Page 72 of Blurred Red Lines

“Rise and shine, Danger.”

Val twitched once then fell back asleep, his bare ass uncovered by the blanket I’d just ripped off. Irritated at his lack of response, I climbed onto the bed and straddled his back. Extending my arms, I curled my finger around the trigger and repeated myself.

“Val, wake up before I pop a cap in your ass.”

Like a lightning bolt shot down from the ceiling, his eyes flew open and he twisted his body until he lay on his back, facing the barrel end of his own gun. Slowly raising his palms, his throat bobbed with a heavy swallow.

“Eden,” he said, drawing out my name slowly. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“It looks like you’re aiming a gun in my face. Why don’t you put it down, and we can talk about whatever’s wrong?”

Pretending to think for a moment, I quickly shrugged. “Nah. I like this more.”

His fingers wiggled, itching to grab the gun out of my hands. “I’m not fucking around, Eden. Give me the gun.”

“I’m not either, and no.”

“What is it that you want?” His eyes hammered into me as his nostrils flared.

Good. I’d been waiting for those words.

Slackening my elbows, I leaned into his chest, enunciating every word. “I want you to take me to Mexico City.”

Taking advantage of my position, Val grabbed my elbows, flipping me onto my back and somehow wrangling the gun out of my hands at the same time. Unloading the ammo, he tossed the gun to the side of the bed and held my hands above my head.

Well, that ended up the exact opposite as I intended.

“What the fuck was that about?” he roared. “You think that shit’s funny?”

No. I didn’t think it was funny, but for some reason a chorus of laughter fell from my chest. As I fought for air, I shook my head in protest. “No, I don’t. But how else was I supposed to get your attention?”

“Well you’ve got it now, speak.”

“Teach me to shoot.”

“What?” He pulled back, his eyebrows raising to his hairline.

“You heard me. Teach me to shoot. I know a little, but not enough to protect either of us if things get crazy in Mexico City.”

Releasing me, Val sat up, collecting the discarded pieces of his gun. “You didn’t seem to have an issue when you almost blew Emilio’s dick off.” Cursing, he rubbed his thickening beard. “Stop it with this shit. You’re not going. Besides, waking me up with a gun in my face doesn’t exactly make me want to do anything for you, Eden.”

Changing tactics, I moved behind him, sliding my palms up his back and down the front of his chest. “Emilio brings out the violent side in me.” A deep throated rumble let me know I was on the right track to getting what I wanted. “Oh, come on, Val, admit it. You got turned on seeing me hold it, didn’t you?”

“No.”

Pressing my lips against his neck, I drew circles against his skin with the tip of my tongue. “No? Not even a little?”

“Maybe.”

“Just think what it’d feel like to see me shoot one, to stand behind me and feel me pull the trigger, Val. All that power. All that force squeezed in the palm of my hand.”

Another groan and a shudder, and I knew I had him.

Grabbing his pants at the foot of the bed, he shoved one leg in before moving out of my hold. “Get dressed.”

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