Page 72 of Rogue

I give into temptation and glance at Jaxson. Immediately, I wish I hadn’t.

Jesus. His lips are drawn into a tight line and his fingers are fisted. And I’m not the only one worried that he’s about to charge Hayden and beat the living daylights out of our manipulative boss. Diego’s got a hand on Jaxson’s shoulder, like he’s steadying him, holding him back.

I’ve been warned about leaving Jaxson alone. Warned Jaxson about getting involved with me. My mind races.This is your fault for coming back. You can’t let him be hurt by this.

Shit. Do something . . .

“You’re wrong, you know,” I inform Hayden.

He scowls. Yep. I’ve got his undivided attention now.

“A woman isn’t at her most powerful over a man when she’s bobbing for apples.” I slink back in my chair and cross my legs. Giving my words time to bounce off the library walls and sink into their heads. Before I make them do what men do best—think with their dicks.

Hayden smirks. A first. He’d be downright attractive if he wasn’t such an asshole.

I do the same—faux-smirking back at him. Then I wait for him to prompt me to continue, playing the same game he’s so bleeding fond of.

To everyone’s credit, no one butts in. They let the silence play out. Silently cheering me on?You will be, trust me, boys. You will be.

Somewhere in the Ranch, a clock chimes, then Hayden breaks. “I’ll bite. Do fillusmen in.”

Terrific. He’s manipulating them into thinking it’s me versus mankind. Maybe it is.

“Don’t get me wrong. There’s something to be said for the power of a good mouth fucking.” I draw out the last two words, and am rewarded by someone hissing. I think it’s Declan. I ignore him, and the sexual tension that’s always prevalent in any room full of men when the wordblow jobhas been raised. Relentlessly, I continue. “Fondling my naked breasts, playing with my nipples, making them hard before I fall to my knees. Rubbing the heel of my palm against the big, fat beast zipped up inside his . . .yourpants. Assessing your size and wondering how I’m going to fit all of that beast down my tight little throat.”

I resist the urge to wince. God, where didsheeven come from?

“Dios mio,” Diego whispers, his tone harsh and aroused.

I keep my eyes pinned on Hayden, who hasn’t shown the slightest reaction. Asexual? Yeah, right. I’ll bet a wad of Franklins that if I bend over and checked out his crotch from beneath the desk, his pants will be tented tight.

“With my teeth, I’ll drag the zipper down and free your tool. That is, if you’ve gone commando like the naughty boy you are.” I wiggle my finger at the three by the wall without looking at them and am rewarded with another one of Diego’s curses. “I’ll lick your penis from the smooth tip and all along the pulsing vein beneath.”

“Cock. Lick my cock. Not penis,” growls Diego.

“That’s right. Your big cock.”

I blink back the memory of my doing just that to Jaxson.

Damn it. Way too personal. Bad call. Reality has filtered into my story. I need to get a grip, forget how freaking beautiful Jaxson is. How much I loved taking him into my mouth.

“I’m choking . . .” I add, bringing an invisible hammer down on the truth and smashing it to pieces. “You’re so aggressive. So powerful. So in control . . .”

“She’s made her point,” Jaxson interrupts.

I jump when I feel his hand on my arm.

“Sit down or leave. That’s a direct order,” Hayden says in a low voice.

“She’s not ready for the kind of commitment you require,” Jaxson grinds out.

“Sit your ass down. Or . . . are you putting her before TORC? Is that what this is? You disobeying my directive because of her? I warned you . . .”

Damn it. I jump to my feet and face Jaxson, furrowing my eyebrows at him in silent warning. “Men,” I say with a huff, thrusting a hip to the side and my breasts out. “Everything always boils down to weapons and sex. Black and white. The act itself instead one of the emotional kind. Most of you see an attractive woman. You want her suck your willy then fuck you silly. It’s all about the physical act. Just like the bas— Hayden here, who believes actual blow jobs give women power.”

That magic phrase—blow job—does the trick. The tension in the room subsides, and although Jaxson remains by my side, as I turn I can see my direct challenge has caught our boss’s unwavering interest.

“Hurry up and wrap things up,chiquita. I need to use the restroom.”