"Thanks for getting us so close to the door. How did you know that was going to happen?"

I feel a weight grow at the bottom of my stomach. It's heavy and awkward, and feels like I have a fifty pound dumbbell sitting there. I need to get away from these girls, get them away from Selene. I don't want to scare her away, or worse, give her any reason to leave me and go home with Noah.

"I didn't. Just a stroke of good luck I guess."

I turn my attention back to Selene. Hoping June and Janice take my not so subtle hint. Selene's sneering at me. I'm sure it has to do with the twins. Just one more reason for her to hate me.

"Ouch."

I'm flooded with relief, and I hate how good that makes me feel. That look isn't for me, it isn't because I disgust her. Selene's rubbing her head, and her face is pained. I want to take her in my arms and make it better, but I don't know if she'll let me.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. My head, it just hurts."

I lean in to her and use my hand to replace hers in gently rubbing the tender spot. She moans, and I can't tell if it's a moan of pleasure or pain. I wrap her in my arms as I continue stroking the sore area on her head.

"Is that okay?"

Selene's still as a statue. Fear slices through me, until she relaxes in my arms and rests her head against my chest. Once I know she's allowing me to comfort her I can breathe again. Without any thought or realization that I'm doing it, I kiss the top of her head, like I've done it before; like she wants me to do it. And damn it, I think she does.

"Cooper?" Hearing my name, I don't release my hold on her, but pull back enough to look in her eyes. "You smell really good. I know it's weird, but I wondered about how you smell close up, and if it's half as good as you look. And you know what?"

"What?"

"You smell every bit as good as you look."

I squeeze my arms around her tighter and laugh. It's absolutely ridiculous, but it doesn't matter. The key is she wondered about me. She thought about me, and right now, at this moment, my world is right on track.

"Give me a fucking break."

It's Noah. He found us.

"You okay?" I ask.

"I was until now." His eyes drop to Selene in my arms and he shakes his head. "For the record, I saw her first."

"No way, man. I called dibs a couple of weeks ago."

"Dibs?" She asks, but doesn't pull away. "What is this kindergarten that you called dibs? Am I a cupcake or something? The one that calls dibs gets it?"

I smile down at her and laugh. That's exactly what she is, a sweet treat that I plan to lick, taste and devour.

"You're full of shit." Noah challenges, but Selene doesn't make a move to leave my arms. "I never saw her here before."

I'm staring down into her eyes and she's looking into mine. Even if she doesn't say it, the fact that she's not pushing away and making a move to get out of my arms is all the proof I need to know she wants me and not him. My chest swells with a feeling I'm not familiar with, but it's nice. A little unsettling, but nice.

"Not here, man. But trust me, I saw her first." I glance over to the side, knowing exactly how I plan to make this up to him. "June, Janice," I call out to the twins with their backs turned a few feet from us.

June comes over, arms crossed in front of her chest, attitude written all over her deliberate walk and pissed off sneer. Janice on the other hand stays where she is and shoots her death glare at me.

"Noah, I'd like to introduce you to my very beautiful friend, June."

Noah's face lights up and he flashes his dimples at her. It takes half a second for her demeanor to soften. He uses those dumb holes in his face as if they're the secret to world peace. Fucking prick, all he has to do to seal the deal with the ladies is smile. Right now I don't care. It's all irrelevant, because I have the grand prize in my arms.

"And standing over there," I nudge my head in Janice's direction. "Is her twin sister, Janice. As in identical twins."

"No fucking way."

"Yep. Jan's the dinosaur though," June teases as they walk away. "She's two minutes older than me."

Sirens sound in the distance growing closer. I don't want to be anywhere in the vicinity when the cops arrive. I know I don't have anything to worry about, I wasn't involved, but I'm finally getting somewhere with Selene, the last thing I want is to spend the next hour talking to the cops about a fight I had nothing to do with.

"What do you say? You ready to get out of here?"

She shrugs. Disappointment clouds her face.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. My head I guess. I'm not sure I want to be alone yet."

"Are you kidding me? I finally got my hands on you. I have no intention of letting you slip away."

"Cooper," she closes her eyes. "I don't want you at my place."

"Ouch." Bitch much?

"Don't. I like you. More than I should. But I don't trust you. At all. I see how quickly you turn it on and then the next minute . . . I don't want one night with you, no matter how good it might be, to ruin the one place that's mine. It's the one place I get to just be me."

"One night?" Is she fucking kidding me? One night doesn't come close to what I want with her. I already know one night isn't enough. I want a lot of one nights. An infinite number of one nights. I want her one night, every night until I satisfy the uncontrollable need to touch her, to kiss her. Doesn't she understand she's a physical need? A need I'm addicted to. Just thinking of her writhing beneath me has my cock standing tall.

"Fine. I didn't plan on going back to your place anyway."

"The last thing I want is to go spend the night in a hotel. I've had enough of that."

"No, baby. No hotel. You're coming to my place."

"I thought you don't entertain at your place."

"Nursing you back to health isn't entertaining." I kiss her forehead again. This time she pulls away, out of my arms, as if my lips were dangerous. Lethal. I wonder if I'm getting under her skin the way she's gotten under mine.

"You don't have to. I'll be okay."

"Oh, no, you don't." I grab her hands.

I want to yank her back hard against me, and show her who's in charge, but I'm not sure how hard she hit her head, and I don't want to make the pain worse. Instead I inch her back slowly, gently. This time as she stands in front of me, I bring my mouth close to her ear and move it across her collar bone breathing her in; so close to her skin that she can feel the heat of my mouth and imagine it on her; so close to her skin I can almost taste how sweet she is.

"I told you I'm not letting you go, so just relax and enjoy it."

"Enjoy what exactly?"

I pull back and pin her down with my stare. I'm looking at her with an intensity that's probably scaring the shit out of her. I know, because It's terrifying me.

"Enjoy me waiting on you hand and foot, as if you're the queen of the palace and I'm your humble servant. Enjoy watching me fulfill every order that passes those beautiful lips of yours because tonight your wish is my command. But once this night is over, then I'm back in charge.”

"Back in charge? When were you ever in charge?"

"Since the minute I rescued that fine ass of yours, and dragged you out here to safety."

"And if I refuse to go with you?"