Page 22 of Playing with Trouble

Her entire body went still.A rush of color bloomed high on her cheeks, as if she was remembering that night, too.For a second, I caught the quick rise and fall of her chest before she snapped her gaze back to mine, sharp and defiant.“God, you’re arrogant.”

“No,” I said, my tone soft and husky as I held her gaze.“Just honest.”Because despite her attitude and the way she tried to bury every tell behind that glare, there was no denying the heat simmering between us, ready to ignite the second she stopped fighting it.

We finished eating in silence, and once we were done I helped Violet clean up and put away the left overs.Then I focused on the job I’d been hired to do.

“Show me your locks,” I said.

She blinked at me in confusion.“What?”

“Front door, back door, windows,” I said, my voice all business.“If someone wanted to get in here, I want to know how easy it would be.”

Her arms tightened across her chest, eyes flaring with indignation.“So what, you’re going to critique my entire house now?”

I didn’t even hesitate.“Actually, yes, I am.”

For the next half hour I checked everything—deadbolts, latches, window frames, the sliding door that led out back.Some things had been upgraded during Andrea’s stalker situation, but no security was fool proof if someone wanted to get to Violet bad enough.The thought made something primal coil tight inside me.

Violet trailed after me, arms crossed, her exasperation thick in the air, but I didn’t give a damn about her annoyance.This was my job, and I took her safety seriously.

When I was done and satisfied that her townhome was as secure as it could be, I turned to face her.“This will do for now,” I said, giving her a steady look.“You’ve got decent locks and no obvious entry points.”

She snorted.“Such high praise.”

I ignored her sarcasm.“That doesn’t mean that someone can’t break in if they wanted to, but that’s why I’m here,” I said, stepping into her space so she had to tip her head back to meet my eyes, knowing this next part had the potential of making her bristle.“And from now on, you’re going to follow a few rules.”

Her eyes narrowed, but I pressed on before she could argue.

“Rule one—you lock every door, every window, every time,” I said, my voice leaving no room for debate.“Even if you’re just taking out the trash or checking the mail.Rule two—you don’t open the door to anyone but me, Andrea, or your brother.No exceptions, unless I’ve vetted them beforehand.Rule three—you keep your phone charged and on you.Always.Because until this is over your safety isn’t negotiable.Not with me.”

Her chin tilted up, her mouth tugging into a mocking little smirk.“Wow.Rules and lectures,” she said, her eyes sparking.“Should I be taking notes, or do you hand out pamphlets after this bossy presentation?”

I leaned closer and arched a brow.“Careful, Trouble,” I murmured, allowing the moment to take a more sinful turn.“Keep mouthing off, and I’ll add a fourth rule, one that ends with you on your knees, remembering exactly how much you like following my orders.”

I heard her quick inhale, which she tried concealing with a slow, taunting smile.“Is that how you pitch yourself?Threats disguised as foreplay?”

“Not a threat.A promise,” I said, enjoying that I’d managed to fray her composure a bit.“Care to test me?”

She rolled her eyes, but I didn’t miss the flush on her cheeks.“God, you’re insufferable.”

“So you’ve said…and yet you can’t stop looking at my mouth,” I countered softly, watching her lips part just a fraction as I called her out on the truth.

Her eyes flicked back up to mine, and she looked momentarily flustered—rare for Violet—before she quickly recovered.For one dangerous second I considered closing the gap between us.Claiming her right there against her own front door.But giving her what she wanted—even if she didn’t admit it out loud—would have been too easy.And too soon.

So I pulled back instead, letting the sexual tension stretch taut between us.Her eyes sparked with frustration, and that flush in her cheeks deepened.I saw it all—anger, arousal, defiance, all tangled together.Exactly the way I liked her.

“That’s enough for tonight,” I said, stepping past her like I hadn’t just been a breath away from kissing her senseless.“I’ve got more locks to check.”

She spun away toward the kitchen, her hips swaying too enticingly for my peace of mind.“Better check the pantry locks, too, bodyguard,” she tossed over her shoulder.“Wouldn’t want the cereal to escape.”

I chuckled.I couldn’t help it.That crack about the cereal was honestly pure gold.

She thought her sass kept me at arm’s length.Thought that rolling her eyes and tossing smart little jabs kept her in control.But she couldn’t hide the pulse in her throat, or the little catch in her breath when I invaded her personal space.Every tell gave away her desire and made me harder, hungrier for her.

She could fight me, mouth off, pretend she didn’t want it, or me.But sooner or later I’d have her spread out and writhing under me again, only this time I’d make damn sure she remembered exactly who she belonged to.

And when I finally sink into you again, I won’t stop until you’re ruined for every man but me.

CHAPTER10