I jumped to my feet, now furious. “Is that why you slept with me? Trying to have something over me so I don’t tell my family you’re doing some renos?”
He blinked at me then had the audacity to smile. “Now who’s living in a movie? I slept with you because you’re fucking sexy, and I wanted you. I didn’t give a shit then or now who your family is. I have no plans to tell anyone about us either. And when you’re all riled up and snarking at me like this?” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I want to do some really wicked things to you, Little Dragon.” He cast his eyes over my form, dark and tempting. “Really, really wicked.”
“Well, good luck with that. I hope your hand is snarky enough for you.” I marched past him, yelping as he pulled me to his lap. “Get your hands off me, you jerk!”
He looked down at me, his gaze dark. “Is that what you really want, Little Dragon?”
“Y-yes,” I stuttered out.
“I think what you really want is for me to carry you to my room and return the favor from the shower.” He ran his nose up my neck. “Then you want me to fuck you. Hard. You want me to help you forget all about last week, or anything else but us. Nothing but my mouth on your body and my cock deep inside you.”
I glared up at him. “Asshole,” I snapped, then pulled his mouth down to mine.
He was a presumptive idiot, but he was right.
That was exactly what I wanted.
Chapter 9
Ava
I lifted my face to the sun, enjoying the rays. Hunter was throwing sticks to Cash, who barked and chased them, returning them to Hunter’s feet and waiting impatiently, his tail swishing in the air like a set of windshield wipers on high for Hunter to throw the stick again.
Hunter glanced at me. “He needs a walk. Feel up to going?”
“Sure.”
I stood and joined them. Hunter had a leash he’d picked up, but he didn’t attach it to Cash’s collar. He smiled at my inquisitive look.
“He won’t go far from my side, and if I call him, he’ll heel right away.”
We set off, and instinctively, I headed in the direction I always used when coming to check on Mr. Owens. Hunter followed me, not speaking. We both enjoyed the quiet, neither of us feeling the need to fill it with unnecessary chatter. When we reached the boundary between the two properties, we stood, looking at the view.
“Amazing how different, yet similar the two are,” Hunter murmured. “The contrasts in the landscape.”
“It’s lovely anywhere along this stretch.”
He nodded and turned to head back. I stopped him, laying a hand on his arm. He met my eyes. “What, Little Dragon? What has you suddenly so serious?”
I pointed behind him. “About five minutes through those trees is my house. I’d like to go change if you wouldn’t mind.”
He tensed and didn’t say anything.
“No one would see us. My house backs into the trees. All the second gen are in Toronto today at an afternoon charity event.”
“Second gen?” he asked.
I smiled. “We refer to Nan and Pops as Generation One. Our parents are Gen Two. I’m part of Gen Three. Gracie’s little girl is Gen Four…” I shrugged as he lifted an eyebrow.
“You sure this isn’t a commune, Ava? Or a cult?” he asked, but his voice was teasing.
“Maybe. If I get you in, I get bonus points because of the dog. We’ve never had one before.”
“Oh yeah?”
I nodded. “Bringing the two of you into the fold means a new toaster oven. Cash guarantees me an air fryer one.”
For a second, he stared, then threw back his head in laughter. “Lead on, then. If my presence gets you that, I hope I get to reap the benefits of it. I hear wings are good in those machines.”
Still chuckling, we headed down the trail. It had been a while since I’d walked it, and it was overgrown. I stumbled at one point, and Hunter reached out to steady me. After that, he kept his hand wrapped around my arm, walking close behind me. I liked the odd sense of protectiveness I felt from him.
We walked up the steps to my back door, and I entered the number on the keypad. Cash trotted in as if he owned the place, collapsing on the kitchen floor with a long, exaggerated sigh. Laughing, I took a bowl from the cupboard and filled it with water. He lapped at it, looking grateful. I turned to Hunter. “There’s water or soda in the fridge. Help yourself. I’ll only be a moment.”
He nodded, looking uneasy.
“I was only kidding about the cult thing. You know that, right?”
He flashed his teeth at me. “Yes.”
“We’ll be out of here in a few minutes.”