Page 34

A tap at the window stops her mid-sentence.

“What was that?” she asks, getting to her feet immediately.

I stand, too, wanting to grab her, but I forget about the chains and stumble.

Instinctively, she’s at my side, grinning. “Steady there, big boy.”

It’s honestly like she’s forgotten I’m here—technically—against my will. Her hands are on my arm, stabilizing me. I could wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze until the light leaves her eyes.

“Rule number one, Killer.”

“Right...” Her hands are still on me, her eyes are fluttering, pushing the limit. See? An eternal optimist.

But she has to learn. Luca will tap again any minute. She needs to learn as much as Luca needs to see that I’m not completely thinking with my dick. I don’t need anyone in my ranks, even if it is my oldest friend, thinking I’m not fully in control.

I snap my hand out and grab her by the throat, the clink of chains ringing against the sharp exhale of her breath. I’m careful to squeeze only the side of her neck and not her windpipe. Her right hand instantly pulls at my wrist, anda slight panic reaches her eyes, but it quickly morphs into something else entirely. To drive home my point, I squeeze the tips of my fingers and thumb, leaning into her closer so my lips brush against the shell of her ear.

“I warned you, Olivia.”

She quivers beneath me—in fear or something else? I can’t tell.

“And I warned you,” she says. Her right hand stops pulling me away, instead moving her own hand over mine, guiding my fingers to increase their pressure. It’s my turn to exhale sharply now; our noses are almost touching as our breath mingles together.

I could tilt my head down to meet her defiantly raised chin. I could press my lips against hers and run my tongue along the seam of her lips. But before I can make my next move, her left hand snakes up the inside of my leg, cupping the hardening bulge in my pants.

“You don’t know me,” she whispers.

She squeezes firmly, not enough to hurt, but the warning is there, and fuck does it turn me on.

I push her head back so my lips tease against hers. My eyes drop down. I pull back the smallest amount. “Not yet. I want to, though, Killer.”

“I don’t think you could handle me.”

“Want to renegotiate that deal we were going to make last night? I could prove you wrong.”

Tap. Tap.

Fuck.

Her hand is off my erection and my wrist. I release her neck, and she storms to the window.

“It’s just the wind,” I say lamely.

“How would you know it’s just the wind?”

She unhooks the window and lifts it up. She attempts to look out, but thankfully, it’s too dark, and hopefully, we’ve been loud enough that Luca will keep out of sight.

“Get away from the window. You don’t know what’s outthere.”

“What are you worried about?” She frowns, looking over her shoulder at my corner.

Think, think, think.

“It could be a rabid raccoon.”

“A rabid...raccoon?” She laughs, letting go of the window and allowing it to swing shut. “Are you worried about me?”

“Just worried about who will let me out of here when you go crazy with rabies.”