Lured (Team Zero #1) by Rina Kent

“It does matter.” He hisses and some patrons throw a curious look our way.

I give them an awkward smile then scowl at him. “Go. You draw attention.”

“No.”

“Dominic. Just go.”

“I will go on one condition.” He offers me that full-of-shit, devilish grin. “Meet me tonight.”

“No.” It’s weaker than I intended.

“Why not?” He continues smirking in that infuriatingly, delicious way. He has a tiny dimple on his right cheek. Of course, the devil also has a dimple.

“Are you a coward, Camille?”

He’s baiting me. I know he is. But that doesn’t mean I don’t fall for it. I need to research how to refuse him when all I want is to offer myself as a sacrifice at his altar.

“What’s the matter?” He leans even closer so I’m breathing his head-turning scent. “Are you afraid of temptation?”

“Stop.”

“You stop.” It’s his persuasive tone. The sociopathic one. Why the hell does it ring so true? “I understand you, Camille. I can sense that darkness in you. It’s in me, too. Let me bring you out. Stop hiding and playing by societal standards.”

“Don’t you play by societal standards?”

“Only for my endgame. But this,” he motions at the space between us, “is real. You feel it. I feel it. Stop fucking fighting it.”

There’s a hint of irritation at the end, and it grates at me.

“I can’t.”

“You can. You’re just too afraid to take a step forward.”

“I’m not afraid. Leave.” I place a hand on his bicep and push him, but he might as well be steel. I try not to imagine him naked. It’s so hard considering that I’ve been fantasising about it all night and morning.

“Not until you agree to meet me tonight.”

“You don’t take no for an answer, do you?”

“Not when I’m sure I can change your mind.” His finger reaches for my bottom lip and I pull back. Samir will fire my ass for this.

“Stop it.” I hiss. “I have a shift tonight.”

“Take a night off,” he says with such casualty as if the world is administered by a snap of his fingers.

“We’re short-staffed. I can’t.” And I mean that. Nancy took the night off and I’m only here with William – another part-time – and the Barista. I wouldn’t bail out on Samir during a busy night after all what he and his family have done for me.

Dominic is silent for a bit as if measuring his options. “Meet me afterwards, then.”

That will be around ten thirty. Late. As in spending the night with him, late. I can’t use the excuse of a shift to escape this time. A throb starts between my thighs at the thought.

Whoa there, hormones, take it easy.

“I will think about it,” I say nonchalantly.

Dominic’s dark brown eyes rake over me. I’m wearing a simple strapless summer dress underneath the apron, but I don’t think he can see it. It’s like he’s trying to picture me naked, too.

“You won’t think about it. You will come, Cam.”

I swallow, taking ‘come’ in an entirely different context. Damn Dominic. Why does everything sound naughty out of his mouth and in that sinful British accent?

He reaches into his jacket and retrieves a black card. There’s nothing on it except for an address engraved in an elegant, golden font. “Meet me here.”

“Where is this?”

He winks. “You will find out when you arrive.”

Bastard. He’s baiting me again. Did he already figure out that curiosity is my weakness? There’s this need to dissect him up close and see what lurks behind the mask he’s always wearing.

He reaches underneath the counter and squeezes my still-sore ass. I gasp then stifle the sound with the back of my hand. My eyes stray around, searching to see if anyone noticed.

“Don’t be late or I will punish you.” His breath fans my ear. “You know I love punishing you, baby girl.”

Dominic winks again before he strides out of the door with complete and utter confidence.

I’m left slouched in my seat with heated cheeks, a sore bottom, and a pulsing ache between my legs.

An adventure, my ass. This is like being thrown in the eye of a hurricane.

There’s no way out.

I don’t want a way out.

“What did Dominic want?”

I startle at Samir’s voice. It takes me a second to hide the card in the pocket of my apron and face my boss. I really hope he didn’t see Dominic pinching my ass.

“Uh… nothing. Just asking about.”

“About what?” Samir has a scowl on his face, his arms crossed. “He never comes over on the weekends.”

Right. He doesn’t. Does that mean he came here just for me?

“Maybe it was on his way?” I feign ignorance.

“Be careful with that one, kid.” Samir’s Middle Eastern features creak with concern, and it forms dread at the bottom of my stomach. Samir might act like a tough boss, but he’s always been a light-hearted man. It’s the first time I see him this concerned.

“What do you mean?”

A deep sigh escapes him as he uncrosses his arms. “I’ve known Dominic since his early twenties. He’s not a bad man per se. He’s just wired wrong.”