Cutter (The Core Four #3)
Stacy Borel
I GIGGLED HARD AS MY foot hit something, sending it crashing to the ground. Loud clattering rang in my ears and a hand covered my mouth. “Shhh . . .”
“Was that a lamp?”
“I dunno.” There was only enough light filtering in from the patio and festivities outside that I could barely make out Dodger’s face, let along anything in the room.
“My mom is going to kick my ass for that one.”
I sat up from the couch and gave him a playful smile. Grabbing his tie, I pulled him down until his lips were almost touching mine. “I’ll buy her a new one.”
“You’re impossible.”
I stuck my tongue out so quickly he didn’t know I’d done it until it swiped his lips. “Whatever. Impossible is me when I’m not drunk.”
Watching him while he sucked in his lower lip as if to taste me, I clamped my thighs shut. It turned me on.
“Challenging, is more like it.”
“I’m not a challenge.”
He smirked. “If you say so.”
Dodger tried to push into me so he could get over the arm of the couch. We were playing a little game of back and forth. I gave him a little room then pushed him away. It was something I’d always done with him from the moment I’d met him.
“I do say so.”
He pushed harder and came over the top of me on the couch. Backwards was the only way I could go. Lying down, I spread my legs to accommodate him, as he settled onto me. Dodger’s soft lips crushed mine in a furious kiss that told me he was ravenous for me. Good, that’s how I liked him. My teasing was going to break him soon if I didn’t give a little. And I would cave. I always did. He knew this. I actually questioned whether it was me teasing him, or the other way around. Either way, we both were getting what we wanted tonight. Actually, I was getting what I needed.
“This isn’t going to be very comfortable for you,” I said with humor in my voice.
“Why is that?” His mouth trailed down my neck.
“Because your long ass legs are still hanging over the side.”
He paused and lifted slightly to peer down at me. “Well then, I guess we better relocate to the bed.”
I cocked a brow. “Awfully sure of yourself, Mr. Brooks. Who said this was even going that far?”
A growl came from deep in his chest. “Macie, you had better believe this is going that far. It’s been too fucking long and I’m sick of the shit you throw at me.”
Now I was taken aback. Scooting back a little to feel like I was more in control and not completely at his whim, I said, “Wait, what shit?”
“Mace, all you do is talk your little teasing chatter trying to get me riled up. Wear your low cut shirts, talk to other guys trying to make me jealous, or pick a damn fight with me. That’s the shit I’m talking about. I’ve had enough of your games. We are either doing this, or we aren’t.”
Well, when he put it that way. “Are you seriously giving me an ultimatum right now? Nothing will sober me up faster, Dodger. You know I don’t take orders from anyone, especially you.”
He snapped. And not in the way I expected him to. Coming completely over the side of the couch, Dodger straddled me, rendering me incapable of moving or wriggling out from underneath him. “You will. This time, you absolutely will. And you want to know why? Because you’re mine, Mace. I’ve tolerated all I can at the moment, and now I’m done. You’re mine. And I do what I want with what’s mine. So if I say we are moving to the bedroom, then we are moving to the god damn bedroom. We both know you want this just as badly as I do. You think I can’t tell how turned on you are right now? You think I can’t literally smell how wet you are for me? That I can’t feel you squeezing your long beautiful legs together, holding back what you need?”
I bit my tongue to prevent moaning or letting out a remark that could possibly ruin this.
“That’s right, baby. I know. I know that everything you do is with me in mind. Deny and I’ll know you’re lying. So no more. You’re giving yourself to me, and you’re going to drop that fucking wall you’ve had up the past few months. You want to build it back up tomorrow, fine.” His blue eyes were shining intently as if trying to pierce through my fa?ade. Dodger sat up ever so slightly, giving me a little room to shift my weight. “I’m going to move now. You’re going to stand up, walk your fine ass into the bedroom and undress as you go. I want to watch you do it all. It’s been too fucking long since you’ve let me see you, Macie.”
I barely rasped out, “Why do I have to take off my clothes? Why can’t you do it?”
“You have me so worked up right now, if I touch them, there will be nothing left for you to put on in the morning.”
Dear god, I could hardly breathe. The imminent satisfaction I knew I was going to be receiving from him was almost more than I could bear. I shivered. The booze pulsated through my veins, making me feel like forming even one sentence after what he said was impossible. It really had been too long. And Dodger was right. I did tease him. If I knew he would be around, I did everything I could to ensure I looked my best. I’d speak to guys just to piss him off, daring him to say something about it. Basically, I played every mental game I knew of to drive him crazy. He just confirmed that he knew it too. Must’ve worked because never in the entirety of our relationship had he demanded of me like he was right now. Time for him to pay me back. In my head, I mentally rubbed my hands together and laughed like an evil queen in a Disney movie. Game on.
Like a captor would do to his prisoner, Dodger slid off me. He calculated his movements, stepping around me and watching me like a hawk. He expected me to fight. Maybe he wanted me to. But I was done. Totally and utterly spent and for the first time I think ever, I was going to give myself over to another person. And what I mean by that is, emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. Dodger would have all of me tonight. I’d always blocked off some part of my emotions from him so I could falsely protect myself. His words, the atmosphere of Keegan’s wedding, the alcohol, and the way my body was reacting to him, this was a battle I knew I’d lose.