Page 19 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

EVA

T he library was my sanctuary. Here, nestled in the farthest corner on a cushioned window seat, I could let the stress melt away.

The faint scent of old books and polished wood relaxed me.

My phone was on silent, and I’d left my bracelet at home where it couldn’t nag at me.

No one knew where I was—not Theo, not Raffaele, and especially not Jareth.

Her Darkest Desires was open in my lap, and for once, my brain wasn’t running through legal strategies or rehearsing cross-examinations.

I was deep in the scene: the male lead was leaning in, his voice dripping with seduction as he murmured something sinful against the heroine’s ear. My pulse quickened.

This was the best part, the moment before everything fell apart?—

“Am I seeing this correctly? Is Eva fucking Delgado reading a romance novel ?”

The voice I hated more than anything jarred me out of my reverie. My head snapped up, and there he was, leaning against the bookshelf with his arms crossed, his smirk wide enough to split his face. Jareth. Fucking Jareth .

My face burned. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” He laughed, closing the distance between us in two strides. “What are you doing here, ma’am? Shouldn’t you be at your office tormenting Theo or barking orders at some poor intern?”

I made to shove the book behind my back, but he was faster. He snatched it up and held it out of my reach like a kid taunting a sibling. His eyes darted to the cover—a shirtless man with rippling abs holding a swooning woman—and widened comically.

“Holy shit,” he said, glee dripping from every word. “You have got to be kidding me. Her Darkest Desires? This is what you, the most uptight person I have ever met, choose to read?”

“Jareth, give it back,” I hissed, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed. My luck was terrible. A couple of nearby patrons were already glancing our way.

“Oh, no, no, no,” he said, flipping through the pages. “I have to know what’s so enthralling about these so-called desires.”

I jumped up and tried to take the book from him. “Jareth. Stop. ”

He danced out of reach, holding the book high. “Let’s see what we’ve got here.” His eyes scanned the page. His lips parted in mock shock.

“She was taken aback by the sheer length of him as he ground into her inner thigh,” he read aloud, his voice low and theatrical.

I made another grab for the book, but he spun away. “Jareth!”

He ignored me and continued reading. “‘Not yet,’ she stammered. ‘I’m not ready.’” He glanced at me. “Gods, this is horrible. ”

Heat crept up my neck. People were staring at us. “Give it back!” I whisper-yelled.

But Jareth was having too much fun. His voice grew louder. “‘His hands roamed over my breasts. My nipples hardened as he rolled them between his fingers.’” He laughed, doubling over before straightening to deliver the next line. “‘I gasped as one hand slid to my?—’”

I lunged and shoved him hard in the chest. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me ?” he said, still grinning. “What’s wrong with you? This is the kind of smut that gets you going? I expected something classier.”

I grabbed my purse and bolted toward the exit. I couldn’t take another second of his mockery or the stares from the other library patrons.

“Wait! Don’t leave! I think he was just about to make her orgasm multiple times! ”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a librarian storming toward him, her face a mix of fury and shock.

Good. Let her deal with him. I pushed through the heavy wooden doors and into the cool air outside.

I didn’t stop until I was halfway down the block.

The brisk air did little to cool my burning cheeks.

My mortification was complete. The gall of that man had me gritting my teeth so hard my jaw ached.

I kept my head down and walked quickly, praying he wouldn’t follow me.

Of course, my prayers went unanswered.

I heard his laugh before I saw him. The deep, rumbling sound grated on my last nerve. I didn’t need to look back to know he was catching up. His heavy footfalls quickened until he was beside me.

“Is your face red because you’re embarrassed?” he asked, barely able to get the words out through his chuckles. “Or are you extremely turned on right now?”

I whirled on him. “How dare you ruin my private hour? It’s the one indulgence I allow myself, and now you’ve gone and obliterated it! I can never show my face in there again.”

His laughter faltered slightly, though the smirk didn’t fully disappear. “Look, I’m the one who can never show my face there again. The librarian made that very clear. You, on the other hand, are free to return whenever you want. Probably to read about... what was it? Hardening nipples? Wet folds?”

“You’re disgusting. How did you find me anyway?”

“I have my ways.” Jareth pulled my bracelet from his pocket and clasped it around my wrist without asking for permission. “You forgot a very important accessory, Delgado. Need I remind you that your brother and I require you to wear it at all times?”

Grumbling, I turned on my heel and started walking. Before I could make it two steps, though, his hand closed gently around my arm. I hesitated, hating that his touch sent a shiver down my spine.

“Let me make it up to you,” he said, his voice softer now. “Let me get you some food. You’re probably starving, right?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. He was right, damn him, but admitting it would feel like handing him a victory. So, I shrugged, hoping to look indifferent.

He grinned knowingly and gestured toward a nearby hot dog stand. “Come on.”

“Seriously?” I said, crossing my arms as he steered me toward a vendor cart. “Hot dogs? You think this is going to fix anything?”

“Don’t knock it ’til you try it.” He handed some cash to the vendor and returned with two hot dogs. “Here. You need to regain your energy after reading about pulsating loins.”

I snorted. “No, thanks. I don’t eat processed meat.”

“Suit yourself.” He took a massive bite, chewing with exaggerated relish. The aroma of grilled meat and onions wafted up to me, and my stomach betrayed me with a loud, traitorous grumble.

Jareth raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

“Maybe… just a bite.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a hot dog—years, at least—but the smell was too good to resist.

He handed it to me, looking far too smug. I took a tentative bite. It was salty, greasy, and utterly divine. Before I realized what I was doing, I let out a small moan of pleasure.

Jareth’s gaze zeroed in on me like a predator locked on its prey. I swallowed quickly, my face flaming all over again.

“You okay over there?”

I quickly took another bite to avoid answering.

When a bit of mustard smeared the corner of my mouth, I reached for a napkin, but Jareth beat me to it. He swept his thumb slowly over the spot, then brought it to his mouth and sucked it clean.

My breath hitched. Why did this man have to be so infuriatingly hot and just plain infuriating?

The tension between us hung thick in the air until my phone buzzed in my pocket. I jumped, fumbling to pull it out.

“Aren’t you going to get that?” Jareth asked, his smirk returning. “That thing seems to be the most important thing in your life.”

I rolled my eyes and answered, thankful for the distraction. “Genevieve?”

Her voice came through the line in panicked bursts.

“Eva, more photos of me with that married man have been leaked. I didn’t even know he was married when we were seeing each other!

And more information is coming out about the political donations that I have no idea about.

It’s coming at me from all angles. I can’t—” Her words broke off in a choked sob.

Fuck me . “Where are you?”

Genevieve sniffed on the other line. “In my hotel room.”

“Okay, listen to me. Stay where you are. I’m coming to you.”

Jareth was already flagging down a cab. When I ended the call, he opened the door for me.

“You’re coming?” I asked as he slid in after me.

“Damn right I am. I’m not done annoying you for the day.”

Huffing, I stared out of the window as the cab pulled into traffic. If anyone could take a crisis and make it feel like a personal vendetta, it was Jareth.

The cab ride was the longest ten minutes of my life.

Jareth sat far too close, his arm stretched across the back of the seat.

I pressed against the door, desperate for space, but it didn’t help.

His presence filled the small space, his confidence radiating like a neon sign screaming annoying asshole.

I still couldn’t believe he’d found me in the library. Reading smut . This could not be real life.

“Oh, by the way,” Jareth said. “The whole reason I came to find you is because your brother texted you, and you didn’t respond. I know you were having your sexy book time, but it might be a good idea to reassure The Shadow that you’re still alive.”

I shot him a glare, but he was staring out the window. Sighing, I pulled out my phone.

Eva: Your pet cat found me. I’m fine.

Raffaele : Glad to hear it. Be nice.

“Be nice.” I snorted as I shoved my phone back into my bag. “As if that’s possible.”

“Talking to yourself?” Jareth asked. “I must be a bad influence.”

I ignored him as we drove through the bustling streets of Manhattan. Genevieve was staying in a swanky hotel to escape the reporters camped outside her apartment, but it wasn’t working. Someone was out to destroy her, and it was getting under my skin. I hated that I hadn’t cracked the case yet.

Jareth looked like he didn’t have a care in the world, his sharp gaze idly scanning the passing buildings.

He never seemed fazed by anything. Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have him at the meeting.

Genevieve’s nerves were shot, and she needed calm energy.

Jareth wasn’t exactly calm, but at least he wasn’t a panicked mess.

The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting a pedestrian who had no regard for the traffic. Jareth’s arm shot out, catching me just before I slammed face-first into the back of the driver’s seat.

“Gotcha,” he muttered.

Relief turned into something else entirely when I realized his hand had landed firmly over my left breast.

Jareth’s eyes widened as he followed my gaze. “Oh,” he said, pulling his hand back so fast you’d think I’d burned him. “Shit. Sorry.”

I crossed my arms, trying to mask my awkwardness. “Quick reflexes. Must be the cat in you.”

He didn’t laugh. Instead, he ran a hand through his dark hair and looked out the window again. The muscles in his jaw were tensed, and for the first time since meeting him, he seemed almost flustered. Speechless.

Good. He deserved it.

A few minutes later, the cab pulled up to the hotel, and we stepped out into the bright midday sun. The building’s gleaming glass facade towered over the street.

I strode to the front desk. “Amy Biggerstaff,” I said, giving Genevieve’s fake name.

Jareth snorted.

I turned to find him biting his knuckle, his shoulders shaking as he tried—and failed—not to laugh. “Amy Biggerstaff?” he choked out. “Oh gods, Eva.”

“Shut up.” I kicked his ankle lightly. “If you’re going to stick around, you have to be professional.”

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and flashed me a wicked grin. “I make no promises.”

The receptionist handed me a keycard, completely ignoring the chaos beside her. “Ms. Biggerstaff is expecting you.”

I thanked her and dragged Jareth toward the elevator.

The ride to the top floor was awkwardly silent, the air between us practically crackling with tension.

I kept stealing glances at him—how his shirt pulled taut across his chest, the way he leaned casually against the wall as if he hadn’t just mortified me moments ago.

I reminded myself to get laid soon. Maybe then I could stop thinking about this infuriatingly hot and annoying cat-man.

Before the elevator door opened, I took a moment to remind Jareth that I was the one in charge today. “Listen, Genevieve is fully human and has no knowledge of magic or The Below. I expect you to be on your absolute best behavior and not to do or say anything magical. Understood?”

Jareth nodded. “Got it.”

As we approached Genevieve’s door, I nodded to the security guy stationed outside. “Hello, Eva,” he said. His eyes narrowed when he saw Jareth. “Who’s this?”

“This is Jareth,” I said quickly. “He’s my own, err, security. He’s safe.”

The man didn’t look convinced. “I need to check him for weapons.”

Jareth raised both hands, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Let me save you some time.”

What followed was an absolute circus act.

Jareth began pulling weapon after weapon from his person—a dagger from his belt, brass knuckles from his pocket, a small hatchet and various medieval-looking weapons I couldn’t identify, and even a grappling hook.

The pile grew absurdly large, and when I thought he was done, he reached down to his boot and pulled out a small blade.

“Oops,” he said, holding it up with a smirk. “Forgot about this little guy.”

The security guy gaped at the arsenal.

I buried my face in my hands. “God help me.”