Page 23 of Rastor

Like what? At gunpoint? Was that how she really felt? I heard myself say, "Forced you?"

"Cornered me. Whatever." She sighed. "So here I am. And how I got here isn't all that important."

"It is to me."

"Yeah? Well, from now on, that's your problem, not mine."

I don't know what I expected, but not this. A full-blown temper-tantrum would've been easier to handle. The way it looked, she hated me,reallyhated me.

And I loved her.

Desperate to say something,anything, that would make a difference, I tried to think. What could I say? What could I do?

It was Chloe who broke the silence. "Listen, I've had a long night, so can we skip the part where we debate why I wouldn't be calling you for favors?"

I looked into her eyes, searching for some sign that it wasn't over. All I got was an icy stare.

My heart sank. What was the old saying? Live to fight another day? The way it looked, I wasn't going to make any headway tonight. And probably, if I pushed too hard, I'd only be pushing her further away.

But there wassomethingI could do – not for me, for her. I could make damned sure she got that apology from Brittney. And if I had to drag Brittney's bony ass out of a nap or whatever to make that happen, I sure as hell wasn't going to hesitate.

"Alright," I said. "But there's something you deserve to hear. At least come inside, alright?"

"No. I don't think so." Her gaze drifted downward and settled on my wrists. Her eyebrows furrowed.

Shit.

My arms were bare, but my wrists were wrapped in white athletic tape. The tape was for Chloe's sake, not mine. She didn't need to know that those two kidnapper-wannabees weren't theonlypeople I'd punished.

Under Chloe's gaze, my wrists burned with the memory of what I'd done. I could still feel the friction from the rope slicing into my skin as I wrapped the rope tighter and pulled it harder, until the rope was red, and my skin was dripping.

I didn't regret it. I deserved it.

Chloe – apparently concluding that I'd been working out or something – looked up. Her gaze drifted to the open door behind me. "Aren't you gonna close the door?"

Why? Because cold air was flooding into the house? I didn't care. All I cared about was the girl in front of me. I wanted to gather her in my arms and make sure she was never cold again.

My thoughts were churning, but my voice was quiet. "Screw the door."

She stared up at me, and something in her eyes warmed, just a fraction. For a long moment, I had this crazy idea that somehow, it would all work out, that by some miracle, she'd fall into my arms and let me make everything better.

Silently, I begged her.Chloe, please.

But then, a different female voice drifted out my doorway. The voice sounded sleepy with a hint of sex. "Lawton," she called, "who's at the door?"

I froze, feeling the color drain from my face.

Fucking Brittney.

Reluctantly, I glanced behind me. And there she was, standing on the darkened staircase.

Naked.

Chapter 12

Desperately, I turned back to Chloe. The look on her face was everything I feared. And from where she was standing, she hadn't evenseenBrittney yet. I shifted in the doorway, hoping like hell to block her view.

I knew exactly how this would look. Bad, just like it sounded. "Chloe," I said, "it's not what you think. I swear."