be a most impressive specimen.
“You first,” I shot back. His brows dipped in confusion, so I decided to help him out. “Tell me why you’re lying to me when I specifically asked you not to.”
I expected for him to storm out or maybe even deny it. I wasn’t prepared for him to rest his sweaty forehead against mine and exhale. “You’re too smart for your own good. You know that?”
That was debatable. At least when Vaughn was around. Needing to touch him, I gave in and rested my shaking hands against his warm chest and felt his heart pounding underneath the muscle there.
“You’re just used to airheads.”
If I were a genius, I would have started asking questions months ago.
He chuckled and then squeezed my hips before lifting his head. He suddenly looked serious again, which made me gulp. Vaughn could be so…dominant, and at times, a little more than I could handle. “What’s my rule?”
I bit my lip with indecision. On the one hand, I wanted to remain defiant. On the other, I knew how important this was to him. Once again, I just didn’t know why. “Always kiss you hello and goodbye,” I eventually whispered.
He remained silent, keeping our gazes locked, waiting. After a beat too long, I gave in—as I always did when it came to him—and kissed his soft lips. Like an asshole, he didn’t kiss me back, so I dug my nails into his shoulders, determined to win him over. After the third press of my lips, he gave in with a groan, deepening the kiss. I wasn’t sure how long we remained locked, but it took several hard knocks on the door to break us apart. By then, I had my hand in his sweats, toying with the ring piercing his dick while Vaughn had slyly slipped his hand underneath my collared shirt, groping my boob.
That frustrated gleam in his eye was back, and my gaze dropped to the floor because I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to give him what he wanted. Sure, we’d done stuff, but it was no longer enough…for both us.
So why couldn’t I take the plunge?
Vaughn stepped from between my thighs and ripped open the bathroom door before glaring down at whoever had been brave enough to disturb us.
“What do you want?” he snapped.
“Excuse me, sir, but we can’t serve you without a shirt. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Shit, shit, shit. I quickly hopped down from the sink at the sound of my boss’s voice and pushed my way past Vaughn. As soon as my gaze connected with Terry’s, I knew there was no way I could explain why I’d been held up in the bathroom with my shirtless friend-with-partial-benefits for the past…
My gaze darted to the clock on the wall.
Twenty minutes.
I was so fucking fired.
If looks could kill, Vaughn would be six feet under instead of fighting back a grin as he sped out the parking lot with me riding shotgun. Terry hadn’t fired me, but he did send me home.
For two whole weeks.
Irritated, I bounced my legs as I mentally calculated how much money I’d miss out on while I sat at home twiddling my thumbs. The only upside was that now I wouldn’t have to miss Four’s race again. I’d only seen my best friend race once, which was six months ago, but it had been all I needed to become a fan for life. Now that we’d graduated and she was free of her mother’s tyranny, she was on a mission to get her license and race professionally and, not to mention, legally. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been able to attend her first pro-am race last weekend because Terry was on another one of his rampages and wouldn’t let me have the weekend off.
Feeling strong fingers curl around my own, I abandoned my thoughts and found Vaughn staring at me while we waited at a red light. I frowned when I recognized the street. We were heading in the opposite direction of my house. “Where are you taking me?”
“The Manor.”
My lips curved because it seemed Four’s nickname for the McNamara’s’ mansion was catching on. I briefly pondered telling Vaughn that we’ve been calling the monstrosity he lived in “The Castle” because, well…it looked eerily similar to the palaces you’d find in medieval times.
Obviously, his family held themselves in pretty high regard. My stomach flipped, wondering about the day I’d eventually meet them. If that day ever came, that is.
The light turned green,