Troping Through the Snow by Alexa Riley

“No?” He repeats the word, a smile pulling at his lips.

“Did I stutter?” He takes a step toward me, and I retreat a step. Damn it! I have to keep space between the two of us. It’s been working for the past few days. It’s been hard to avoid him, but I have to. Not only because I’m embarrassed, but my emotions are all over the place. Now he’s here, and I have to get him to leave.

“You didn’t stutter.” He kicks the door closed behind him. Oh crap. What’s happening here? “Now give me my shirt.” He holds his hand out.

“Are you serious right now?” I glare up at him, which is hard with him towering over me.

“Dead serious.”

“You know I’m a cop, right?”

“Don’t care,” he clips. The power dynamic has changed, and now I’m not sure I ever really had it.

“Clearly because you won’t even pay your tickets.”

“Fine, I'll write a check to the city.”

“That’s not the point,” I mutter.

“I’m starting to wonder what the point is.”

“The point, Jack-ass, is that…” I trail off. What is the point? He tilts his head to the side while waiting for me to finish. He’s not letting me off the hook. “The point is we don’t like each other and—”

“I never said I didn’t like you,” he cuts in, and I roll my eyes. He’s full of it.

“I’ll return your shirt later. I can swing by and leave it at the front with Emily.”

“I’m already here.”

“Isn’t she waiting downstairs for you? I know you’re a jerk to me, but you don’t need to be one to her. She’s nice.”

“She is,” he agrees, and a flash of anger hits me hard. Before I know what I’m doing, I shove Jack’s chest.

“Get out of here.” He doesn’t budge even an inch. What is he made of, concrete?

“I’m not going anywhere. Not without my shirt.”

“Fine!” I pull it off and throw it at him, leaving me standing there in only my panties.

He catches the shirt and then his eyes roam up and down my body. I refuse to cover myself because I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“You’re playing with fire.”

“Excuse me?” I put my hands on my hips, wondering what he means by that.

“Tinsel.” My name comes out as a warning, and the air in the room changes. It thickens somehow, and the space gets smaller.

“That’s my name,” I bait. I’m not sure if I’m trying to provoke him, but I have no idea what I’m expecting to happen.

“Are you always so eager to get naked in front of men?”

“You always stare at naked women when your girlfriend is downstairs?”

His expression changes to confusion. “Are you talking about Emily? She has a man. Everyone knows that.”

My fingers twitch, and although it’s getting really hard to not cover myself, I’m not losing this battle of wills. He’s not making an effort to look away or leave. In fact, his eyes are still traveling up and down my body, over and over.

“Does her man know she comes and goes from your place and you two get breakfast together every morning?”

“First off, Emily is like a sister to me. Secondly, I don’t poach women that are in relationships.”

“How noble of you. It's nice you ask before you bang them.”

“Tinsel, your attitude isn’t going to work with me right now.”

“What are you going to—” My words are cut off as Jack descends on me.

I’m in such shock that I don’t realize what’s happening until he has me bent over the side of the sofa and my hands are tied behind my back with his shirt. I try to push up, but it’s useless. His hand on my back keeps me pressed down as the other yanks my panties down my thighs. I try to press my legs together, but he stops me by blocking it with his foot.

“What the hell are you doing?” My voice quivers as a thrill of excitement rolls through my body.

“Honestly, I’ve got no fucking clue, but you’ve had this coming.” His hand comes down on my ass, and I let out a loud gasp.

“You did not just do that,” I hiss. “Did you just spank me?” His hand rubs the spot he smacked before he does it again to my other cheek. “I’m an officer of the law.” My protest comes out weak.

“Give me a ticket.” He rubs the spot he spanked again, and although I tell myself to fight, I don’t move. His hand slips down farther between my thighs, and I close my eyes, knowing what he’s going to find. “Shit, I think you like it almost as much as I do.”

His finger slides through the folds of my sex to gently stroke my clit. Too gently. It’s not enough pressure to get me off, only to tease.

“So wet.” He says it like he’s surprised.

“It’s been a while, and a girl has needs. I haven’t had a chance to get them filled.”

“Love, you better be teasing me.” His finger slips lower, and I bite the inside of my cheek so I don’t cry out. “Guess I’ll find out for myself.”

He spreads my thighs until the panties around my knees won’t let them go any farther. When I feel him shift behind me, I peek over my shoulder to see him kneeling.