Stoking the Embers (New Adult Romantic Suspense): The Complete Series by Leslie Johnson Read Free Book Online

now.”
    I ask half-jokingly, trying to lighten up the mood a bit, “Does that mean we are doomed to always be on non-dates?”
    Grabbing another pack, a smile comes across her face. “I guess so. But…” she hesitates, her fingers breaking apart the cracker in her hands. “I’d like another non-date sometime.”
    I almost choke on my cracker. Is there no bounds to this girl’s cuteness? “Me too. How about this weekend?”
    My dick twitches when she looks me fully in the eyes. “I think I’d like that.”
    “Okay then.” I raise my glass in a toast. “To many non-dates in the future. Salud.”

Chapter 6—Stephanie
    “A fireman? Really? I was only joking the other day. Tell me you love me.” I stare at the text message. I’ve not been home five minutes and this? I decide to ignore it. My business is not any concern of Jerome’s. Besides that, I don’t know how to reply. How does he know where I was? How does he know who I was with? Is he following me? The scary Jerome is creeping me out.
    I walk to the door and look out the peephole, wishing I had a chain to secure it.
    My phone beeps again: “Answer me. Are you fucking a fireman?”
    Ignore. I’m going to ignore it.
    Another text: “You little slut.”
    Another: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called you that. I love you. I want you back. Let’s talk.”
    I scoff at the next text message: “I’m coming over.”
    No! My mind screams, and I run to the kitchen to grab a chair to pry under the doorknob. On my way back to the door, I watch in horror as it opens. Jerome walks in, a big grin on his face.
    The heat of the hot desert night follows him in. I stand there in stupefied silence. A key. He has a key? Gathering myself, I try to appear strong. “You’re not welcome here. I didn’t invite you. Go.”
    “Calm down babe. I just want to talk.”
    “How many keys do you have?” I demand, reaching for the key in his hand.
    Grabbing me with his other hand, he dangles the keys in front of my face. “Why are you in such a bitchy mood? Or is this just foreplay?” He pulls me to him, his face in my neck.
    “Jerome, stop.”
    “Mmm… you know how much I like it when you fight.”
    I stop fighting, holding perfectly still. He laughs.
    “You make me sick,” I find the courage to say. “I’m not interested in your little sex games. Not anymore.”
    Grabbing my other wrist, he backs me against the wall and places his mouth over mine. I want to bite his tongue, but restrain myself. It might turn him on.
    I try to push him away, but can barely move him an inch. I wrench my mouth from his, bile rising in my throat. “Leave me alone, I’m not kidding.” The words sound weak to my own ears. He grabs my phone from my hand and stuffs it in his front pocket.
    He doesn’t answer, just pushes me down the hallway, one hand holding my wrists, the other pushing my shoulder. I’m afraid, the look in his eyes isn’t sane. This isn’t the role-play he favors. This isn’t about fantasy, this has gotten way out of hand.
    I open my mouth to scream, but he’s expecting it. He pushes me into a wall, causing me to lose my breath. The hand on my shoulder moves to my mouth, covering it.
    His face is less than an inch from mine. “What’s your little firefighter buddy going to do now? Rescue you?” He licks the side of my face. “Is that what you want? You want me to dress up like a firefighter and put out your fire? I will. I can.” He lifts a knee, pressing it between my legs. “I know what makes you hot.”
    Hand still over my mouth, the other surrounding my wrists, he turns me until my back is pinned against his chest. He begins pushing me again, toward my bedroom. I try to stop him, dig my toes into the carpet, but I’m as ineffectual as an ant trying to stop a boulder.
    “Let me love you,” he says. “I love you so much, let me show you, let me prove it to you.” His hand releases my wrists and cups my breast. My thighs are against the bed now and