Page 14 of Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers

He reaches out a hand, grabbing my thigh from under the table, just above my knee, as he leans in and whispers, “Tell me why you’re really here, Maeren. I’m a patient man, but it only extends so far.”

Did he just… threaten me?

His eyes are hard and I can’t look away.

I feel like prey caught in a trap and I could admit that while I did come to make a sale, I also came because I secretly wanted to see him.

But, not wanting to show my hand, I instead say, “I came to make a sale. Now, if we are done here, I’d like to get on with my day. ” Do not relent.

Xander firmly squeezes my leg now and runs his tongue along his bottom lip, refusing to break eye contact with me. “I beg to differ.”

“I don’t know what else you want me to say.

This is about a home sale and nothing more.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be leaving.

Go ahead and remove your hand from my leg, please.

” My voice has taken on a hard edge—I’m not dealing with his shit.

Xander surprisingly lets go of me as I ask, placing both arms in front of him on the table, hands grasped tightly together.

“As you wish,” is all he says. I grab my bag and stand up, but as I turn to walk away, Xander’s next words stop me in my tracks. “Guess I’ll be canceling the home sale now.”

My frame turns rigid as his words hit me like a blow. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He’s gotta be bluffing, right? I whip around and cross the few steps back over to him, bending forward to get level with his face. “What do you mean , canceling ?” I seethe, pressing my palms flat to the table.

“I don’t need nor want the house anymore. I’m canceling any forward movement. Is that a problem, Maeren ?” he questions me, his words smug and making me feel like a cornered animal.

“Why? Why make me come here and waste my time if you had no real intention of being serious? I went out of my way for you for nothing ?” I’m trying so hard to keep my words from becoming too sharp, but the barbs are sharpening themselves each time he opens his mouth.

“I asked for the truth, Maeren. You only gave me part of it. Didn’t I tell you how much I hate liars? You must not need this sale as much as I thought. Pity.” His smirk sends my blood far past boiling.

My mouth opens and closes like a fish—I’m totally speechless. He’s doing this to be… petty? Seriously? “If I tell you what you want to hear, will you complete the sale? Because this bullshit you’re pulling is ridiculous.” So much for my professionalism.

“Yes, I will, but only if your answer is convincing,” he smiles, and underneath his wickedly deceptive charm lies the gaze of a predator.

I’m so beyond stuck. The need for this commission is greater than the need for winning this pointless battle so I rush my confession out in shame. “I wanted to close the sale. And… I wanted to see you again.” I swallow.

The corner of his mouth turns up and something dark flickers across his eyes.

“Hmm.” His head cocks at me as if he’s searching my face for any sign of deceit.

“And why did you want to see me again, Maeren? The truth immediately this time, unless you want to keep running in circles,” he says in a voice that is now just above a whisper and even more menacing.

“I don’t know .” Well, I might know, but he doesn’t need the full truth when I’m not even ready to admit it to myself.

“Why do you even care?” I’m beyond annoyed now, bordering on absolutely livid.

He needs to drop it. I feel like a kid caught stealing candy, a flush creeping up my neck with my embarrassment.

“You don’t know? Interesting.”

I’m afraid to give him the honesty he wants, but I have a lot to lose if I don’t give him exactly what he’s asking for.

I swallow my pride and retorts and offer up the truth.

“Everything inside me screams at me to run in the opposite direction of you, but I can’t.

I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the first night we met,” I confess, the flush now across my face, giving away how nervous I truly am.

I thought if I just told him I wanted to see him again that it would be enough. I should have known better.

Our faces are still level with each other and his eyes light up. He practically growls out his next words. “Good. Because I can’t get you out of my fucking head either and it’s maddening. Do you know what that kind of obsession does to a man, Maeren?”

“No.” It comes out as a breathy whisper, the oxygen sucked out of my lungs. This is… not where I thought it was going, and I’m trying my best to not act too intimidated.

“You don’t want to know the thoughts I’ve been thinking. The voice telling you to run is right, and if you’re smart, that’s exactly what you’ll do. But I can promise that I’ll catch you regardless.”

His words sink in, igniting my fight or flight response, but I don’t want to do either.

I want him . I hardly know him, but the pounding of my heart and the pulsing between my legs is undeniable.

This could end very badly for me, but I don’t think he would hurt me or he already would have.

There have been plenty of opportunities.

He wants me. No one has ever wanted me like this before and my next words leave my lips before I can stop them. “Maybe I want to be caught.” A stroke of boldness has struck me and I’m impressed with myself.

His nostrils flare as lust fills his eyes. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

“No? Why don’t you show me?” I try not to shake as I hoist my purse back onto my shoulder and straighten myself to leave, hoping he’ll follow.

What the hell am I doing? The echo of footsteps sounds behind me as I’m followed out.

It’s just what I wanted, but I’m not bold enough to act first. As I fish my keys out of my bag he grabs my arm and spins me around, pinning me to the door of my car with his body, caging me in with his arms.

I look up into his gray eyes, breathing hard and waiting for his next move.

I don’t feel in control of my actions. It’s as if I’m outside of my own body because the me I know would never do this.

I’d certainly never speak my darkest desires out loud.

I’d never stand up to anyone like I stood up to Xander, either.

But here I am, pressed up against my car in a public parking lot by a man I barely know, one who’s making my breathing rapid and shallow.

Xander grabs my neck with his hand, looking down into my eyes, his gaze flicking to my mouth before he leans in and seals my lips in a kiss.

For a second my mind goes blank as it tries to rationalize what’s happening.

All of my senses feel jumbled until the tingle of the hand on my throat and the warmth of another mouth on mine brings me out of my haze.

Xander tastes like mint and everything I could ever want, his kiss just as harsh as his demeanor.

He presses his body tightly to mine and licks the seam of my mouth with his tongue, asking for entrance.

My lips open up for him and he delves in, tongue swirling against mine.

Every inch of my body is on fire and I drop my bag to the ground, grabbing the sides of his jacket with my hands, desperate to feel him against me. His erection presses against my waist, his need to be closer matching my own. My heart races at the thought of what it would feel like in my hand.

Before I can get too swept away in my fantasies, he tears his mouth from mine, breathing heavily now, his chest heaving.

His eyes are wild and erratic as I try to steady myself, but it’s difficult with his hand still at my throat.

My need for him is extreme and I’m aching to be touched in places I’ve mostly forgotten.

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone so badly, needed anyone so badly.

“That’s just a little taste, Wildflower. You still have no idea what kind of man I am, and I don’t think you’re ready for it. So, get in your car, and fucking drive,” he warns as he releases my neck. His jaw ticks and his eyes are hooded with lust.

At a loss for words I do as he says, dropping back into reality when a cold breeze cuts through me, making the loss of his body heat far too evident. I pick up my bag and get into my car, driving away as he stands there, still watching me until I can no longer see him.

He called me Wildflower.