Page 114 of Cross To Bear

“He didn’t surrender in the cinema,” I said, my voice wavering a little as I remembered exactly how that went.

“Well, he’d have you on your knees, tears streaming down your face as he fucked your face, if you were into that too.”

I blinked, jerking my focus back to Crash, because it was a hell of a lot easier than dealing with Razor.

“Choices, choices…”

There was something so damn smug about Razor’s voice, but when his hands went to my waist, I jumped.

I shouldn’t.

He was my mate. There was a bite mark on my neck that ached for his teeth any time he was close. But he’d started treating me with kid gloves since the accident, like if he touched me I’d break, so when he pulled me into his arms right now, I half expected him to push me away at the last minute.

Razor didn’t.

All the same heat that had flooded through me that night at the bar, just at the feel of his body pressed against mine, his lips grazing my neck. I stiffened, but his grip had tightened in anticipation, keeping me from pulling away, as his mouth spent too much time mapping the curve of my ear.

“I can teach you how to handle him. You’re back at work today?”

“Just for a half day.”

God, my voice was all high and breathy, my lungs not able to properly inflate.

“Then come by my office at lunchtime. I’ll be waiting with something nice for you to eat and some instruction.”

“What makes you qualified to advise me on how to handle Crash?” I broke free finally, turning around to stare Razor down, but he just grinned, as if I was doing everything he wanted.

“This.”

He shoved me against the wall, the pain in my arm throbbing, but he kissed that away in a series of intense, deep kisses. I couldn’t feel my legs, let alone the tattoo anymore. “I know you, and I know him and so I can help you with something that you’re struggling with.” His hand slapped down on the wall over my head. “I’m your mate, aren’t I? Surely that’s my job.”

My throat worked, an answer readying itself even as my brain flatlined, coming up with nothing.

I wanted, needed to obey him and where the fuck had that come from. His grin spread, something I hadn’t seen in its full toothy glory since the moment I was hurt. His eyes glittered with a hectic light, right as the water was turned off and we heard wet feet slapping down on the tiles.

“This looks interesting.” Crash looked us up and down. “Can I join in?”

“Tonight.” Razor said the word with the same kind of glee another person might announce they’d won the lottery. “Make your preparations, Crashy boy.”

Razor pushed past him, ruffling his wet hair as he went, only for Crash to shove him away.

“What the fuck was that about?” Crash asked me. His eyes flicked up the hallway, but Razor had already disappeared into his room. “And what did he mean about tonight?”

I saw hope, confusion, tension, but mostly hope in his eyes, reminding me of the photos I’d taken that morning. I flicked through them when the guys weren’t in the house, poring over each one, looking into the digital image of Crash’s face, trying to look deeper than mere pixels could take me.

“Exactly that,” I said with confidence I didn’t feel, but I let a single finger slide down his chest. He shivered in response, just a tiny little thing I’d never have seen unless I was super focussed.

Just like Razor was the entire time.

“Be home on time tonight, ready for anything, and you’ll find out.”

I channelled my inner boss bitch as I pulled away from him, sauntering into the bathroom, trying to maintain that once I got clean, dressed and drove into the city. My heels clicked across the marble floor of the office foyer, my briefcase in hand.

“Oh Maddie, you’re back!” Annie got to her feet, a big smile on her face as she walked over. “How’s the leg…?” Her eyes didn’t go to my injured leg, but my tattooed arm, the design, still wrapped up neatly, poking out of the sleeve of my top. “You got ink done?” She leaned over to take a closer look. “Oh my god, that looks amazing!”

“What looks amazing?” I turned around to find Mal standing there with a big grin on her face. “You, obviously. The track pants and messy bun look was working for you, but this…” Her mouth fell open. “Is that ink? Bitch, you’ve been holding out on me. I thought you were only having orgies with hot bikers!”

“Ahh… Mal.”

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