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Not trusting myself to respond, because I’d either challenge him or beg him to show me what he’d do if I didn’t listen, I shot one final glare, then stomped around to the other side.

Whipping open the passenger door, I could’ve sworn I heard Theo growl?

After I hopped in and closed the door with a resounding and echoing click, I huffed, and crossed my arms across my chest. “Happy?”

Without a word, Theo reached over, his scent enveloping me, and I hated myself for the way I breathed him in.

I hated Theo, and this was just a physical response because of the conversation Nia and I had earlier.

His big hand gripped the seatbelt, pulled it across my body, and clicked in place.

Heat and electricity jumped between us, and he stared into my eyes for a brief second before answering, his breath feathering my cheek.

“Only partly,” he muttered as he righted himself and put the SUV in drive.

Did he seriously just buckle me the fuck in like a child? “I could’ve done that myself.”

“But you didn’t, did you?” His eyes found mine for the briefest of seconds, and I pursed my lips.

“That’s not the point, Theo.”

He smirked and turned right. The heat from the dashboard made my cheeks flush and my body felt too hot. “Isn’t it, little girl?”

“Stop calling me that!” My voice came out louder, breathy, and defiant all at once. I shifted, and picked at the fishnets covering my legs, and I didn’t miss the way his eyes darted down to my thighs. The hem of my skirt inched higher and I didn’t bother to adjust it.

Let him look. I hope his hard-on became painful and while I didn’t want to cause an accident, the gleeful thought of him not being able to get himself off made me picture all sorts of ways to torture him.

I was suddenly maniacally happy that neither of us could date or do other things with other people.

Maybe this was how I could exact my revenge.

Fitting, really, if I thought about it. He walked away from me, after I practically begged him to have sex with me.

And now, I could tease him to my heart’s delight and let him see how it feels.

I shifted again, the hem riding even higher, and stifled a grin when I heard him audibly swallow.

“Stop acting like one, and I will.”

“Stop being an overbearing asshole and I won’t have to,” I shot back.

“Indie,” he growled. Confirmation. That noise before? Definitely a growl. Seemed Theo growled when I pushed his buttons. Good to know.

“Theo.”

“Keep it up.”

I snorted, and picked at the black strands criss-crossing my upper thighs with purpose. “Or what?”

Growl. Achievement unlocked. Point, Indie.

“Or what, Theo? You’ll add another demand to your list?”

The muscle in his jaw ticked. Tell number two. I really had to get him to play poker with everything I’m learning. My winnings would finance BB&L for a year if he kept this up. “Don’t make me show you what I’ll do, Indie. Or what I’ll add.”

“Oh, please. You need me far more than I need you. If anything, I should be adding-”

“Indie.” His voice dropped, low and like I’d never heard it before.

And holy fuck, did I want to hear more. Bad, Indie , I chided myself, even as I fought to not shift and clench my thighs together to gain any kind of friction. Growly, grumpy Theo was doing his best to get over my hate issues. I opened my mouth, but he cut me off.

“Don’t push me. You may think you know me, but I have no problem taking you over my knee to get you to understand how far you can go, and where the line is.

And I guarantee, if you keep going, this won’t be a threat.

It’s a promise.” The veins on the top of his hands popped as he gripped the steering wheel even tighter. “Not another word until we get home.”

Point Theo. I was either too stunned, too turned on, or too pissed to come up with a retort.

Or maybe all three.

The rest of the ride to his house, Theo played a playlist on his phone, and refused to look at me.

Or at least only snuck a peek when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.

But I caught him checking me out, twice.

And fuck if I didn’t find my eyes wandering to his hands every few minutes or so.

The way he kept clenching and unclenching them every few seconds.

The steering wheel beneath his palms like a lifeline or maybe a way to keep himself occupied the entire ride home.

Soon enough, he reached up and pressed the garage door opener, and parked.

He called someone to pick up my car and have it towed to a local garage on the way in a low voice.

And told them it was for his girlfriend.

Before he climbed out, he reached over and clicked the release on my seatbelt and got out without another word.

Then, Theo walked into the house, closed the garage door, and did not say another word as I climbed out and silently followed. Fuming and slightly pissed off.

And entirely too horny.

I chalked it up to my solo streak. No way did I want the one person I hated. Not happening. He could just sit and simmer with his threats.

Promises.

Whatever.

One thing was for sure. If Theo thought I wasn’t the little girl who used to rise to any challenge, he was sorely mistaken.

And if he wanted to play games, I’d show him that I could give just as fucking well as he could.

Better, even. So much so that he’d be lurking and begging outside my door in no time. And I wouldn’t let him in. Or maybe I would, but no touching. Only watching me, as I did everything possible to drive him crazy, Then make him leave, and shut the door in his arrogant face.

Later that night, I ensured my favorite toy was charged and ready to make my legs shake, door left slightly ajar, and I made sure to come unabashedly and happily while still being quiet enough that he’d have to lean in closer when I saw a Theo sized shadow lurking in the hallway. Again.

Point, Indie.