Free Sweet Seduction by Nikki Winter Page A

it.” Archer teased.
    Felix just flipped him the bird over his shoulder but kept cleaning.
    “Dude, you got it bad.”
    “Shut. Up.”
    “I’ve never seen you like this over some chick.”
    Felix swung around, one arm snapping out to point at his best friend. “Paige is not just some chick and if I ever hear those words come outta your mouth again I’m shoving both my boots so far up your ass that I’ll be tap dancing on your kidneys. Got me?”
    Archer didn’t respond, just smirked.
    Sudden realization dawned and Felix’s shoulders slumped. “She’s in the doorway isn’t she?”
    “She was, before she took off running about five seconds after your declaration of violence,” his best friend drawled with a wide grin.
    “Asshole.”
    Felix tossed the dish towel at Archer’s head and took off after Paige. Knowing her, she was gonna hop in her car and spit rocks getting home.
     

     
    She heard her name being called but she didn’t dare turn around. There was no way in hell she was going to face him after that. No, no, no. Hell no!
    Paige kept going as far as her sandal clad feet would carry her.
    “Paige would you please stop!”
    “No!”
    “Dammit Paige!”
    She could hear him sprint into a full run and she tried to go faster but her foot hit a slab of uneven pavement and she was going down before she knew it. She put her hands out, waiting for an impact that never came.
    That’s when she heard his chuckle and felt it rumble through his chest as his strong arms caught her just a few seconds away from breaking something important.
    “You can open your eyes, sweetheart. I got you.”
    She did, very slowly and felt herself being righted until her feet were firmly back on the ground. Looking up at Felix, she stepped back a few feet. “Thanks.”
    “What’re you doing out here, you almost ruined your pretty face.” One big hand came up to fix her glasses but she slapped it away and moved back.
    Felix frowned. “Wanna tell me where you were going?”
    “Home.”
    “Why?”
    “Because...because...”
    “Waiting here, sweetheart.”
    “Because of that!” Paige threw up her hands.
    Felix frowned even harder. “Because I call you sweetheart?”
    “Yes and baby, and that weird Latin nickname and every other endearment you can. Cut it out would you?”
    His head cocked to the side. “You’re angry.”
    Her face grew hot. “No, I’m not.”
    Stepping closer, he pressed his index finger to her forehead, smoothing the wrinkles. “Yes, you are. Why? Because I call you sweet names?”
    “I...that...that’s not what makes me angry.”
    “Okay then, so what does exactly?”
    She rubbed her temples. “Going through the motions with you.”
    He frowned. “The motions?”
    “Yes,” Paige nodded. “The motions. This game of dancing around each other until we finally sleep together. It’s pointless.”
    “Who said all I wanted to do is sleep with you and why do you think it’s pointless? The motions, I mean.”
    She let out a frustrated little growl. “I know it’s pointless because I don’t want you .” She was lying and she knew it. Paige wanted him so bad that it scared the shit out of her. She’d seen what that kind of love could do to a person; make them slaves to their emotions, completely eradicate their identity, and all for what, to prove themselves in love? No, she’d watched her mother do it and she’d be damned if she would repeat the cycle with Felix.
    “Oh.” His brows lifted. “Oh.” A sly grin replaced the confusion on his face. “So you’re saying you’re not attracted to me?”
    Paige froze. Felix had an effect on her, making butterflies flutter around in her tummy whenever he got near, and a minute ago when he’d caught her… Shaking her head, she backed away. “No, I’m not.”
    He stepped closer. “I think you are.”
    “Well what you think and what is, are two different things.” Sighing, she tried a different approach. “Listen, you’re great Felix, you