Page 7

“Sometimes I fancy pretending I’m someone else. Just another pre-surgical physician getting through her final foundation year. Free to be a little wild and stupid.” She flaps her hands, trying to get it all off her chest. “You know, like having sex with a stranger whose best pickup line is mocking my shitty singing. Even after noticing him by the bar watching me, doing his utmost to pretend he wasn’t.”

Well, fuck. And here I thought I’d done a stellar job of being inconspicuous.

She pauses, then adds, “That’s not how things ever go for me. When we get to Jen’s, I’ll get out. Let them drive me home. I told them to back off, but did they? No,” she grumbles. “It’s fine. Maybe one day. Just not today.”

That’s not what I thought she’d say. Her honesty leaves me weighing my options. While I process, I do what I’m best at—I say nothing. The rest of the drive to Jen’s is done in silence, broken only by the hum of the truck engine.

My hand remains on her leg, and now that she’s no longer using hers to talk with, it finds mine. Her nails drag lightly over my skin, slow and deliberate, like she knows what she’s doing. Heat from her touch travels up my arm. My grip tightens in response.

After pulling up to my cousin’s house, I turn off the engine and wait.

Izzy stares out the front window, waiting a few beats. When she turns to look at me, there’s no hiding her forced smile. “It was nice meeting you, Aiden. Thanks for offering me a ride.” Then she reaches for the handle, intending to open it.

“Don’t fucking move.” Hearing the growl in my chest, her hand flinches and retreats to her lap. “I’ll be back in five, maybe seven minutes. If you get out of my truck before I return, I’ll spank your arse. Do as I say, and your reward will be a kiss. I’ll need a raincheck on the fucking part.”

She blinks slowly, surprised by my bluntness. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You heard me.” I snap my fingers, pointing at the seat her arse is planted. “Test me if you want. Move. I wouldn’t. I’m a lot of things—most of them not good—but I never break my word. When I say something, I do it. You got in my truck; your safety’s my responsibility. I take that seriously.”

I watch her swallow, my attention snagging on it before she nods. Then, with a sly grin, she settles in. The space between us suddenly feels a hell of a lot smaller.

Good, because I’m in no mood to chase her down and deal with her guards just to spank her arse for pushing my buttons. Walking away after kissing her will be a challenge. Better this way. If I were smart, I’d have let her get out. Safe to say, I’m not.

A smirk tugs at my lips as I step out of Jen’s house five minutes later. Izzy’s leaning against my truck, arms crossed, grinning like she’s daring me to do something about it. She knows what she’s doing. It’s written all over her smug, tempting face.

She’s asking for it, and I’m about to give it to her.

“I moved.”

Stepping in front of her, I catch her gaze lift to mine, her bottom lip captured between her teeth—and it’s all I can look at.

“What do you plan to do about it?”

My gaze shifts to where the SUV is parked five houses down and close my eyes. “Who are you?”

“Does it matter?” Playing the seductress, she trails a fingernail down my shirt. “I’m the woman who finds you attractive and dared to test you. The question is, are you man enough to⁠—”

I cut off her words when I seal my mouth to hers.

God, she tastes good.

I pull back slowly, eyes narrowing, then turn her, pressing her front against the metal of my truck. I step in behind her, my body boxing her in, holding her there without needing my hands. One hand braces beside her, the other finds her hip, drifts lower, setting her exactly where I want her.

Her arse presses back against me, and I take a second—just a second—to appreciate the view.

“What did I tell you I’d do if you moved?” I growl and then bite her ear. Not hard, but enough to show her who she’s fucking with.

Her breathing speeds up as she whispers, “Spank me.”

Hearing how much those words thrill her makes my pulse race.

“Have you ever been spanked?”

Izzy shakes her head, and I cave, grabbing her arse and giving it a firm squeeze. Damn her. I press my hard cock into her, letting her feel it. This is what she does to me, and I want her to know.

“You have no idea what you’ve done, Izzy. But you’re about to find out.” I palm her arse, rubbing slow and with intent. “Are you ready?”

She nods, those beautiful, expressive eyes shifting just enough to catch mine. “What are you waiting for, Aiden? If you don’t hurry, my team might see you as a threat.”