hunk of colossus double my size decided to pick me up like a sack of flour. I yelped, but Cole hauled me over his shoulder and aimed for the door.
“I’m not used to having guests in my house,” he said. “This might be considered rude.”
I kicked, slapping his back with a shocked hand. Jesus, it was high up here. No wonder Rose always wanted me to carry her.
“Put me down.” I didn’t bother yelling. I wouldn’t give the behemoth the satisfaction. “This is completely inappropriate.”
“Then you definitely won’t like this.”
His hand connected with my ass.
And it stung!
The slap echoed in the foyer, and I shrieked over his shoulder.
Did he just…spank me?
“Oh, you are in a world of trouble!” I wiggled. It was useless. A second playful swipe struck my behind, and I let out a frustrated squeal. “Don’t you dare, Mr. Hawthorne!”
“Don’t do what?” He frowned. “This?”
A third smack. I bit my lip before I made a good sound.
Enough was enough, especially since the sting warmed into a fuzzy tingle that spread a series of shivers where they didn’t belong. I clutched his shoulders to stay upright.
Oh, God. He was all muscle.
I swallowed. “Put me down right now.”
“Right away, Your Highness.”
Cole manhandled me over his shoulder and swung me into his arms. I ended up cradled against his chest.
My instinct was to cross my arms behind his neck, tickle my fingers through his blonde hair, and pray for my three wishes to come true.
First wish: A kiss.
Second wish: A lot less clothes.
Third wish: A night of passion so raw and fierce and dirty I couldn’t even ask a genie for it.
But I learned long ago to ignore those feelings.
“Let me go,” I said.
“Not until you agree to do as I say.”
Like hell. I aimed for his pecs and made my attack. All the muscle in the world couldn’t protect his nipple from a twist.
“Jesus!”
Cole dropped me. I landed on my feet, but I threatened him with a thumb and forefinger poised for another pinch.
“Just try me, Mr. Hawthorne.”
Cole rubbed a hand over his chest, massaging his hurt pride. “You’re lucky you caught me in a good mood.”
“This is a good mood?”
“Tomorrow I’m suiting up and playing for the Monarchs. I plan to stay there all season.”
“That’s not going to work for me.”
“Tough.”
Cole stormed back to my belongings and tossed me my purse. My hand-eye coordination was limited to putting on eyeliner, and I batted the bag away before it struck me.
Which of course, Cole thought was hilarious.
So funny, in fact, he also softball pitched my lunch box to me. I reached for it, but it banged off my fingers and clattered at my feet.
Cole wrestled with my chair next. Fortunately, he didn’t throw it. He grappled with the arms and twisted the plastic material. The metal squeaked, but Cole was in too much of a hurry to close it properly by the little latch on the side.
I rolled my eyes. “Give it to me—”
“—I got it—”
“—You’re going to break it.”
Cole grunted, shoving the legs as I hit the latch. The chair snapped together before he could remove his hand.
Now was probably a good time to leave.
“Son of a bitch!” Cole shook his fingers. The profanity didn’t stop. “This goddamned, mother fu—”
Uh-oh. I maimed one of my father’s biggest clients less than twenty-four hours before the season opener.
A linebacker didn’t need his hands. Did he?
“I’ll…get you some ice,” I said.
I ducked inside the mansion as Cole kicked the chair and launched it halfway into the rose garden.
“I’m fine.” He gritted his teeth and followed me inside. “Just fucking go before you set fire to the house or strangle me in my sleep or whatever your master plan is.”
I raced to the kitchen and stole an icepack from the freezer. I managed to wrap it in a towel before Cole gripped my wrist, shaking the ice from my hand.
“What are you trying to do to me?” His voice was low, dangerous. “Are you like…systematically searching for my weaknesses?”
“I…I’m sorry. It was an accident.”
“There’s easier ways of making me break.”
He didn’t release my hand. Instead he stepped toward me, every stomp of his feet a warning for me to try my luck another day.
I edged backwards, my breath catching as I found myself pinned between a linebacker and a wall, without a way to rush through either.
Cole’s voice twisted into a whisper. “Do you want to bring me to my knees?”
“I…” I wished I hadn’t stared into those royal eyes—a perfect and solemn