“That’s also my job.”
I shook my head and smiled as I climbed out of the car. I practically stumbled into my house. My legs were tired, my thighs were burning, my vagina felt like it had been pounded . . . which, it had been, but I hadn’t expected to feel it as much as I did. I hadn’t done the walk of shame in a long time, and I felt a little excited, like I was back in the game. Along with giving me the best sex of my freaking life, Victor had also made me feel desired. I hadn’t felt that way in so long, I’d forgotten the power it held. I stripped off my clothes, showered, and slept like the dead. The only reason I woke was because of Bonnie’s whimpers.
“I know. I know,” I said as I got out of bed and wiped my face. Back to the bathroom I went to brush my teeth and make myself semi-presentable for my new neighbors before I went outside with Bonnie.
I was holding on to her leash with my eyes closed, face tilted to the sun, when a shadow suddenly set over my face. My heart jumped as I sat upright.
“You scared me,” I said. Victor’s face was serious as he looked at me. He turned his face toward Bonnie, who was now trotting toward him. Without saying a word to me, he crouched down and started to pet her. He took her nametag in his fingers and smiled.
“You left,” he said, still looking at my dog. “I wanted to take you to breakfast.”
“I left because I didn’t think it would be smart for me to be there and do the walk of shame in front of photographers.”
He appraised me for a moment. I wondered if he was thinking about what we’d done last night. My stomach clenched at the memory: his mouth on mine, his head between my thighs, thrusting his dick inside me like he was afraid it would never happen again. I felt a blush creep over my face and had to look away.
“That is smart,” he said, finally.
“I thought you’d appreciate it.”
He opened his mouth to say something, and closed it again.
“I had a good time last night,” I said.
Understatement of the century. I wanted to tell him that it was a night so memorable, I’d be sure to have fantasies about it continuously. I wanted to tell him how much my ass hurt when I sat down and how I kept smiling at the recollection of why. I wanted to ask him what his possessive chants meant. You’re mine. Was that just something he said during sex or was it something he said during sex with me? The thought made a flush creep into my face. I ducked my face to hide it.
“I wasn’t sure you did,” he said, “with you leaving before I woke up and everything.”
“Was that a first for you?” I asked, smiling at his handsome, serious face. He smiled slightly.
“You could say that.”
“How are we supposed to go to breakfast without it looking like something is going on?”
He was dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt, looking hot as fuck, especially now that I knew what was beneath his clothes. Despite the burn in my inner thighs, I wanted to strip him and climb him again.
He looked thoughtful for a moment and sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right.”
“I’m beginning to sense a theme here,” I said, smirking. “Me leaving, me being right . . .” His scowl encouraged me to continue. “You know what’s funny? The world seems to think that women are the chasers after a one-night stand. That we go along with it and then are all broken-hearted when the guy doesn’t call, because God forbid we use what’s between our legs to have fun the way guys do.” I paused to smile. His ears were red, which made me smile harder. “So I think it’s funny that you, Mr. I Have Work to Do came over here to chase me down.”
He was quiet for a beat before reaching down to pick up Bonnie and going inside my house. I followed, confused, but still feeling like I had the upper hand, until I shut the door and curtain and turned around to find Victor taking long strides toward me. I took a step back, my heart rate spiking at the sight of his narrowed eyes on mine, his head slightly tilted as he appraised me. When he reached me and placed both arms on either side of me, caging me in, I swallowed as I looked up at him.
“Like I said, people change. Besides, that’s how it works in nature,” he said, his eyes on mine. “Most of the time, males chase until the woman is forced to cave.”
“And that’s what you’re trying to do? Force me to cave?” I asked in a whisper.
“I’ll do whatever it takes if it makes you cave to this,” he said, lowering his voice.
“You’re not afraid of the consequences anymore?” I asked.
“I am.” He paused, his eyes searching mine. “I think you might be worth it, though.”
Even if my galloping heart would have let me speak, I had no response for that. This careful man who cared about his job more than anything else had taken a chance and chased me down, and it thrilled me.