Page 17 of Run From Me

The guy paled real fast. He was a new recruit. I recognized him now.

“Sorry, sir. Yes, sir.”

I nodded and let him go. He ran.

I reached for Cali as she grabbed a drink from someone next to her. The asshole would get yelled at for not watching his drink later. Logic said no one would steal around here. Except Cali, apparently.

“Oh good, X. Can you watch her?” Rylee asked, clearly giving up. I noticed Rylee fighting for the drink and losing.

I was already grabbing for Cali’s waist as she tried to climb over the bar. She wasn’t drunk, not yet, but damn, was she feisty as fuck and determined. The bartender didn’t even try to fight the vodka bottle out of her hand.

“Xander, let me go.”

I wrapped my arm tighter around her waist and pulled her, bottle and all, toward me.

“Yeah, I got her Rylee. Go dance with that new husband of yours and consider this one managed.”

Cali squirmed.

“Managed? Now I’m just managed? Something to be managed?”

She sucked down more vodka before I could grab the bottle. I took a swig and damn near broke the thing as I slammed it back on the counter. She grabbed the bottle back.

That shit was strong stuff, and she was acting like it was water. I really hoped it took the edge off all the feels I had going on. Was I attracted? Hell yes, I was. But all this other shit? I had to tell myself it was heartburn.

“Cali, this is enough. What has gotten into you?”

She wiggled, and I pulled her against me tighter. That was the first mistake. Her ass pressed against my already-too-aware cock. I’d need a fucking ice shower to get her out of my system tonight.

“I will tell you when it’s enough. I want to forget. I don’t even care if I get fired for drinking on call.”

That caught my attention.

“If you get fired, who’s going to help me with the mayor’s autopsy results?”

Her nails dug into my forearm, forcing me to let her go before I reached out with my other hand and swung her back toward me. Her eyes turned cold. That look alone should have killed the hard-on I was sporting.

“That’s all Calliope is good for. Information. Everyone wants information. Well, fuck that,” she said.

She downed another sip of the bottle.

I grabbed the vodka this time and fought her for it.

“Stop it. You’re going to kill yourself with alcohol poisoning. Put the bottle down.”

She grabbed on with both hands.

“I’m stronger than you, just put the bottle down.” I don’t do doubt, but fuck if my muscles didn’t strain fighting her for it until I could pass it to the bartender, who seemed to understand the need to block the rest of the bottles.

“You’re making a scene, Sparky,” I said as I wrapped her up in my arms and threw her over my shoulder, doing what I could to make sure no one was getting a free show. I took advantage of all the dark corners where security had a tendency to hide during shows. And now, they would work for me to get this crazy woman under control.

“Calliope, what has gotten into you?”

Her cheeks were clearly flushed even in the dim lighting reaching us here. Fuck. My mouth watered to taste her when every breath of hers made it impossible to not notice her breasts. Every single time she inhaled they practically begged to be released from the dress. I couldn’t take my damn eyes away, as it seemed like the dress was stretched to its limits. I couldn’t stop myself as I cupped her cheek with my hand and absently ran my thumb roughly over her bottom lip.

Fuck. Right. Her. That’s a bullshit claim she’d just made. Aside from my cock, she was waking something protective in me, and I hated that she actually thought nothing else about her was worth anything.

I held her chin in between my fingers and spoke as her eyes locked on my face.

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