Spike.”
“Oh no?”
“No.”
“Care to explain why? Because you looked like you were about to blow a fuse earlier.”
“It won’t work, because you didn’t look at her like you do me.” I kick off my boot under the table and run my foot up his leg again, only I don’t stop at his knee this time.
“Tiny,” he warns, but I don’t stop.
“And I know for a fact,” he jolts as I press my foot to his semi, “that this wasn’t interested in her.” I rub him over the fabric of his jeans, and to prove my point he just gets harder.
As I continue, I suck my bottom lip into my mouth. His eyes darken with desire, and I know I’ve got him. His restraint is slipping faster than he can control. I love holding all the power.
Dropping his hand under the table, he wraps his fingers around my ankle, halting my movements.
“You’re asking for trouble.”
“I’m aware.”
The air crackles between us as our eyes hold.
“Excuse me,” Spike says, confusing me, but when a shadow falls over our table, I realise that he wasn’t actually talking to me.
“Change of plans. Any chance we could get our order to go?”
“Oh… um… sure. I’ll go and sort that out for you now.”
At no point does he take his eyes from mine.
“To go?” I ask, a smile forming on my lips.
“To go,” he confirms.
Thirty minutes later I’m once again climbing off the back of his bike, but this time it’s outside Spike’s building and the anticipation that’s crackling between us is almost unbearable.
I glance down his busy Saturday night
