Free Inked: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance by Lauren Landish, Willow Winters Page A

swear, though inwardly I’m trembling at the prospect of having one night with Zane.
    We reach the doorstep of my condo and I stop to stare at him. “Well?” I ask. I just need to get my bag. Have some wine and study. I need to focus.
    He knows exactly what I mean, but he plays coy. “Well, what?”
    I hold out my hand. “Give me my bag back so I can go inside,” I order flatly.
    Grinning, he keeps my bag out of reach. “What’s the magic word?”
    “Now!” I growl.
    “Eeenh. Wrong.”
    I place my hands on my hips and give him the most murderous scowl I can manage. “I’m not saying it, so you can either give me my bag back, or you can get the hell out of my way.”
    He studies me, and I have the distinct feeling that he's loving my sass, judging by that cocky grin on his face. “You’re a stubborn little peach, aren’t ya?” he remarks, his eyes twinkling.
    I continue to scowl at him. “Will you stop calling me that? It’s friggin' annoying.”
    “You know you love it.”
    I hate to admit it, but his little nickname is growing on me. I’ll be damned if I let him know that though.
    “In your dreams.”
    “Indeed.” He lets out a mock sigh when I remain unmoved. “Alright peaches, being the nice guy that I am, and even after how rude you’ve treated me, I’ll let you slide with no apology--”
    “Good--” I say, interrupting before he can finish. I try to snatch my bag out of his hands, but he evades me easily and says, “If you go on a date with me.”
    My jaw drops like a bridge during a siege. Zane just isn’t going to take no for an answer. “Are you serious?” I should be flattered, but instead I’m shocked. And maybe a little scared. How long is he going to keep pursuing me? If he just wants another notch on his headboard, he could easily find someone else.
    He nods. “I’ll take you somewhere nice and show you I’m not the bad guy you think I am.”
    “No,” I say after a moment. “I don’t want to go on a date with you. Not now. Not ever.”
    Zane is shocked by my refusal, though he tries to hide it, and he stares at me for the longest time before finally saying, “As you wish.” He comes forward and gently places my bag in my hand.
    I snarl, “Thank you. Now have a nice day.” I move to walk past him, when suddenly he grabs me and pushes me up against the front door.
    “I didn’t say that you could go in yet,” he growls, his breath hot on my neck. Apparently he’s not as shocked as he looked by my rejection. I’m doing a shit job at hiding how much he turns me on.
    Why do I keep winding up in the same position? I wonder. Once again, I’m sandwiched between Zane’s hard body and a hard place. And once again, I’m turned on to the max.
    Oh fuck, I can feel his erection digging into my side. Shit, shit. My pussy clenches. A primal side of me wants him to take me like this and fuck me against the door for being so rude to him. I bite my lip and feel my core heat for him.
    His lips are so close to mine and I want nothing more than to kiss them, suck on them. Devour them. Down below, my pussy clenches again with longing. I’d let him punish me with that thick cock of his. This is bad. Why does he keep doing this to me?
    Zane stares into my eyes, and I’m suddenly lost in his. All I can think to myself is, Why am I resisting this man? Just give in. Let him take me. All of me .
    Yes!
    By now I’m hyperventilating, burning up with desire. I feel like all my defenses are crumbling, like I’m a few moments away from being totally his. And I want it. I want him.
    Zane knows this too and he gives me an arrogant grin. He moves in close, bringing his lips close to my neck. I can feel his hot breath on it and it’s driving me wild, making my limbs shudder with anticipation.
    Take me , I groan inwardly. Take me right here. Right now.
    Zane trails his lips up my neck, grazing my flesh, all the way to mine. This is it. This is the moment he kisses me and I give in to him.
    Ready