Page 17 of Deceptive Games

“I’ll look after her,” I promised with a dark chuckle, popping a grape into my mouth. “If anyone even looks at her funny, I’ll shoot them. Happy?”

“Definitely not,” she muttered, turning to Caden. “Hurry up and get to school, you’re going to be late.”

“You’re just going to let—” Caden started, but Josie cut him off.

“You have no reason to stay home. Unless you want to end up in the gang life with Skeeter, you need to make something of yourself. No offense, Skeeter,” she quickly added, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“The only offense I feel is that you think I’d let your son in my crew. His privileged, entitled ass wouldn’t make the cut. We don’t take in rich boys who throw tantrums.” I tilted my head at Caden, his eyes narrowing at me. “You heard your mom. Go to school. I’ve got my girl.”

Anger flashed across his face just like I’d hoped, and I swore the little shit was going to actually take a swing at me.

The more he wanted Rory, the more I’d make it obvious that he couldn’t fucking have her.

Rory gave me a knowing glance, giving me a quick kiss.

“Stop picking fights. We need to go and get dressed so we can leave.”

“I’ll be up in a second,” I replied as she stood and I swatted her ass, earning a look of disapproval from her as she rinsed her empty coffee cup in the sink.

Once she’d walked up the stairs to her bedroom, Caden scowled at me. “What game are you playing with her? You’re obsessed with her one day, then making her cry the next. Now she’syours? Over my dead body, asshole.”

I finished my coffee and thanked the staff that quickly took my empty cup, then I gave Caden a flat look. “That can be arranged, Holloway. You think she’d choose you over me? Let’s stand side by side and see who she runs to.”

“Boys, stop it,” Josie scolded, pointing at Caden. “Go, I mean it. And you.” She faced me, her voice tight as if it took a lot to say. “If anything happens to Rory while she’s with you, you’ll be sorry.”

“Damn, Josie. No wonder you’re single. You’re way too much woman for a man to boss around. You’d threaten their manhood,” I joked, getting to my feet. “Aurora’s safe with me. She needs to purge some of her emotions, so I’m taking her to workout with some of the girls that she’s become friends with. I won’t take her to a shoot-out or anything.”

She relaxed her shoulders, seeming curious. “She’s made some friends?”

“I know she’s a little prickly, but it’s not impossible.”

“I’m not surprised that she’s making friends, I’m relieved,” she said dryly, giving Caden an impatient look. “Are you leaving?”

He scowled but stomped off like a good boy, and I rolled my eyes as his car sounded outside before he sped off. No wonder Rory preferred me, I wasn’t a fucking child.

Josie’s phone rang and she excused herself to take it, leaving me to wander back upstairs to get dressed.

Rory was in the bathroom tying her hair up into a ponytail, and my fingers itched to wrap it around my fist. She might not be as tough as she made out to be, but I got a kick out of how she let me do what I wanted to her.

She craved my violence, and I craved her pain.

“What?” she asked when she noticed me staring at her, her eyes dropping to my bare chest. “I’m not complaining, but youreally need to get dressed. I’ll be swatting bitches away from you all day.”

“You’re going to mark me like I’m your territory or something, baby girl?” I asked in a low voice, and she gave me a dark grin in return.

“They’ll know when they get too close, don’t worry.”

I should’ve told her she didn’t own me, that I could fuck anyone else if I pleased, but the words wouldn’t come out of my mouth. Her possessive side gave me a thrill, and I stepped closer to grab the back of her shorts, yanking them down.

“Bend over,” I ordered, wrapping my fist around her hair when she didn’t do as she was told. “Aurora?—”

“We can’t. Josie’s home and?—”

“Better hurry up then so we can be finished and on our way,” I said as I pushed her forward, her hands scrambling to grab hold of the sink to stop her face from hitting it. As much as I loved hearing her screams, I really didn’t want Josie ruining this, so I shoved a hand over Rory’s mouth as I kicked my boxers off. “Good. Now don’t move. This will be hard and fast.”

CHAPTER FOUR

RORY