Page 25 of Queen of Wrath

A cold, anxious feeling dribbled down my neck knowing that Jax would be back at any moment.

Thistle, Lotus Powder, and acid from a poison frog’s tongue.

This felt right.

The power of the ingredients mixed together was practically vibrating in my hands before I had even given any essence to it.

I lifted the grainy salve to my mouth and breathed on it. The substance lit up with a blue fire before turning as black as coal.

Hah! I’m a natural.

I turned my palm outward, rubbing it on the lock.

There was a soft sizzle before a metallic click sounded, the lock popping open effortlessly. I made quick work of pulling the handle and moving my fingers through the written scrolls.

What was I looking for? The evidence I needed could have been right in my face and I wouldn't even really be sure of what I needed to be focusing on.

An unmarked scroll at the back of the pile, however, caught my attention. I unraveled the beginning, my eyes searching it with unbridled hunger.

A smirk pulled at the corner of my mouth as soon as I saw the name Diesel Ransom.

What are you two up to?

“Thank you. I'll give you a call if I need anything else.” Jax's voice echoed down the hall, and an icy jolt crackled up my spine.

I quickly collected my pouch of ingredients, closed it up, and tied it to my waist. Then quickly, but silently, I closed the cabinet door and scurried over to his desk.

I was in the clear, though the issue was that my heart was pounding like a racehorse’s, and beads of sweat were dripping from my forehead. I was very obviously in a panic. How was I supposed to cover that up?

The office door opened up, leaving me no time to think of a plan.

I turned around, and his eyes met mine. I was done for if I couldn’t come up with something quickly.

“What's with that face? You look almost…guilty,” he joked, but his eyes shifted around the room as if checking to see if something was out of place.

Shit!

“I am guilty of something.” There was no going back after those words. I took a deep breath as I dragged my fingers along the hem of my robe, pulling it aside to grant him an eyeful of my cleavage beneath. “I want you. I know it's terrible of me, you’re a married man, but I don't care. I’m not about to let my conscience stop me from getting what I want…”

He stood there simply watching me for a moment, speechless.

That's it, I'm done. He suspects me…

Until he smiled. “You're one intriguing woman, Emma.” Relief flooded my nerves. “I knew you were something extraordinary from the moment I first met you.”

He moved closer to me, and my skin crawled at the thought of him touching me. Then he dragged his knuckles against my cheek, and my body had a very different reaction.

My breath hitched as sparks of excitement exploded through my veins.

Even my core churned with heat, and I had to press my thighs together to stifle the unbearable feeling.

What the hell?

His striking green eyes, dark with longing, looked deeply into mine as he shook his head slowly. “Now is not a good time, but soon we will be together. You can count on that.”

His eyes cascaded down to the swells on the top of my breasts, and I could tell he’d almost lost control of himself.

“You should go. Now,” he ground out, his voice low and threatening.

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