Page 5

Poppy

I came here with one thing in mind—murder—but the drinks and music have been a nice distraction. I'm starting to think I chose the wrong person to set my sights on because the guy standing in front of me hasn't given me any reason to kill him. He's actually one of the most attentive men I've met in almost a decade, which is beyond frustrating. I'm still entertaining spending time with him because I’m hoping he will prove to be someone deserving of death at some point.

We spent the first hour drinking and getting to know one another, which is not part of my usual pattern, but I can't seem to help myself. I'm blaming the Gin and those absolutely stunning dimples he flashes every time he smiles.

Disappointment settles in. I'm supposed to be here fulfilling my promise to Drew, but instead, I'm drooling over some guy. None of this is okay, and yet I can't stop myself.

It's crazy. I just met him. I'm supposed to kill him. Lust was supposed to be the easiest of the Seven Deadly Sins, but for some unknown fucking reason, this one has been the hardest so far.

Why do I want this guy near me, touching me? Why am I thinking about what he would be willing to do for me every time his tongue pops out to lick his lips after taking a drink? Would he beg me to let him fuck me? Would he let me call him my good little boy as I praise him? Clearly, I need to slow my drinking.

The longer I'm with him, the deeper my fantasies seem to grow. It's like there is an invisible cord pulling us together, that has me caught between a mixture of curiosity and anger. I can't explain.

If I let things progress beyond drinks, I could sully the memories of Drew, and if I don't at least try to explore this, I could go the entirety of my life without feeling this kind of connection again. Corbin's eyes bore into mine as though he can feel my inner turmoil. Why is the pull so strong?

He stands and extends a hand. “Dance with me?”

My eyes flick to the other side of the bar, where some women are grinding on men and others dancing with their friends.

I consider whether or not this is a good idea, but then those dimples appear again, and I can't help myself. It's just dancing, and even if things progress beyond that, maybe I can still kill him. He will probably end up being a ‘one shot, stick it in for five seconds and then blow my load’ kind of guy anyway. Now, that's something that deserves murder, not letting a woman finish first.

Corbin pulls me from my thoughts and onto the dance floor. He's quite a few inches taller than me, I'm guessing around 6'4, but that doesn't stop me from taking the lead. We find our spot amongst the others as the music bumps around us.

Electric Love by BORNS plays loudly, and I let the vibrations fill me as I lift one arm and throw it over his left shoulder. His hands land on my hips as he begins swaying me from side to side. The heat from his palms burns through my dress, making my heart slam in my chest.

Most men would pull me closer, limiting the space between us, but he keeps me at the respectable distance of my choice. Again, not ideal, considering I'm supposed to be finding a reason to kill him.

I move closer, feeling his hardened length brush against me as he takes a sharp breath. It’s obvious he’s affected by the contact, but he keeps himself focused intently on the way I move against him.

"Careful, cupid. I’m trying to be a gentleman. It's only the first date," he whispers in my ear.

I beam up at him, shaking my head. "Not a date."

His hands caress my body, and I get lost in the feel of his touch. One of them slides onto my neck, allowing his thumb to rub my jawline sensually, and I lose every bit of control I thought I had.

I tug him down and crash my lips to his, tasting the smoky whiskey residue on them. There may be a few regrets in the morning, but I don't care. I can't let this feeling pass by without giving it a chance.

We let the world fade away for a moment as his tongue slides along my bottom lip, sending shockwaves through me. The only thing I’m focused on is how much of a reprieve he is from the rage that has been consuming me.

I pull my lips back, my gaze full of nothing but pure lust as I say, "Take me home."

"I can't guarantee I’ll be respectful if I do that, Poppy."

"I didn’t ask you to be respectful," I admit as his eyes darken. "I asked you to take me home."

Nothing else needs to be said. He grabs my hand to lead us out of the bar and hails a cab. Within minutes, we’re on our way to his place. This is so fucking irresponsible. I don't even know where he lives, and he could end up being some kind of crazed killer.

I let out a choked laugh, making him glance at me with concern.

"You okay?"

"Could be better," I tease as his hand rests on my thigh.

"How is that?" he asks like he doesn't already know.

"I think you know."

"I aim to please, cupid, but you’ll have to use your words."

"Yeah? If you need me to give instructions, I think you'll find I have no issue with that."

"What do you want me to do, Poppy?"

"Kiss me, bagel boy," I breathe out, unsure why, but I want his lips on mine more than anything.

"Yes, ma'am," he replies as he leans forward to press his soft lips against mine.

I'm filled with the familiar feeling of lust as I part my lips and allow him to deepen the kiss. Electricity rushes through my body, igniting my limbs and taking my breath away. When he pulls back, I’m disappointed as I stare at him with wonder.

"We're almost there. Just a few minutes," he reassures me with a gentle squeeze on my thigh.

We spend the next few minutes in silence while the sounds from my thumping heart drown out the racing thoughts in my mind. What the fuck am I doing? Am I really going to sleep with him? The fact that I want to this badly makes me consider calling the whole thing off.

The cab finally stops, and Corbin opens the door. I waste no time placing my hand in his as he leads us up the stoop and buzzes us into his apartment building.

My usual self would be cataloging everything I see to make sure I have as much information as possible, but I'm blinded by whatever tension has built between us. I don't look around or care to see what number he presses on the elevator. When the elevator door closes, he's on me. His hands land on my hips, and he pushes me against the wall as his mouth lands on mine. I throw my arms over his shoulders, pulling him in before sliding my fingers through his brown hair. It’s the perfect length to tug on.

He groans in my mouth, and it's enough for me to leave all of my previous doubts behind. That one sound shoots straight to my core, and I want to force him to make it again.

The elevator dings and we briefly separate as he leads me to his apartment. It's a short walk to the corner apartment, which makes me thankful. Maybe whoever lives next door won't hear us.

We step inside, and I expect to see the typical bachelor pad, but this place is the exact opposite. It's warm, inviting, and much bigger than I expected for a single man living in the city.

Directly in the entryway, there’s a door to the right and a door to the left. As I kick my boots off to place them on a small shelf, he explains one is a closet, and the other is a bathroom. We step forward, and to our right is the kitchen with the main space directly in front of us. Between the kitchen and living room, there’s a small hallway, which I would assume leads to a bedroom.

"Let me make you a drink. Gin and tonic, right?" he asks.

"Sure, but only if you have decent liquor," I tease.

I take it upon myself to walk around. There’s a barn door on the opposite side of the living room. I slide it open, shocked to find it’s a decent-sized bedroom. The deep brown color of the sheets matches the comforter and the decor on the walls. Inside is another door propped open, revealing the tiled floor of a second bathroom.

A two-bedroom apartment in New York City. This is the nail in the coffin I've been looking for, so I make my way out of the bedroom. There’s no way a single man would have a home like this. There are even real plants in the corner of the living room by a small loveseat. Yeah, he’s not single. As he walks toward me, I turn to face him and cross my arms over my chest.

"How long have you been married?"

His face contorts. "I'm not married."

"This is not the apartment of a single man who lives in New York City." I narrow my gaze.

"It is, actually. And I paid someone good money to make it look like this, thank you very much."

He paid someone to decorate? I guess that makes sense. Unfortunately, this means I still have no reason to kill him.

"Here, let's go sit. We don't have to do anything you don't want to."

"Are there drugs in this?" I blurt out before even thinking. Blame my father for the overactive thoughts.

"No, and I'll prove it to you." He grabs the drink and takes a big gulp before handing it back.

I eye him for a moment before deciding he isn't trying to roofie me and finally take a sip.

"You don't trust people, do you?" he asks.

"No," I admit before chugging the rest of the drink.

His eyes go wide as I stand, walk over to grab his whiskey, and down that one, too. I cross the apartment, placing the empty glasses on the kitchen counter before marching back to where he's seated and sliding onto his lap.

"No more games," I say, feeling his hard length pressing up against my center. His hands wrap around me, slipping under my dress to grab my ass.

"As you wish." He goes to lean in, but I put my palm on his chest, stopping him.

"This is only going to happen one way. I call the shots, and you do as you're told. If you have an issue with that, I'm afraid it will be better if I leave." I wait for him to tell me there's no way he's giving me control. Men never willingly give away control.

"Cupid, if you told me to lick the floor and beg for you, I would." He grins. "I don't know what it is about you, but I crave you. It sounds insane since we just met, but if doing what I'm told is what it takes to have you, it's a small price."

"Good boy," I say as I grab his shirt and pull his lips to mine. Licking the floor might be a bit extreme, but the idea of making him beg makes my body covet exactly that.