Page 115 of The Night Shift

“I’m kidding.” I’m not.

She settles onto the barstool beside me and her corset top shifts slightly, the snug fabric shifting with the curve of her body. The movement reveals just a hint of the lace edging of her crimson bra, stark against her skin. It’s not much — barely anything, really — but it’s enough to make my pulse tick up a notch. I want to take that bra off her and lick and suck until she’s begging me to go lower. She brings her glass back to her lips and crosses her legs gracefully, one over the other, making her skirt ride up just enough to reveal the sharp glint of metal strapped against her thigh. Her scalpel.

Fuck.

Maybe Iamobsessed with her. How could I not be? She’s fucking ethereal. I want her to straddle me in this barstool and hold that scalpel against my throat as she bounces on my cock. I want to cup her tits through her top, pinching and twisting her nipples while she viciously pulls my hair. I want to bury my face in her cunt. I want to fuck her hard and fast against every surface in this bar, my fingers digging into her hips and her nails digging into my forearms. I want to kiss her. I want to kiss her until our lips start to bruise. I want her to pour all her anger down my lungs. I want her fully exposed to me and I want her to be panting so fucking hard, she can’t even speak. Can’tthink.

For a minute, the bar goes quiet, and all I hear is the thud of my pulse in my ears.

She uncrosses her legs and takes another sip of her drink, and all I can see are her lips — soft, pink, and plump. And how they were on someone else’s mouth less than two minutes ago. My chest tightens with something sharp and ugly. My hands twitch, wanting to break something. Anything. Is this why Holly does what she does? Is this the kind of anger that pushes someone over the edge and makes them do things they can’t take back?

I grab the underside of her barstool and pull it close to me.

Holly almost chokes on her drink. “Theo, what are you —”

“I don’t like you so far away from me.” I don’t let any part of my body touch hers. Not yet. Not until she begs me for it. And she will.

Her face flushes instantly, a delicate pink creeping up her cheeks, spreading to the tips of her ears. Her jaw tightens as if sheer willpower can keep her composure intact, but I see it. I always do. The way her neck turns red, the subtle rise and fall of her chest as her breathing falters. “Something on your mind, love?” My hand stays tight on the stool just between her legs.

Her lips press together. “Let me go.”

Never. “Admit that you were jealous.”

She scoffs and looks away. “Sure, if you’re okay with me lying.”

I grab her chin and force her face to mine. “It’s not wise to provoke me right now.”

She makes no effort to slap my hand away. Doesn’t even flinch. It’s almost as if she was expecting me to do this.Wantedme to do this. The flush on her cheeks spreads down her neck and she swallows once. “Do you seriously have nothing better to do right now?”

“I could.” I let my finger trace along the line of her jaw. “But tormenting you like this makes me so goddamn hard.”

“Fuck you.”

“Mm, please do.” I press my thumb against her lower lip. “Say it, Holly.” My own heart is fucking hammering in my chest. I don’t know how much more of her stubbornness I can take. “Tell me you were jealous.”

She’s breathing a bit heavier now, her chest rising and falling faster like she’s struggling to stay calm. Struggling to pretend that heat isn’t crawling all over her skin. That I don’t have her exactly where I want her. Exactly whereshewants to be. “I don’t like being told what to do,” she says, her tongue flicking out to wet her lip and my thumb in the process. The tiny movement is enough to nearly snap my control in half.

I yank her seat closer and wrap my fingers around her throat in one swift motion. “Let’s get one thing straight, Holly. When I tell you to do something, it isn’t because I expect you to listen.” I lean in next to her ear. “It’s because I know defying me turns you on.”

Her breath stutters, and I swear I feel her pulse hammering under my fingers. “Theo.”

“Fuck, yes, baby, say my name.” My forehead falls against hers and I tighten my grip just enough to feel her pulse jump beneath my fingers.

Her eyes close, lashes brushing her flushed cheeks, and a tiny frown forms between her brows. She’s fighting herself, trying so hard not to let go. She’s fuckingstrugglingto hold herself back. Whether it’s from stabbing me or kissing me is still something I can’t quite figure out. But I’ll take either option.

“Why are you doing this?” she whispers.

I smile against her skin. “Oh, I don’t think I’m doing nearly enough.” My hand moves to the back of her neck, threading through her hair.

Each small shift of her body under my touch makes everything in me burn. The slightest shiver that runs through her, the way her skin tingles with anticipation. It’s fucking maddening. It’s driving me insane. I want to consume every inch of her. I want to lose myself in her.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispers, her body leaning entirely into my touch now.

“Stop me then.”

“Someone’s going to see.” Her nose brushes against the edge of mine and I’m pretty sure my heart explodes in my chest.

“Let them.” I brush my lips along her jaw, feeling her body tremble under my touch.