Page 57 of They Break Beauty

My wrist was snagged before the blow could land.

“Impressive.”

Panting and hopped up on adrenaline and a whole lot else with everything having moved so quickly it had basically been a blur, it took me a moment to match the voice to the man.

I shoved his low-hanging hood with my other hand, pulling it from his face.

“Dammit. Levi.”

“Hey, Wildflower.”

I slapped his chest. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Me? Just innocently walking to the parking lot when a sexy thing jumped me.”

“Bullshit. The lot is the other way. You were stalking me.”

“I just wanted to make sure you got home safe.”

I scoffed. “You’re really trying to paint yourself as some chivalrous gentleman?”

“Is that really so hard to imagine?”

Was this guy for real? “Yes,” I ground out.

“Before we get into this, you mind moving your knee?”

I looked down to see that one of my knees was still shoved between his legs, while I had the other bearing down on his ribs. “My bad, does that hurt?” I couldn’t help taunting.

After everything he’d done, he was damn lucky this was the extent of it. So far.

“It’s slightly bothersome.”

He was barely showing it, just the slight tightness of his jaw giving away that he was actually feeling any pain.

I applied more pressure, shoving harder. “Better?”

“Last chance.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m the one with the upper hand here. You’re not in a position to demand anything.”

“You don’t think so, hmm?”

“No. Not to mention, you absolutely deserve it.”

“Debatable.”

“The hell it is.”

“Don’t make me use unpleasant methods again. You didn’t like the last time I took it there.”

“You—”

My words turned to a squeal as he executed a series of lightning-fast moves that broke my grip, forcing me onto my side, where he then hauled me to my feet and ran me into the brick wall.

I choked from the severe winding sensation of the jarring movements as he closed in around me, crowding me against the wall with his knees trapping my legs and one hand wrapped threateningly around my throat.

“I did warn you,” he said, off my stunned reaction. “Yet, once again, you chose the hard way.” He studied me up close. “I’m starting to think you like it that way. Harsh and heavy-handed, being dominated by me. Is that how you want it, Brianna? Is that the only way you can let go?”

---