Page 18 of How To Catch A Killer … And Date His Best Friend

I crowd her by the door while trying not to come off like a creepy asshole who stalks women at night. She backs up a step so that her back is pressed against the door, and her gaze instantly lifts to mine.

“Here’s what’s gonna happen,” I say, holding her stare. “I’m going to ask you out, and those little cheeks of yours are going to flush bright red while you’re word vomiting bullshit about not being the girl who goes back for seconds. But let’s face it, I’m not here for seconds. After being inside you and seeing how well you fit me, we both know that seconds won’t even come close to what we need. I want hundreds, Lyra. Thousands. Millions if you think you’ve got the stamina to keep up with me. Whatever you’ve got, Savage, I want it.”

She shakes her head. “You’re insane.”

“I’m aware.”

“It’s never gonna happen. You were right about one thing, I don’t go back for seconds.”

“You don’t go back for seconds yet,” I clarify. “But you will, baby. It’s just a matter of time.”

“I’m not inviting you up,” she tells me. “It’s almost five in the morning. I’ve been working since one in the afternoon, and to put it bluntly, I need to spend what’s left of my night researching local priests who could douse me in holy water because someone who lets a perfect stranger screw her in a back alley without a condom, despite how delicious he may appear, is surely possessed by some kind of demon.”

A laugh rumbles through my chest. “Oh, Savage, you were definitely possessed by something, but I don’t think it was your inner demon that had you screaming. That was my cock.”

She holds back a laugh. “Nevertheless, I need a holy water bath. And a plan B. And then maybe a snack. You really worked up my appetite.”

I grin, more than okay with the idea of this woman becoming my greatest obsession, though despite that, and despite wanting nothing more than to constantly be in her presence, she’s done for tonight, and I’ll respect that. Instead, I pull out my phone and hand it to her. “Put your number in, Savage. And don’t even think about entering it wrong, because nothing is going to stop me from knocking on every single door inside this building. Constantly. All fucking night until I find you.”

She lets out a heavy sigh as she holds my stare. “What the fuck did I just get myself into?”

I tap the top of my phone in her hand. “Number, baby. Otherwise, this is about to turn into a very long night for you.”

She groans and starts putting her information into my phone. “Why do I feel like I’m going to regret giving this to you?”

“Trust me, I meant what I said. You’ll regret not giving it to me more.”

She rolls her eyes and hands me the phone, only I immediately hold it up and snap a picture of her before adding it as her contact profile.

“Wait . . . I wasn’t ready,” she says, reaching for the phone, only I drop it right back into my pocket.

“Want a new picture, then you’re gonna have to see me again. Or send me nudes. That’ll work too.”

She shakes her head and lets out a heavy sigh as her hand digs into her purse, fishing out a set of keys. “Goodnight, Maddox Blake. I wish I could say see you never, but you’re clearly about to shit all over that plan.”

A smile pulls at the corner of my lips, and I realize that chasing this beauty is about to be the best fun I’ve ever had. “Goodnight, Savage.”

She unlocks the door before pushing it open, and I immediately follow her in. Only she pauses and glances back at me, her brows pulled down. “You good?”

“I’m good. Are you good?”

“I told you, you’re not coming up to my apartment.”

I step into her and wind my hand around her waist before pulling her in hard against me. “As much as I would love to spend my night sinking into you over and over again, I’m down to respect your boundaries . . . mostly. You said no, so it’s a no.”

“So, what the hell are you doing?”

I laugh as I release her and start moving toward the elevator to press the call button. “I wasn’t lying earlier. I have a friend living in this building. I came here to see him, and despite getting a little distracted out there, I still intend to follow through on that original plan.”

“Right,” she says, glancing away as she awkwardly strides toward me and waits for the elevator. “Of course.”

“Unless you’ve changed your mind?”

The elevator dings with its arrival and we each step in, turning around to face the front. “Nope,” she says, popping the p.

Lyra reaches across me to press the button for the fourth floor, and I stand back as the doors close us in. “Which floor?” she questions.

“Fourth.”