Without warning, his hand shot out and fingers closed around her wrist as he yanked her hard against him.
Her breath caught.
His mouth smashed onto hers, hot and hungry, his tongue sliding past her lips in a deep, claiming kiss that stole all thought from her mind. Tendrils of pleasure shot through her, curling around her nerves. For a heartbeat she gave in, letting herself revel in the feel and intensity of the kiss, then anger flared. And she bit him. Hard. The copper taste of his blood rested on her tongue.
“Fuck!” he snarled, jerking back. Bright, feral fury flashed in his eyes, then it twisted into something dark and amused. A small, dangerous smile curved his lips. “So, you wanna play rough,” he said.
Before she could think, he grabbed her again, harder this time, his arms locking around her, pinning her against the solid wall of his chest. His breath was hot against her cheek a second before his mouth claimed hers again, deeper, hungrier, more demanding.
She should’ve kneed him in the groin, or at least, pushed him away. But she didn’t do anything except lean in closer to him. His kiss devoured her, captured her with every caress, every nip, every thrust, and it stole the ground from under her, making her knees weaken until she grabbed the edge his shirt just to stayupright. Heat flood through her, and her body betrayed her in the most wicked way because she liked it too damn much.
Then, abruptly, he broke away.
He stepped back, breathing hard, a faint trace of blood on his lower lip.
Casey glared at him as her chest rose and fell. Anger zigzagged through her because he’d stopped, and angrier with herself because she hadn’t wanted him to.
Rags wiped his thumb across his lower lip, checking the smear of blood. “Do you always respond to a man like that?” His gaze was dark and defiant.
Casey folded her arms across her chest. “Only the ones who ghost me for two weeks, then drag me into a storeroom like I’m some convenience.”
His forehead furrowed. “You really think that?”
“That’s what it feels like.”
He stepped closer until her back brushed against the metal shelves. “You bit me. Hard,” he said, voice low.
She lifted her chin. “You deserved it.”
A small chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Maybe.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “It was worth it, darlin’.”
A static charge jumped through her body. She hated the way he noticed it.
His smirk sharpened. “Is there something you wanna say to me, Casey?”
“No. I have to get back to work.”
“You’re pissed because you think I see you as any other chick, right?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah, babe, it does. If it didn’t you wouldn’t be pissed.” He reached out and skimmed his fingers over her cheek. “And I don’t see you that way.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” she mumbled.
“I had a lot on my mind with work and club business. It doesn’t mean I didn’t think about you. Why do you think I stopped by?”
“Boredom?” she snapped.
“No,” he said, drawing her into his arms. “Because I wanted to see you, to talk with you.”
She fought the instinct to rest her head against his shoulder. She stiffened, then softly pushed away. “Well, we talked, so have a good life.”
“Come on, Case, don’t be that way.”
The nickname startled her as a deep warmth engulfed her.
“I actually came by to ask if you want to go out to dinner tonight.”