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“Behave,” she said with a small smile that didn’t match her tone.

I raised my brow and waited patiently. As patiently as I could with a thundering heartbeat and finally, finally, she sighed.

“I can’t go out with you, Caleb.”

This time, her tone matched her soft voice, making me frown.

22

SCREAM MY NAME

CALEB

“Why not?” I asked, trying my best not to pout and get on my knees.

She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and said, “I had made it clear that it was going to be a one-night-thing only.”

My jaw clenched. “So, I’m good enough to fuck, but not good enough to date?”

Her eyes looked troubled, and she reached out, holding my arm. “You know I didn’t mean that, Caleb.” I knew that. I was acting like an ass. “I-I care about you, but I can’t date you.”

“Give me a reason.”

Anna pulled her hand back and her eyes were stern as she looked at me. “I don’t need to give you a reason when I had made it clear that we can’t be together?—”

“So, you’ll date Kyle instead?” I asked, sliding my hands in my pockets. “I saw the flowers in your backseat.” It was a gigantic bouquet. Of course, he’d send it to her workplace. If only I had been a creep, then I could have picked her up from her studio and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“I’m not dating anybody right now,” she replied and took a deep breath. “Look, Caleb, my family and work are my priorities. I don’t have time for dati?—”

“Bullshit,” I said. “If you say yes, I’ll cook for you every night so we can have dinner together with Alice. On weekends, I can give you a massage or go grocery shopping with you. Come on, pretty. You know I keep my word.”

Silence stretched between us as she looked at me with her hazel eyes, her pupils dilating, and I waited, hoping she would agree.

Her lips parted and our connection was broken when the front door of her house opened, and Alice came running out.

“Mommy!” she beamed, raising her hands and Anna smiled at her kid, hoisting her up in her arms.

“Hi honey.”

“Is this your boyfriend, mommy?” Alice asked, looking at me with a cheshire grin.

I take it back. I love kids.

“Yes, I am,” I said.

“No, he’s not,” Anna said.

We both looked at each other, and I pretended not to see her glare as she fussed over Alice’s hair and put her down. “He’s a friend… of Aaron. He was just leaving.”

I could take a hint.

Sighing, I bent down to Alice’s height, high-fiving her and promising her to get her candies when we meet again. Which would be very, very soon. I didn’t care that Anna had her family and work as a priority. I would make her crave me, even if it meant playing dirty.

Standing up, I leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear, “I’ll make you scream my name soon, mama.”

I stared at her for a moment to see her plump lips part and watch her pupils dilate before taking a step back. She swallowed as I smiled at her daughter and stepping back, I put on my helmet sitting on my bike, Peach.

In my peripheral vision, Anna held Alice’s hand as they walked to their front door. I clipped the helmet, watching her as I rolled back the bike and turned on the engine with a sweet purr. Winking at her, I pulled the visor of my helmet down and drove out of her driveway.