“Were you scared?”
“Absolutely. It was unexpected and was after our first breakup when I found out he made out with Jessica Stanton at a party. Dash was actually the one to tell me about it. They beat the brakes off each other over it.”
“How are they still friends?”
“Hell if I know. Men don’t hold grudges like women do I guess. Dash stayed out of it after I took Keenan back the third time.” Her voice lowered and she sounded sad so I let her have a moment. I thought about what Keiran had planned for me later tonight when we were alone and felt a shiver run through my body.
“Do you still get scared?”
“Yeah but I never tell him no because I know he wouldn’t hurt me. He can be an animal,” she grinned. “And sometimes I guess the need just overtakes him. He gets in these moods…” She trailed off and looked lost in thought.
Before I could find out more the guys came back, each with popcorn and drinks. I was curious about what Sheldon meant and knew there was a story there. Keiran sat on my left while Keenan sat on Sheldon’s right, leaving us in the middle. The lights dimmed and the previews started to roll so I settled into my seat for the movie.
“I got it loaded with butter.” He sat the popcorn in my lap before slumping down in his seat and spreading his legs apart in a lazy yet sexy pose. He let his head rest against the back of the seat and looked me up and down.
“Thanks,” I smiled at him but he didn’t return my smile. Instead he turned to the screen and stared broodingly at the screen.
I frowned but hesitated only a second before deciding to say something. I gave my body to him; I wasn’t allowed to be afraid of him anymore.
“Something wrong?” He continued to stare at the screen, ignoring me. He didn’t look angry but his body language screamed ‘disinterested’. I leaned forward and waved my hand in front of his face. Still nothing. I then snapped my fingers twice to get his attention. “Hey…I’m talking to you. That means you say something back.”
“Atta girl.” I heard Sheldon say and snicker quietly.
He finally turned to me, a frown marring his features. “What?” he asked coldly. I drew back in surprise for a moment before regaining my composure.
“If you’re going to act like an ass for no reason then you can just take me home. Now.”
“That’s all I want to do is get you home.”
“Then why did you bring me here?” I felt tears burning the back of my eyelids but I refused to let them fall. Not this time.
He let out an aggravated breath. “Hell if I know.”
“Then by all means lets end this date now.” I bit out the word date and felt the sneer transform my face. “I wouldn’t want you to feel obligated.”
“Are you this stupid on purpose or can you really not help it?”
“Don’t call me stupid. I’m not stupid. Or maybe I am because I’m sitting here with you right now.” I stood up before he could say anything else and left for the lobby, almost tripping over Sheldon and Keenan.
I heard him spit out a harsh curse and Sheldon call him a ‘dumb dickhead’ before I burst through the doors. The bright lights of the lobby almost blinded me or maybe it was the hot liquid spilling down my cheeks.
Fuck. I said I wouldn’t do that.
I contemplated walking home before I realized I wasn’t that stupid and headed for the restroom. I pushed inside and pulled out my cell phone to call Willow for a ride.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Evil right now?”
“He’s being a jerk. Can you pick –” That was all I got to say before the phone was plucked from my hands. Keiran ended the call and stuck my phone in his pocket. Big surprise there.
“What are you doing in the girls’ bathroom?” I hurriedly tried to wipe my cheeks before he could see that I had been crying. He took my hands away and used his own to gently clean my face.
“I came to apologize and this is the men’s bathroom.” My eyes widened and I looked around and noticed the urinals before squeezing my eyes shut in embarrassment. Could I be anymore of a dork?
“Go. Away.” I backed up until my back touched the wall, needing space between us, but he only followed.
“No.”
“You’re not my favorite person right now.”
“That’s okay because I can guarantee you’ll change your mind the next time I get my dick in you.”
“If you say so,” I returned flippantly while shifting against the ache between legs.
“Want to test that theory now?” he challenged. I shrugged and turned my head away, giving him the cold shoulder. He gently grasped my chin and turned my face up to him. My lips opened instinctively for his. He eyed my mouth before grinning down at me. “I’m talking to you. That means you say something back.”
He threw my words back at which pissed me off so I drew my knee up to hit his balls. He caught my leg under my thigh and wrapped it around his waist and pressed me harder into the wall.
“Are you trying to get round one started right here?” His eyes were heated with sexual intent and despite the way my body responded, I shook my head no. “Then behave.”
“Why are you always telling me to behave?”
“Because you want it.”
“Do explain…” I stated sarcastically and rolled my eyes. He grasped my chin again, this time in a tight, unyielding grip. I watched the flash in his eyes and quaked all the way down to my toes.
“I don’t have to. You and I both know how wet your pussy gets every time I issue a command. You love it.” I started to protest he transferred his grip to my throat. “You need it,” he growled.
God help me, I do.
“Don’t make me prove it to you right here. You aren’t ready for the type of fucking I’d give you right here. But you will be…after tonight.”
I drew in a deep breath almost begging him to carry out his threat. “I don’t know what to say.” It was a stupid response to the hot promises he just made to me but it was all I had dammit.
“All I need is for you to say yes when I need you. That’s it.”
“Why should I say yes? You were being him again. I didn’t like it.”
His hand dropped from my throat as he frowned and searched my eyes with what looked like panic. “Him?” he asked.
“Yeah…the Keiran before now.” I didn’t miss the look of relief that crossed his features.
“I won’t apologize again since it seems that you aren’t listening so I’ll explain instead. I am happy to spend this time with you. I just wish we could spend it alone. I can’t help but want you all to myself all the time. I missed ten years with you because I couldn’t wake up from a nightmare that played over and again. But even more selfishly, I wish we were locked away in my bedroom instead of a smelly theater. Believe me baby I would do anything not to be him again.”
His arms had come around me sometime during his speech and held me tight as if to keep me from running away. His possessive demeanor told me I was dead on. The sincerity shone through his gaze but I couldn’t forgive him just yet.
“Anything?” I stressed.
His hands dropped to my butt and lifted me up and into him. “Yes.”
“Then you should know this is my first date. Don’t ruin it, okay?”
“Not even if it meant my life,” he agreed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Lake, how good do you play with balls? Aaargh! The bowling balls, babe!” Sheldon had driven her elbow into Keenan’s stomach. I laughed at his pained expression because he never seemed to learn his lesson.
“I’m telling Keiran.” Sheldon stated.
“Snitch,” Keenan returned.
“Slut.”
“That’s it. I’m choosing Lake as my partner.”
“You can’t choose Lake.”
“Why not?”
“Maybe I want Lake.”
“Too bad. I called dibs.”
“You can’t have dibs. She’s my friend. She doesn’t even like you.”