Page 133 of On Edge

The muscle in his jaw ticks. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

I don’t know why I’m so fixated on the kissing now, instead of the killing, but I carry on. “I’m not, you say you won’t touch me, and yet you keep on kissing me.”

“Because it’s the only way to shut you up.”

His words hit harder than a sixty-foot drop into ice-cold water did. Why does he keep doing that, treating me like I’m nothing but an inconvenience—a problem to be managed?

My chest coils tight, and he sees it on my face because his grip loosens, just enough, and I wrench free to stagger away from him, toward the fire, needing the distance, and the heat to scare away the sudden chill in my bones.

His eyes track to the fire poker before I even realize I’m reaching for it. Of course, he notices…the man notices everything.

I seize the iron poker and brandish it like a weapon, but he doesn’t bat an eyelid, not even when I poke the pointed end to his chest.

“So you’re planning to dent my skull with that, are we?” His tone is almost amused, and his expression is curious, like he’s watching a kitten bare its claws for the first time. The condescension makes my jaw ache.

“No.”

He snorts. “You’re a terrible liar, Sage Lovett.”

“I want to go home.”Even though my body wants to stay.Despite everything, even though I promised Nell would avenge her, despite knowing what he’s capable of…

I’m done here.

I don’t like who I am around him; emotional, falling apart, desperately wanting him even though he’s a monster, confused why some traitorous part of me feels safer in his arms than I have in months, even when he’s throwing me off towers. Maybe I am delusional, like everyone says I am.

He snorts and shakes his head. “Nowyou want to leave.”

“Oh, of course, I do. You just tried to kill me.”

His mouth curls, but his eyes aren’t amused. “Take a swipe at me, I won’t stop you.”

“What?”

“I deserve it.” He steps closer. “I’ve done a lot of terrible things, Sage.”

“Stop.”

He steps forward again, flat out ignoring me and the poker digging in his chest. “You should kill me. Isn’t that why your father gave you the poison?”

“No. He wouldn’t….”

But he would. That fact aside, I can’t tell Troy about Laine and Nola. I shake my head, my words dying on my lips as I half step back. There’s nowhere to go. Though the blazing fire behind me is nothing compared to the inferno of his gaze following my every movement. “The poison is mine. You killed Nell.”

“We’re still on that?” He sighs, pushing on the point of the poker iron. “Of all the sick and twisted things I’ve done.” He lets out another breath, his green orbs reflecting the flames. “I. Didn’t. Hurt. Your. Sister. How many more damn towers do I need to jump off?”

“We only survived because you swam us to shore.”

“Because for some reason, you can’t swim, even though your sister could. She was a strong swimmer for Christ’s sake.”

“How…How do you know that?”

His eyes narrow, and he sighs. “Because Nell was someone I admired.”

Neither of us moves, not until the fire crackles and a hot ember jumps out and singes my bare skin, and I flinch.

Troy moves fast, ripping the poker from my hands, pulling me towards him. For a second, I’m slammed against his solid form, looking up at him, staring into his vivid eyes, and getting so lost in them that I hesitate.

There are flecks of gold in the green, and his tousled hair hangs over them, making him look incredibly sexy. His heartbeat is against my chest, and he smells of a storm, asthough he’d brought it inside with him. I remember how his arms felt around me in the water, pulling me to safety.