Noah stares at me, his head angled to the side like I’m a petulant child. After a long moment, he lets out a breath and raises his hand only to drop it.
“Care to elaborate?”
“My girlfriend’s got this guy that won’t leave her the fuck alone. Annoying little twerp, really, but it’s all the same. All men are dangerous men. How do I report a stalker?” I ask, resting my elbow against the desk. My eyes trail down his uniform. “And is there a different protocol if he's a boy in blue?”
Noah’s eyes narrow. He takes a step toward me, but I don’t move. I just smile at how easy it is to push his buttons.
“Is this seriously something that you want to start, Forkerro?” he asks, voice low. “I have half a mind to report that incident at the hospital.”
“So, do it.” I shrug. “Here’s the difference between us, Peck.I don’t give a fuck what you try to do to me, or how you feel about me.”
“I don’t see how that’s any different. The feeling is mutual.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” I snap, and he slowly shuts his mouth. “The difference between us is that Arden wants me around. She’s an adult. Trust her decisions and stop trying to insert yourself.”
Noah shakes his head, letting out a little scoff. “We’re friends, Forkerro.”
“Bullshit,” I bite out. He glares at me, which only fuels my anger. “If she gave you any indication that she wanted you, you’d jump at the opportunity.”
“I protect her the same way I do Whitney and Autumn.”
“The point is, get your fucking nose out of her business,” I say through my teeth. I step toward him, slapping my hand on the counter and dragging the file folder with me. I stop when we’re close enough that he has to crane his neck to look up at me. “Unless she asks you for it, you’re done ‘helping’ her, alright?”
Noah’s glare could kill. He angles his head, a tight, small smile growing on his mouth. The picture-perfect image of a cop, this one.
“How do you think this is going to end, Forkerro?” he asks. When I don’t respond, he searches my face like a detective. “You’re going to do what you do best and hurther. I’m not buying this act. You are who you are. There are thousands and thousands of men just like you, man, and your type doesn’t change.”
That itch tickles my palms again.Hit him.
I don’t want to.Hit him.
It’ll prove his point.Hit him.
I force that anger to a simmer, breathing long breathsthrough my nose as we glare at one another, eye-to-eye.Hit him.
“Thank you for that beautiful speech, Officer Prick,” I bite out, sliding the folder into my hands. I smack it against his chest with enough force to have him stumble back a step. “And thank you for all of your research. Feel free to tack my mugshots to your bedroom wall, buddy. If you’re nice, I’ll sign one for you.”
He grips the folder, eyes going dark and knuckles white. “This is your last warning, Forkerro.”
“Fuck your warnings,” I snap, sliding my sunglasses back onto my nose. I smack my hand on the counter before grinning at him. “And fuck you, too.”
I open the door to my condo, and a little minx in a cherry-print pyjama set launches herself at me. Her hands are running over my hair, her legs wrapped tightly around my waist. Her mouth slides against mine and my dick hardens at the taste of her lip gloss.
Well, damn. Hello, Red.
I walk into the condo with her, placing her on the edge of the dining room table when we reach it. When I pull away, she’s immediately going for my joggers, fumbling with the drawstring. As much as I want to see where this goes, I reach down and stop her busy fingers.
She freezes, big brown eyes looking up at me.
I smile softly, sliding my hand to her cheek, treasuring the way she relaxes against it. “How you feeling, Bub?”
“I’m fine,” she says with a bit of a bite. “I’d be better if you let me get back to what I just started.”
I chuckle, but don’t let go of her hand. I lean forward to kissher softly, keeping her fingers away from my dick. We’ll get there, but we need to actually talk first. We haven’t spoken in days. Not really.
“How was work?”
She glares up at me, eyes scanning my face. “It was fine. It was long. What’s wrong?”
