Page 158 of Stand: Part One

“Stau,” Darren commanded in Romanian just as Camaro was getting ready to follow.

I sighed in disappointment as I turned my gaze up to the sky, catching the quick strikes of lightning that burst through the clouds in the far distance. And suddenly, I felt inspired again.

38

Some Hell

Storming through our bedroom door, I tossed Jaden’s soaking-wet ass onto the bed, smirking as she rolled with the momentum onto the other side and planted her feet on the floor.

“I’m suddenly in the mood for a little brat taming,” I announced as I stretched my neck, moving farther into the room.

Jaden’s eyes locked with mine, a look of unease draped across her pretty face as she watched me remove my guns from their holsters and place them on the nightstand, along with my conveniently waterproof phone.

But when her gaze followed my hands to unbutton my wet shirt, I knew her body was already preparing for all the things I planned to do to it.

After that little display by the lake, actually knocking me off the fucking dock the way she did, it was clear my little hellcat had returned much faster than I had anticipated. Either she was getting better at compartmentalizing her trauma or I was losing my touch.

Either way, I was suddenly eager to play.

The shirt stuck to my skin as I pulled it away and chucked it to the floor, droplets of water still clinging to my bare chest. Jaden’s hands were buried in the sheets of the bed for stability, her small frame locked in place as she waited for my next move.

But I wasn’t the type to rush these kinds of events, at least not with her. I wanted to drag them out for as long as possible, savoring every second of what I could draw from her, no matter what it was.

Moans, threats, punches, pleasure—I’d take it all and then some until she had nothing left to give.

“Come here,” I ordered.

And like a shift in the air, the wind changed course and Jaden’s entire mentality switched from the guarded queen to the prey I craved to hunt and conquer. It was like watching someone split between personalities right in front of you, utterly fascinating.

“No,” she clipped.

A savage grin morphed on my face. Noticing her limbs beginning to slacken, her muscles loosened in anticipation of my familiar brand of brutality headed her way. It had barely been over a week since the basement and her bravery had come back with a vengeance. She was such a damn good girl.

“You have until the count of three,” I informed her, slipping off my wet shoes and socks. “Before I fucking break you in half.”

She sucked in a deep breath, her shoulders rising with the motion, then rolling them back down before straightening and steeling her spine. Jaden had that adorable look of fierce determination shadowing her face, her gaze sharpening to a lethal edge I couldn’t wait to taste.

“One,” I said, rolling my own shoulders, letting my heated blood rush through me.

She didn’t move.

“Two.”

The single word punctured the air, a final warning that caused Jaden to flinch. It brought a smile to my face as I stared her down, cracking my neck and expelling some of the built-up pressure. Jaden opened her palms at her sides, stretching her fingers out wide, as if any of it would make one bit of a damn difference. She was fucked either way. Like always.

“Three.”

I moved faster than she could blink, barely granting her enough time to gasp as I clutched her wet hair and yanked her back to my chest. She twisted her body into me and lifted her knee to drive it up into my gut. I took the repeated hit two more times before I laughed and reached for the hem of her dress that had risen up her thighs.

Shoving it up her torso, she swatted at my hand as she tried to back away, but with her hair wrapped in my fist, she wasn’t going anywhere. Growling, she grabbed at my arm holding her, using it for leverage to lift her entire body and shove her heel right under my jaw.

The kick was just enough for my grip to loosen, allowing her hair to slip through my fingers, the release causing her to drop to the floor. She recovered just as quickly as I did, back on her feet, adjusting her dress and grabbing at the first item she could reach.

“I still owe you some hell for that fucking sham of a charity gala!” she growled, throwing a small ceramic display bowl at my head. I dodged it easily, the bowl flying right over my shoulder and shattering against the wall as I charged for her.

Her eyes widened, and she bolted back, damn near leaping over the couch before I caught her around the waist mid-jump and hauled her back to me.

“Yes, you do,” I agreed, turning from the couch with her back tucked against my side. Jaden bucked and twisted until I positioned her to bend over the arm of the couch.