Page 27 of How To Catch A Killer … And Date His Best Friend

“Take all the time you need, Savage.”

I groan. “I think you’re gonna have to come up with a new nickname.”

“No can do.”

Shit.

I gently exhale, trying to remember why I’m here. “You ummm . . . Are you doing anything?”

“Depends,” he says, that rich stare sailing over my face and dropping to my lips as though resisting me is just as hard as I’m finding resisting him. “Is this the part where you admit you haven’t been able to stop thinking about me?”

He’s got me there.

“I, umm . . .”

Something shifts in his stare, and he pushes off the doorframe and steps right into me, his hand snaking around my waist and pulling me in against him. “What’s wrong, Lyra? You don’t strike me as the type to give in this quickly.”

My hand rests against his chest, and I meet his stare before letting out a breath and giving it to him straight. “I need a distraction,” I tell him. “I’m . . . angry. I had a shit night, and I’m two seconds away from responding to a text that I know I should just delete. It’s got me all worked up, and if I’m not careful, I’ll probably commit a felony and get myself arrested.”

Maddox grins. “Now we’re talking.”

I roll my eyes and pull out of his hold, needing just a lick of space. “Take me out. I don’t care where. Just . . . be my distraction.”

There’s a beat of silence between us before Maddox hooks his thumb around and points to himself. “Me?”

I huff. “Yes, you idiot.”

“Just making sure I heard you right.”

I roll my eyes and go to inch toward the open door. “Maybe I should ask someone else. Is your friend here?”

“Woah, Savage. No need to be hasty,” he says. “Give me two seconds, and I’m all yours.”

He disappears back into the apartment, and I watch from the front door as he hurries down the hall. A second later, he appears in a pair of dark pants while pulling on a leather jacket. “Yo,” he calls out to his friend. “I’m heading out. Catch ya, later.”

Maddox doesn’t wait for a response before he collects his helmet off the coffee table and strides out the door.

“Whatcha waiting for?” he says, indicating for me to get moving, and I do just that, more than ready for one hell of a messy night. “You know, you showing up like this and demanding I take you out is going to inflate my ego.”

We walk down the hall, and I press the call button for the elevator as I glance up at him, unable to keep the smile off my face. “Oh, I’m painfully aware.”

Maddox grins, and as the elevator doors roll open, he grasps the back of my neck. “Come on, Savage,” he rasps, leading me into the elevator. Then as the doors close behind us, he presses me against the cool wall, his lips crushing down on mine, devouring every inch of my mouth as Hunter Cole’s text sits on read.

8

MADDOX

Not gonna lie, I’m more than pleased with myself. Having Lyra show up at the door, looking for me, and not for a fuck fest, but something more . . . shit. It feels good. Whether she realizes what that means or not.

She had a rough night, and while I have questions, the fact that she came to me must mean something, because otherwise, the past week of me obsessing over this woman and camping out at Hunter’s place in the hope of running into her would all be for nothing.

I get it. I’m a fucking idiot. Hoping for something that will likely never happen, but she’s too fucking gorgeous not to.

She came to me.

Out of all the bastards she must have in her phone, just waiting for a call, she chose me. That’s got to mean something, right? Sure, I know I’m probably delusional. We don’t know anything about one another, and apart from a wildly incredible night up against a wall and some prime time flirting, there’s not much to base a relationship on, but I’m here for it. I want to get to know her. I need it.

Fuck, my ego is going to be fed for weeks to come.