Page 42 of Liar

“If you were my sister, I’d lock you away in a room and throw away the key.”

“I’m not your sister.” I tilt my head higher and stare deeply into his eyes. “But I am yours.”

“You’re playing with fire.”

“So? Make me melt.”

His eyes flash, and my lips part at the raw desire in his gaze. One second. Two. I count off the moments until he kisses me.

Except it never comes.

“Wait,” I gasp as he lifts himself off me.

The material goes with him, unraveling like quicksand and in a matter of seconds, disappearing all together.

I’m splayed back across the reclined bucket seat, my top half completely exposed. But what causes my breath to hitch is how he stands there, expressionless while he looks his fill and takes in every blessed inch of me.

Do I cover myself?

Do I crook a finger at him and beckon him back?

“Put this on,” he grinds out, stripping off his shirt and tossing it my way. All business. All signs of what transpired between us vanishing into thin air.

I look away, forcing my attention on slipping my arms through the shirt sleeves and forgetting the lump forged in my throat.

“For God’s sake, you’re seventeen.”

I look back at him in surprise, but he’s already on the move, rounding the hood to climb into the driver’s seat.

I wait for him to settle in and shift the car into drive.

“I know many girls who married before they even turned eighteen.”

“You’re not any girl.”

A happy delirium washes over me, but he crushes it with his next words.

“You’re Diego’s sister. No one touches you, including me.”

I don’t remind him how wrong he is, how the glide of his fingers across my breast contradicts what he’s saying.

But I don’t press him further and allow the silence to grow between us. Content with stealing peeks at the fine display of muscled chest and defined plains of his abdomen.

Mine.

By tomorrow, everyone will know I’m under his protection. Only a fool would bother me now.

“Today wasn’t the first time you had an issue with the Z22.” It’s a statement instead of a question.

I sigh. “Just El Calaca.”

Silence, then his harsh command. “Tell me.”

“Um ... Diego doesn’t know this happened.”

“I see.”

I flinch at his flat tone. “My brother is a hothead. If I shared everything, he would have ignited a war between the Lobos and the other cartels.”