Collateral (Collateral Damage 1)

I smile.

Her eyes narrow infinitesimally when she meets my gaze again. “I’m tired. How long do we have to stay?”

“Just until I have a look at your browsing history.”

“There’s nothing to see.”

“Then you won’t mind.”

She rolls the chair backward and rises.

I straighten so our bodies are touching with her trapped between the desk and me.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to distract me,” I say.

She lifts her chin a little. “What’s with you and Clara? Is she really your cousin?”

I shift my gaze down to her pretty, full lips, to the swell of small breasts with their hardened nipples pressing against the satin of the dress.

“Third cousin.”

“Do you guys have a thing or something? You and her and Rafa?”

She’s so close, I smell the soft hint of perfume.

“Strange question to ask your fiancé at your own engagement party, don’t you think?”

“This isn’t real, stop acting like it is. I want to know. I have a right to know. I won’t be made a fool of.”

“How would I make a fool of you?” I want her to say the words.

She glares at me. “If there’s something going on, I want to know.”

“What would be going on?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Grow up, Gabriela. Use your words.”

“Fine. You want me to use my words? Here you go. Are you fucking her?”

I smile wide. “Would you be jealous if I were?”

“You’re cousins.”

“And it would bother you if we were kissing cousins?”

“I’m done. Are you fucking her or not?”

“Gabriela,” I say, voice low. “Be a good girl and go sit down on the bed to wait for me.”

“Or what?” she asks, straightening, inadvertently pushing her breasts against me.

My gaze drops to them. “You’d better sit down before I decide I like the distraction, little girl.”

“If I’m such a little girl, then why do you look at me like you do?”

“Like you think I look at Clara?”

“You’re trying to get a rise out of me.”

“No, I just want to have a look at your computer.”

“Why was she swimming naked in your pool?”

I cluck my tongue. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“She’d lost a bet, Gabriela.”

“A bet?”

I shrug a shoulder. “Now be a good girl and do as you’re told.”

“Screw you.”

“Not until we’re married, Princess.” I wink.

Annoyance flashes through her eyes but she masks it quickly, plastering a wide grin on her face. “Of course, you’re assuming I’ll screw you at all.”

I press against her, let her feel me as I wrap one hand to the bare skin of her back, and I watch her eyes and hear her breath catch as I slide my fingers down her spine. Down as far as the dress will allow. When she exhales, I cup her ass and squeeze.

She gasps, slaps her hands against my chest.

“Don’t worry. That doesn’t mean we can’t do other things,” I start, kneading her tight little ass as she pushes against me.

“Get off me, pervert.”

I chuckle. “How does cupping your ass make me a pervert?”

“Just stop it.”

“Tell me something and I’ll stop.”

“What?”

“Would you like that? Like me to get you off? Maybe I should give you a taste. I know I’d like one. I’d love to hear what that sharp little tongue of yours calls out when you’re coming on mine.”

Her face burns a deep red.

She shoves harder, but she won’t move me until I want to be moved.

“Why are you such a jerk?” She’s so angry, she looks like she’s going to cry or stomp her foot or something.

“Go sit down,” I say more seriously.

“No. Get out of my room, Stefan.”

“This isn’t your room anymore, Gabriela. Your room is in my house. The sooner you understand that, the better.”

She shoves again, and when I press against her I see her falter, momentarily uncertain.

“What were you looking at?” I ask, seizing the opportunity.

“What?”

“On your computer. Why did you close out as soon as you heard me?”

“None of your business.”

“Wrong. Everything about you is my business now. What are you hiding?”

“Get away from me, I mean it.”

“Then tell me what you were looking at or go sit down while I search for myself. I’ll find out anyway.”

“Fuck you.”

“I’ve already told you not until we’re married.”

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” she asks, shifting her hands to grip my shoulders. “Let me tell you something, you’re not,” she says with a smirk and in the same instant, her knee rushes toward my balls and I have to admit, it would have been a pretty good hit. She’s fast. Faster than I expect.

But I’m faster and I capture her knee between my thighs and shift my grip to the tight twist of her hair. I’m messing it up, but I don’t care. I want her attention.

I tug her head backward and I know it hurts from the look on her face, but that’s the point.

“Don’t ever try that again, understand?”