Three Dirty Secrets (Blindfold Club 4)

The stone-colored eyes blinked and went stern. “I know, but I warned you. When I see some

thing I want, I go for it. Are you planning to go to the wedding?”

I furrowed my brow. “That’s not the point.”

“Which means, yes. I figured if you weren’t, it wasn’t a big deal. People flake on weddings all the time.”

“Yeah, rude people.”

“So don’t be rude and take me as your date. Joseph and Noemi will be there. I recognized the name on the invitation.”

I put my hands flat on the table as I seethed. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

“I’m not. It’s your choice. Do you want me to come with you as your date?”

I was supposed to blurt out no, but the word died on the tip of my tongue. I’d sworn to only lie to him when absolutely necessary. My gaze dropped down to my fingers spread on his table as I fought my confusion.

My voice didn’t have as much fire as I wanted it to. “I don’t like what you did.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that, but I’m less sorry if it works.”

“You could have just asked like a normal person.”

He pretended to look offended. “And invite myself along? That’s rude.” He turned serious. “I felt like if I did that, you’d say no, or worse, you’d bolt. You were pretty hard to nail down just on grabbing dinner.”

He was right. If he’d asked me point blank, I would have freaked and demanded we keep things casual. It would be easier to change the RSVP from two down to one, rather than the other way around, though.

The illogical side of me was rationalizing to get what I wanted.

“I knew it was stupid,” he said. “And I’m a guy. We don’t like going to these kinds of things, but fuck it. I’ll go if it means I get to spend time with you. I saw the opportunity and I took it.”

“You forced it on me.”

“Yeah. Did it work?”

I sighed. My voice was less confident than I liked. “Maybe. But don’t pull this shit again.” I pushed off the table and marched toward my coat.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m still pissed. I can’t just turn that off.” The angry rap music wasn’t helping either.

He moved quickly, standing in my way, his dark hands held up to stop me. “Stay. It’ll be more fun to be angry here than wherever you’re planning to go.”

“Is that right?” My tone was laced with sarcasm.

“Come on, let’s get naked.” The playful expression morphed into something dark and wicked. “You first.”

“Nice sales pitch, but I think I’ll pass.”

The corner of his mouth turned up in an evil smile as he marched up to me and his shadow blocked the light. “No, I don’t think you will.”

Now I was thoroughly annoyed. “Why’s that?”

“I think you want this almost as badly as I do, Regan. You’re going to take your clothes off because I’m putting my hands on your fucking body in a few seconds, and you don’t want me to ruin your clothes.”

He left me standing there in surprise and went back to the table. He picked up the charcoal pencil and rubbed it between his palms, covering his hands with even more black dust.

It was impossible to have friction without heat, and it flickered through my body, warming all the way down to my toes. He’d told me to take off my clothes, but again it was really a choice. I could stay as I was and call his bluff, do as he asked, or walk away.