Page 60 of Bad Attitude
He steps forward, right into my space. I think he’s going to take me into his arms, kiss me maybe. But he doesn’t. Instead, he zips my jacket up, and I stand there unable to move, letting him.
“Where’s my little hellcat gone?” he murmurs. “Do you need a bar fight before we go back?”
I bristle at that, tightening my jaw, clenching a fist. I amnotthis lovestruck girl unable to think or act just because he slept with me once.
“Thereshe is,” he says, that small smile he does playing with his lips. “Make a decision, Hellcat. Am I following you, or are you following me? Because I’m sure as hell not taking no for an answer.”
Confident bastard.
“I’ll follow you,” I find myself saying, if only because it still gives me the option to back out. All I have to do is turn off the road, anytime between here and wherever the hell he lives.
“Good.” He pauses. “We still skipping food? For my part, I’m only hungry for one thing.”
Me.
I feel both hot and cold at the same time, and it’s got nothing to do with the weather.
In answer, I walk to my bike and swing my leg over. “How far to your place?”
“Five minutes. Boyle Heights.” He’s already getting on his Fireblade, moving with his natural grace.
“Get going, mister,” I tell him as I pull my gloves on. “That’s about as long as I can wait.”
He chuckles, taking his time putting his lid and gloves on. Far too composed while I’m… not.
“I don’t need to tell you to keep up, do I?” he says, firing up his bike and riding out.
I swallow hard, asking myself if I know what I’m doing.
No answer comes back, so I do what doesn’t make sense.
I follow him.
Thirteen
Raven
Declan’s apartment is not dissimilar to mine; a one-bed with a separate living space, surprisingly tidy.
There’s a potted plant near the window, looking very healthy, its leaves large and waxy. I hadn’t figured Declan for the green-thumb type.
He sees the direction of my gaze. “Uh… I bought that earlier this week.” He rubs the back of his neck. His jacket is open, just a T-shirt beneath, and the movement makes his chest do things. “I thought you might like it.”
“Wait… you bought a plant, for your apartment, becauseImight like it?”
He grimaces. “Is that weird?”
“Yes.” I nod, just in case he didn’t catch the affirmative. “Yes, that’s weird.”
And cute. Strangely thoughtful.
Still weird.
He’s looking around his apartment like he’s seeing it through my eyes. Or checking there’s no underwear on the floor.
He didn’t wear any last time.
Now I want to know if he’s going commando again. The thought hits hard, and I swallow.
