I DARE YOU - Lylah James Page 0,22

to the driver’s side. Lila settled in the passenger’s seat.

She might have gotten over her fear of cars. She was okay with driving around with me, but she wasn’t comfortable getting in a car with just anyone. Not yet, at least.

I was probably an asshole for thinking this… but I liked that she’d only get in a car with me. That I was her protector. She trusted me. Only I had seen the sides of Lila, she never wanted others to see.

I’d seen Lila strong and powerful.

I’d witnessed her fragile and vulnerable.

Lila nudged me with her elbow, her lips quirked up to the side. “That was very thoughtful of you, thank you.”

Really, Lila? We were back to sharing pleasantries and being… friendly?

The more reserved she appeared, the more I wanted to tease her, probe her temper and evoke her passion.

The more distance she put between us, the more I wanted to devour her.

Leaning in, I cupped her face and stole a kiss. Her lips parted against mine, and I shoved my tongue in her mouth, tasting her. I sucked and nibbled on her bottom lip, until she let out a small whimper that sounded so fucking needy. The sound traveled all the way to my dick.

Well, shit. Not now, big guy.

I pulled away from the kiss and licked my lips, tasting the remnants of her cherry lip gloss and the mint gum she had in her mouth… which… I now had between my teeth. She didn’t even notice I stole her gum. Her brown eyes were glassy, her cheeks tinted with pink blush, and Lila fluttered her lashes at me. Yeah, I got her good.

“Why did you do that?” she breathed, bringing her fingers to her plump well-kissed lips.

Because you’re mine.

I clunked my tongue at her and started the car. “I was just checking if you’ll turn into a princess. But alas, you’re still a frog – wait, no. Still a scaly, terrifying dragon, I see.”

Lila swatted my arm, a small breathy laugh escaped past her tempting lips. “As if you’re a prince. Ha!”

“You’re no princess, and I’m no prince charming.”

She rolled her eyes. “What are you then?”

“Your king, Baby.”

Lila’s throat bobbed in response. She turned to face her window without a smart comeback, like I expected. She ducked behind her hair, shielding her face from me. Hiding away, shutting me out…

Run, Lila. Run, little dragon. The faster she ran away from me, the harder I was going to chase her.

The drive to our place was rather quiet, and I gave her that. I allowed her the silence, gave her one last chance to overthink this, before I’d swoop in and turn her world upside down.

Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot. Lila hurriedly got out of the car, before I could say a word. Was she thinking of making a beeline to her apartment without even acknowledging me?

What – the – fuck?

Lila and I were just stepping out of the car, when Colton rolled into the lot in his yellow Ferrari. Last month, he had the latest Jaguar Sport – in green. He liked his cars, like his women: flashy, bold and extravagant. Arrogant little shit, no wonder we were best friends.

We watched, as he jogged around to the passenger’s side, opened the door and out stepped… Riley?

Double – what – the – fu–

She wobbled out in her cast and grimaced as Colton wrapped an arm around her shoulders, helping her hop over to us. She waved, a little smile on her face. “Lila!”

Lila dropped her bag at my feet and raced over to Riley, before enveloping her friend into a tight hug. Colton reluctantly released his cargo into Lila’s arms and took a step back.

I walked over to the little group and bumped fists with Colton. Riley and he barely tolerated each other, and I was damn curious how he convinced her to let him help. I glanced down at the grocery bags he was holding. I could see there were vegetables, chocolates and… tampons. Yeah, that grocery bag definitely did not belong to Colton. He appeared to be Riley’s personal chauffeur and… helper?

“How’s the leg?” I nodded toward Riley’s blue cast.

Her lip jutted out, a sad pout. “It’s fine now.”

Lila made a strangled sound at the back of her throat, sounding both pissed… and cute with the look of outrage on her face. “I can’t believe you waited a whole day before you called and told me about your accident! You broke your leg, what