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“No, it’s not.” I wrap my arms around my middle to fortify myself against the anger he’s exuding in waves. “There’s so much going on in my life right now, beginning with you admitting to being my stalker and ending with someone who’s decided to take that title by sending me those panties. I’m worried that I won’t be able to make logical decisions as long as we’re intimate, and it clouds my emotions.”
He tilts his head, his expression full of disbelief. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from talking and saying anything else that’ll piss him off more.
“What decision is there to make?” he asks, his voice deceptively quiet.
“Whether I can forgive you for lying to me, with the knowledge that you’ll continue to do so.”
“You will forgive me. It’s just a matter of when.”
I glare at him, some of the anxiousness seeping from me to be replaced with anger. “How do you know?”
“Because you have a tender heart and a gentle soul,” he says. “It’s not in your nature to hate. At least, not forever, I hope.”
“You hope?”
He waves a hand in dismissal, but there’s a stiffness to the motion that I can’t ignore. If not for the darkness surrounding us, I’d have a better idea if I’m imagining it or not.
“I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to forgive me,” he says.
“Don’t hold your breath.”
A smile takes over, and the whites of his teeth penetrate the dimly lit space. “I won’t.”
“Hayden, please. I need you to take this seriously. I can’t have sex with you while my emotions are a mess.”
And while I’m pissed about this tattoo.
“Fine.”
I squint at him in suspicion. “You gave in too quickly.”
“No, I didn’t. I already told you that I’m not above seducing you, and that’s what I plan to do, starting tomorrow. Now, if you’ve covered everything on your agenda, I’m going to bed. Our flight leaves early in the morning.”
He walks to the bed and pulls back the comforter to settle on the mattress, facing the ceiling. “Come here.”
I stay rooted to the spot. “I’m not going.”
He remains still but centers his gaze on me. I nearly flinch at the cold, hard determination within. “I’m not in the mood for games. If you don’t get into this bed in the next ten seconds, I’m going to come after you. And when I catch you, you’ll be sorry.”
With a nonchalance I don’t feel, I roll my eyes and make my way to the bed. After crawling onto the mattress to take up my spot next to Hayden, I lay on my side, facing him. “You’re an asshole.”
“Calista…”
I squeeze my eyes shut, not only to signal my intent to sleep but also to avoid his death glare. Even without me looking at him, I can still feel it burning into my skin. This entire evening has been one giant battle of wills, and now that it’s died down, I have time to reflect on it. Unfortunately, I can’t stay awake long enough to do anything except mentally reaffirm my stance on this so-called vacation.
I’m not going.
* * *
I’m going.
Hayden woke me up this morning and made good on his threat: he tossed me over his shoulder and carried me to the front door. He only stopped to wrap me in his trench coat, and that was after I shrieked about my inappropriate attire and how I didn’t want to be seen in my pajamas.
He pulls sharply on the collar and fastens all of the buttons until I’m covered from my neck to my knees. “I warned you.”
“I didn’t think you’d actually haul my ass out in the freezing cold.”
“I didn’t want to, but if that’s the only way to move you, then so be it. Are you ready to cooperate?”
