Page 22 of Run From Me

He cut himself off, and one of his hands slid down my arm and grabbed mine, bringing my palm flush against his crotch.

I turned my eyes up at him, trying to make sure he could see all that practiced attitude I was great at masking with.

“Guess I won’t find out either way. But I’ll assume that’s just a gun in your pocket. God forbid I spread a rumor you were happy to see me.”

There was a stalemate for a moment as he seemed to study me, and then he did something I didn’t expect.

“I’ve been sporting this since the second I saw you elbows deep in that old guy. But tell me something. Without those drinks, would have kissed me? Tell me the truth about this one thing.” He paused and pulled me against his body, reminding me just how damn close I’d been to getting to feel all that muscle.

My eyes had probably flicked down to his zipper a few too many times since seeing him. I just wasn’t admitting that. I wasn’t admitting that he was walking sex, and I was a desert of denied pleasure.

Getting someone killed just for dating them would do that to a girl. That was one unintended consequence. Making it clear my happiness was expendable and my life was only valuable until they got to the next coroner.

“Cali, are you listening to me?” he asked, forcing my chin a little higher, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “I won’t touch you if you don’t come to me willingly. No drugs. No alcohol. Nothing but you.”

I smirked, because that was just a little too much gentleman.

“Right. All righteous now? How many people have you killed? And yet here you are, the picture of virtue? It’s fine. You don’t want my pussy? I’m sure I can find someone else to shack up with. Anything is better than retiring back to a Viper infested apartment.”

I was a bitch. I knew I was a bitch. It was the only way I could survive. I would lie all I needed to. I would tell myself that I hurt the same as anyone else.

Could tell myself this hurt because I just wanted to not go home and I’d lost that chance because he was on his high horse.But really? Ever since I’d seen him in that cesspool of a house, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

I just wasn’t going to tell him that.

“Now, which one of these guys do you think would make for a good, quick fuck?”

I didn’t actually get an answer, because the next sight I saw was his ass as he tossed me over his shoulder and stormed out of the building.

SEVEN

xander

She wasa giant pain in my fucking ass.

Did I have regrets? Sure, and not just because I’d obviously unleashed some major sexual frustration, but because I was now heading to blue ball city and it was my fault.

I slapped her ass as she struggled against my grip. Woman didn’t know what the hell was good for her.

I caught Cas’s eye as I waved, turning toward the back door. I struggled to swallow my anger, or maybe it was my own stupidity, as I pushed open the door to the lot.

“Leaving already?” asked one of the younger guys.

I nodded. “Business.”

He didn’t even blink. Loyalty was everything, and if I wasn’t willing to talk, he was willing to just let it be.

“Help. He’s kidnapping me,” Calliope shouted. My hand might have shifted higher and gripped her inner thigh, making her squeal.

“No one is going to help you, Sparky.”

I stopped at my car and contemplated whether she was dumb enough to try to run off. Best not tempt fate.

I opened the driver’s side door and slid her down my body until her feet hovered over the ground.

“What the hell, Xander? I am here for Rylee. Go fuck yourself. I’m going back. I don’t know why I thought having a date was required or something. Maybe it was just paranoia on my part.”

She was captive in my arms.

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