Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

The text comes back to me. Soon, little one.

What does that mean? He texted it before. Does it mean he’s going to escalate? Is he going to contact me more directly?

My gaze lifts to Blake. His green eyes meet mine. While the others talk logistics about restaurants and how to get everyone there, I fall into his eyes and forget about the stalker for a moment.

I miss Blake. So fucking much. I don’t know what will fix this broken trust. He’s just as fiercely protective as he’s always been. But now regret lingers in his eyes.

“Eat, tiger. You’ll need your strength if we’re going to train tonight.” He gestures to the plate of food in front of me.

“Self-defense?” Noah looks between the two of us.

“Yes. Do you want to come down and help?” I hope my face doesn’t look too desperate. I don’t want to be alone with Blake. Not yet. My body doesn’t know why we’re mad at him or why he upset us. It just wants to fall into his arms and let him take away the bad.

To submit to him. To love him. To trust him.

But he doesn’t trust me. He put me in the same category as those other women who played games. I have enough to worry about. I’m not ready to deal with this.

“Of course, kitten.” Noah takes my hand on the table. I give him a warm smile.

When I glance at Blake, disappointment flashes in his eyes before it’s gone.

After eating some dinner, I slip into my room to change into something more suitable for working out. I don’t think anything of it when Coop comes in and sits on the bench in my closet while I pick through the clothes. It shouldn’t matter what I wear, but somehow it does.

Maybe Seth’s meticulous dressing of me every day is rubbing off on me. Maybe I just need armor to help me not want to submit to Blake.

“I’m sorry.” Coop’s words reverberate through the small room. I pause and my heart thumps. What did he do?

I set the clothes down and turn to face Coop. “For what?”

“For being irresponsible.” His blue eyes lift to mine. “For taking advantage of having you on my arm that night. For being selfish and thinking that no one could touch us there. That somehow we would be immune.”

His gaze drops to his hands in his lap. His loose dark hair falls in a curtain around his face. My heartbeat quickens. This is easy.

Drawing in a breath, I unzip my skirt, letting it slip to the floor before I cross to Coop. My skirt would prevent me from being close to him and I need to change, anyway. His eyes darken when he glances at my panties. I straddle his lap and cup his face with my palms. Our eyes lock.

The torment in his makes me lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips.

“You were only trying to help me, Coop.” I brush my thumb along his jaw.

His hands cup my hips and draw me in closer. His head lowers to rest against my heart. “I love fucking you, but I shouldn’t have done it out in the open while you have a stalker.”

“You were helping me cope.” I run my fingers through his hair and draw in a breath. “This wouldn’t be happening?—‍”

“Yes, it would.” He lifts his head to meet my gaze again. His hands cup my face as he searches my eyes. “I’m not like the others. I’m not anonymous, especially at an event like that.”

My brow furrows. I haven’t been out with the guys much. The benefit was all about being seen.

“Everything I’ve done since I was born has been under harsh scrutiny. I didn’t grow up unaware of what people think of me. I’m a Graham. Everyone I’ve ever come into contact with knows who I am. Maybe not at first, but they learn.”

He presses his forehead against mine, and I wrap my hands around the back of his neck. I want to protect him the way these guys protect me.

“People use me. For wealth, for fame, for infamy. I don’t give a fuck anymore about that shit, but I should have thought about you. I should have protected you.”

“You do protect me. When things went wrong, you also reassured me. You didn’t force me to do anything I didn’t want to do. I knew the risks, but I didn’t think about the stalker either.” Breathing in his crisp scent, I blow out my breath. “I love you, and I love the way you love me.”

“Even if we end up getting caught every time?” His finger trails along my jaw, making me conscious of the physical intimacy of our position.

“Maybe we can try a little harder to be discreet?” Lifting my head, I search his eyes. “I’m not sorry about what we did. I’m freaked out about the stalker, but I wouldn’t have let you take things that far if I didn’t want to.”