late? After you proved that you're exactly the same jerk as before?"
"No," he says. "I mean... I didn't even say it to intend anything. It just came out."
I stare into his eyes. Yes, Landon, I know you when you see something you want - you'll do anything, absolutely anything, to get it. And I won't be won over by a cheap apology made way too late. No way.
"Can we just start over?" he's asking now.
"No," I say. "We can't. Now, I have to go. I would wish you luck, except I like to win and I'm going to beat you. And best of all, I'm going to enjoy it."
As I turn on my heel and walk away, I can't help a self-satisfied smile taking over my face.
"I wouldn't count on it," he growls after me. "Just remember, Kyra: I always get what I want."
I'm glad I'm practically out of the room, so he can't see the shiver that goes through me.
**
The rest of the day goes as usual: I pick up Madison from school, we cook something fun together (tonight it's feta-filled ravioli with homemade basil pasta sauce), I tuck her into bed and read The Travels of Babar to her. Then it's lights-out and I have some much-needed me time. Sinking onto the couch, I've just put on some New Girl season four when my phone rings.
"Hello?" I say.
I don't normally pick up for unknown numbers, but with this case going on, new information could come from any and everywhere.
"Hey," a horribly familiar voice says.
Shit.
I'd know that voice anywhere. And just like that, I'm very, very mad.
"Seriously?" I snap. "Who gave you this number?"
"Maybe I'm prepared to make a deal."
"Don't bullshit me. Now, I'm hanging up."
"Don't - just wait, Kyky."
"Don't call me that."
My finger's poised, about to hang up. But I can't quite make myself. Not yet.
"I want to make it up to you. Call a truce."
"I don't want that."
"Unfortunate," he says.
"Yeah, for you. Now, I just started a show - "
"You realize I'm not going to stop, don't you?"
"So you're stalking me now? Cute. Lucky for me, there's this thing called a restraining order that works nicely for cases like yours."
"Just let me take you out. One dinner."
"Why?"
"To make it up to you?"
"To schmooze your way into a better case outcome, you mean."
And maybe even into my pants, I add inwardly.
"To settle it. If after the dinner you want me to leave you alone for good, I will."
"And let me guess. If I don't agree, you'll keep bothering me."
I can hear the smile in his voice. "Something like that. Yeah."
"So, blackmail?"
"You get a free meal out of it, so what's the problem?"
"The problem is the company."
"Ky - "
"No," I say suddenly. "I don't care what you do. I won't."
I hang up before he can answer.
I sink into the couch, breathing deep. That was close. Too close.
In a fast, furious autopilot, I snap off the TV, take off my makeup, brush my teeth. Floss. Put on my night cream, then throw myself into bed.
Screw today. Screw Landon. Screw whatever thought I almost had. Whatever stupid crap I almost considered.
The only thing that can fix today is tomorrow. Sleep.
**
Weird. I went to sleep to escape him, but now here's here.
He climbs into bed with me, covers me with his arms. "Don't pretend you don't want this."
His mouth eats my protest, his hands stroke away my tension. I groan down his throat. Kissing him is like coming home. Like eating my favorite dessert. Like picking off a scab that was never supposed to be touched.
It's freeing. Perfect.
His tongue entwines with mine, leads it how he wants to. Our hands explore each other's bodies. His is more muscular, more tense and with harder edges. He touches me with an ease and familiarity, as if it was only yesterday we did this. He knows how to touch me right and he takes full advantage of this knowledge. He strokes and massages my ass until I'm crooning.
He touches me with a quick-flitting eagerness, with an excitement like it's the very first time.
I guess in a way it is.
He strokes and kisses off my clothes, then clasps me to him tight. As if he never wants to let me go. I can feel the hardness of his cock pressing into me through his pants.
Every breath we take is like sand falling out of an hourglass towards what's inevitable.
All at once, at the same time, neither of us can take it anymore. He rips off my