Page 52 of The Naughty List

There’s nothing I wouldn’t let him to do me. I want him to doeverythingto me.

“Eat, Hollis,” he says softly. “You’ll need your energy later.”

Electrical currents dance across my skin, meeting between my thighs.

There will be a later. I could do a victory dance, but it might make him change his mind.

I’ve just managed to swallow a few bites of fruit when his cell phone rings. Jonah seeks it out, finding it and making a strange face before answering.

“Hey, Miss Nancy,” he greets his caller. “Everything okay?”

Miss Nancy was the sweetest lady. I’d enjoyed meeting her last night. Just knowing people like her her existed in the world made me happy.

But Jonah is not happy.

Whatever she’s saying, his frown is deepening and a darkness is settling over him. Thunderous clouds roll over his murderous expression.

I push my food aside and stand. “Jonah?”

“Yeah, thanks for letting me know. And I’m sorry. I promise, I’ll take care of it.”

He hangs up and there is visceral anger rolling off him.

“What’s wrong?”

His jaw clenches, causing the muscle by his temple to twitch.

“Who did you tell about last night, Hollis?”

“About us? No one. I haven’t even talked to—”

“About the group home. About the presents,” he breaks in. “About my work there and me growing up there.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t…”

Addi. I texted Addi.

I nearly collapse under the weight of his glare.

“I texted Addi on my way here last night. Just to, um, check in. I don’t think I said much about the group home, just that I’d helped you out and—”

“Addi,” he sneers. “As in Addi who told your brother about the boutique you took me to for your little ‘meeting.’ As in Addi, who obviously can’t hold water. That’s just fucking great, Hollis.”

His words are harsh but it’s the tone striking me in the chest. Direct hit.

The closeness our sexual encounter brought us, the easy laughter and playfulness is gone, replaced by a raw vulnerability I do not care for.

Note to self, sleeping with someone gives them the power to grip your heart in their hands and destroy it.

This is the other reason I waited so long to let someone in this way. To bare my body and soul to another human being. It makes you vulnerable. My raw exposed nerves feel as if they’re being severed with a rusty blade.

“A reporter was already there this morning,” Jonah informs me. “Sniffing around, asking questions about me, how much I donate and why.” He shakes his head. “I try to protect them. I try so hard to keep them from the bullshit associated with me.”

“Jonah, I am so sorry. Tell me what I can do.”

Besides kill Addi, which I am definitely going to do. I don’t know who she would’ve told but it’s true, she doesn’t keep secrets so well and she does seem to know everyone in the tri-state area.

“Just go, Hollis. I’m going to call the reporter and do what damage control I can. Probably just bribe him to keep his damn mouth shut.”