“The hard-on you gave me two days ago.”
Oh. I had been trying to forget all about that night, but he had to bring it up. Of course, since I left him dumbfounded. Not a lot of people has the chance to push back on Maddox. I gave him a taste of his own medicine, and he obviously didn’t like it.
I stopped sweeping and held the broom up, leaning my arm on it. “Oh that. Did the cold shower help?”
“It didn’t. I had to use my hand.” If I didn’t know better, I’d say there was a note of petulance in his voice.
“I didn’t need to know that.”
He shrugged, quite nonchalantly. “You asked, I answered. Can I borrow your hand next time though?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “That’s going to be a hell no, Coulter.”
His lips twitched, and I almost rolled my eyes. “You’re boring, Garcia,” he taunted once again.
“I’d rather be boring than be your next hookup.”
Anything was better than being his next meal. To put it simply, Maddox was a lion – it was quite easy to see the resemblance. When given meat, lions pounce without a second thought. They devour their meal, messy and savagely. Once they’re done, they spit out the bones, and with a belly full, they walked away.
That was Maddox.
He devoured anyone in his path, without care of the consequences, and he’d spit out the bones once he had his fun. Guys like Maddox would play with you, tear you apart, layer by layer, piece by piece and then lay you down – fragmented and empty -- because they took everything from you.
Maddox pushed away from the wall and took a step toward me. “You hate me that much?”
He actually looked curious, as if he wanted to pick apart my brain to see inside, to delve into my thoughts. He wanted to see beyond my wall. Too bad, he was the wrong person to break through it.
“It’s not about hate. I’m simply not excited about your existence.”
It wasn’t about hate. That was too black and white. No.
Boys like Maddox have already stolen enough from me…
My heart thudded in my chest, and I looked away. Boys like him… they ruined me.
Placing the broom back in its corner, I walked toward the door without sparing him a glance. “You should ask Gran what else she wants you to do. I’m going to take a ten-minute break.”
Maddox blocked my way out. “Let me change your mind. Spend one afternoon with me.”
His words speared me with shock, making me stumble back a step. What?
Why would he…
Maddox truly didn’t understand the word ‘boundaries.’ How did we go from enemies to him asking me to spend an afternoon with him?
Well played, Coulter.
He looked at me expectantly, as if he really wanted me to consider his offer.
I scoffed back a laugh that bubbled in my chest and threatened to escape through my throat. Was I a joke to him? Wait… I knew that answer.
“And what? You’ll have me putty in your hands?” I asked with a quirked eyebrow.
He grinned, losing the expectant look on his face. He was back to being a jerk. “In my arms and on my dick, yeah.”
I leaned forward, pushing my body against his. He never hid the fact that he appreciated the way I looked. My body tempted him; I was aware of that. So, two can play this game. “Is this your way of asking me out on a date?” I whispered, my voice sultry but dripping with sarcasm. If he was smart enough, he’d catch that.
Maddox stared down at him, his lips crooked on the side. “I don’t date. Ever. My favorite pastime is having girls on their back or on their knees for me.”
“You. Are. Disgusting,” I growled.
He shrugged.
Pushing away from him, I tilted my chin up, both to look at him and in defiance. He wasn’t winning me over. “Tell me something, do your fangirls know how you think of them?”
“Most of them know and don’t care. They’re using me the same way I’m using them. Sex, fun and popularity. Three things they want and three things I can give them. They’re happy with the arrangement. Those who aren’t, I show them the door. Simple.”
“So, girls get hot and bothered because you’re a jerk.”
“That’s the appeal, Sweet Cheeks.”
I opened my mouth but then snapped it shut when I couldn’t find the appropriate words. I was speechless.
“Lila!” Grandpa’s voice broke through our silent battle, and I flinched away. “Can you come and help me with this?”
“Coming!” I called out.
I tried to push pass Maddox, but he didn’t budge. On the contrary, he moved forward, forcing me to take a step back and away from the door.
“So, what do you say?” he grumbled.
A frustrated sound spilled from my throat. “What?”
He kept moving forward, and I walked back a step, two… and three. “One afternoon. Give me an hour of your time, and I’ll change your mind.”
“Not interested, Coulter. You’re not even worthy of one hour of my time,” I bit out, glaring up at him through my lashes.
He slid closer against me, and I stumbled back into the wall. Shit. “So, you’re saying, if I kiss you right now, really kiss you… the way you should be kissed and then I slide my hands into your panties, I won’t find you wet for me?”
Cocky much? I bristled at his words, and my fists clenched at my sides. He brought his face closer to me, staring into my eyes as his hands landed on either side of my head.
“Lila!” Grandpa called out again, louder this time. He sounded closer than before. If I didn’t leave right now, he was going to come and find me in the storage, room and he was going to see Maddox and I… Oh God.
“Kiss me and I’ll make it so you don’t have the ability to kiss another girl ever again,” I warned.
“Challenge accepted.”
Maddox leaned down as if to kiss me, his lips a mere inch from mine. I turned my head to the side, and I could feel his minty breath feathering against my cheek.
“Move,” I growled.
“Lila,” he breathed, closer to my ear. His voice sounded deeper, edgier… like he really imagined kissing me.
I kept my head turned, refusing to give him access to my mouth. My eyes landed on his forearm as he kept me caged against the wall. I could feel the bulge between his legs pressing against my hips, and I bristled with anger and displeasure instead of being turned on.
I didn’t know why, but I expected something better from him. When he asked to spend one afternoon with me, looking adamant… for a brief moment, I almost believed he was serious about changing my mind.
The muscles in his forearm, where he had rolled up his sleeves, tightened, and I struck out, without thinking much about it. I bared my teeth and clamped down on his arm, biting.
Maddox let out a hiss of surprise, and I lifted my gaze to his. He had pulled away, only slightly to stare down at me. I grabbed his outstretched arm and bit down harder when he didn’t make a move to pull away. He froze for a second but then stayed still. I continued to put pressure, where my teeth were clamped down on his flesh.
He didn’t even flinch. No, he did the opposite.
Slowly, his lips quirked up into a tiny smile. His eyes glimmered with amusement, and he cocked his head to the side, waiting… and the bastard appeared not to be bothered by my action.