Chapter 3

Dedric intercepted her swinging wrist mid-air with razor-sharp reflexes, locking her in a silent, tense struggle within the suffocating confines of the stall.

He hadn't expected her to know how to throw a real punch, though she lacked the raw brute strength to break his hold. Twisting her arm behind her back, he pressed her closer, his voice dropping low.

"Keep hitting me and I won't mind making this real."

Casandra glared up at him, her chest heaving.

"You dare? You're really shameless!"

She lifted her stiletto heel and stomped straight down onto the arch of his leather dress shoe.

Dedric hissed, pulling his foot back a fraction while his grip on her wrist tightened, his tone turning icy.

"You care about shame? Then why'd you sneak into a men's room stall looking for a thrill?"

Casandra wrenched her arm against his hold, her cheeks flushing with anger.

"Which of your eyes saw me looking for a thrill? When God was distributing wisdom to humanity, were you standing under an umbrella?"

Dedric let out a cold scoff, towering over her.

"In a men's room stall at midnight—if you're not looking for a thrill, you're looking for a man. Either way, it's a little twisted, don't you think?"

Casandra's breath caught in her throat, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Knowing she couldn't out-talk this shameless bastard, she forced a tight nod.

"Fine—on account of your limited IQ, I'll grant you're right. Now let me go!"

Yanking her wrist free from his fingers, she turned and slid the metal latch open, pulling the stall door inward an inch.

Right then, Glenora's shrill voice drifted in from the hallway outside.

"Jim, did you find her?"

Casandra froze, wrenching the door shut and shoving the latch back into place with a frantic click. Trapped between two vile cheaters outside and a lethal lunatic within, she dragged in a slow, jagged breath and leaned her spine against the cold metal. Between the two, she'd take her chances with the lunatic.

Behind her, Dedric's lips curved into an amused smirk. The tables had turned fast—so she was hiding from someone too.

Outside the restroom entrance, the conversation continued clearly.

"No," Jim said, his voice tight.

"Could she have gotten out?"

"Impossible, I checked the elevators downstairs—she has to still be on this floor."

"Then check the restrooms! You take the men's, I'll check the women's!"

Casandra stood completely still against the stall door, no longer cursing or trying to leave.

Dedric studied her cold profile in the dim light—pale, flawless skin, and dark, sharp eyes that gleamed like a cornered fox's. Remembering the taste of her lips a moment ago, his gaze darkened.

Stepping past her shoulder, he reached a long arm toward the door latch.

Before his fingertips touched the metal, a small, soft hand grabbed his sleeve.

"What are you doing?" Casandra hissed under her breath.

Dedric raised an eyebrow, his expression deadpan.

"Going out."

"You're not going anywhere—wait!"

"Why?"

"Because you just used me to cover for you!"

Dedric's lips twitched slightly, and he dropped his hand to his side, deciding to return the favor.

The outer door swung open, and Jim's footsteps echoed inside again as he began shoving open the stall doors one by one.

Looking down at Casandra, a wicked glint flashed in Dedric's eyes. He leaned in close, his voice loud enough to carry through the thin metal door, dripping with suggestive heat.

"You women always say no with your lips, but your bodies tell a completely different story."

Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pressed her against the door panel, his large hand sliding over her coat as a low, raspy hum vibrated in his throat.

"You like it when I do this to you, don't you? Hmm?"

Casandra stiffened, realizing he was taking full advantage of the fact that she couldn't expose herself to Jim. She shot daggers at him with her eyes, mouthing silently for him to shut up.

Dedric only leaned closer, his breath hot against her neck.

"What's there to be shy about? It's not like this is our first time."

He pinched her waist again, lowered his head to brush his lips against her jaw, and bumped his shoulder hard against the stall door.

Outside, Jim stopped dead in his tracks. Hearing the heavy breathing and the rhythmic banging of the handicap stall door, a voyeuristic grin crept across his face. Completely unaware that his fiancée was inside, he crept closer and bent his knees, craning his neck to peer through the narrow gap at the bottom of the door.

Before Jim could catch a glimpse of anything, a thunderous, commanding roar blasted from inside the stall.

"GET THE HELL OUT!"

The sheer force of the voice made Jim's knees give out. He fell flat on his backside against the wet tiles, his heart hammering harder than when Casandra had kicked the bedroom door open. Scrambling up on all fours, he bolted out of the men's room without looking back.

In the hallway, Glenora grabbed his arm anxiously.

"Well? Is she in there?"

Jim smoothed down his wrinkled shirt, hiding his embarrassment behind an impatient scowl.

"Of course not—how could she be in the men's room?"

As their footsteps faded down the corridor, Casandra shoved hard against Dedric's chest.

"Get off me already."

Dedric crossed his arms, looking down at her with a mocking sneer.

"Use me and toss me aside—classic."

Casandra's jaw tightened, her fingers curling into fists.

"Who used you? If you hadn't crowded into my stall, would I be in this mess?"

Dedric leaned back against the wall, his dark eyes cool and assessing.

"Then tell me—how would you have dodged him without me? By yourself?"

Casandra choked on her words, glaring at him.

"Without you, I would have walked right out of here!"

"Is that so? If you're really that capable, sweetheart... why are you still hiding in a men's room stall with me?"