Page 48 of Fire Fight

“Looking for something?”

I shriek, spinning to see Drake glaring at me from the doorway.

He glances back towards the stairwell, then takes a step forward. “I changed my mind about a late-night swim, but this is a surprise.”

Like hell it is.

From his smug expression, I know he tricked me.

And I didn’t even hear his footsteps. He moves like a cat.

I jump to my feet, going on the aggressive. “I’m only looking for the stuff you stole.”

“Thestuff, how specific.” He snorts as he comes in far enough to close the door, then rests back against it, nodding at the shoebox. “Strange thatyour ‘stuff’ looks exactly likemy‘stuff.’” He raises his fingers each time in mocking quote marks. “Care to explain?”

My heart rate increases under the intensity of his stare, and I clutch my hands together to hide their trembling. “Sorry. I was being nosy.”

“There’s no need to apologise.” He takes a step towards me and I back away. “Not when your mouth could be better occupied doing far more pleasurable things.” My eyes dart to his skintight trunks before I can stop them, and he chuckles. “It’s nice we understand each other.”

“Pull those down and I’m screaming for help.”

He arches an eyebrow, lips curving into a malicious smile. “Go ahead. Given how much your mother has to lose, she’s probably join in if I asked her.”

“You don’t know the first thing about her.” I plant both hands on his chest and shove as hard as I can, further infuriated when he barely sways. “Why don’t you get back to me when you’ve successfully navigated a mental illness and raising a child on your own, you judgemental prick.”

He grabs my arm when I go to shove him again, easily overpowering me.

“Settle down. You don’t want to add another black mark to your tally.” He rubs his free hand over the cheek I desperately want to smack, palm rasping against the stubble. “It’s like you want to be punished.”

“How would you like me to insult your mother? Or do you think it only goes one way?”

His jaw works, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. I expect another deluge of insults. Instead, he releases me to lift his bedside lamp, withdrawing a key from the base, and unlocks his bottom desk drawer, giving me a knowing smile.

“Are these what you’re after?” he asks, shaking the pill bottle, then twisting it to read the label. “Unfortunately, the prescription isn’t made out to you. What a shame.”

I snatch for it, already knowing it’s foolish. Already knowing he won’t let me take them.

“Such a grabby girl.” Another step brings him within touching distance, and I can’t retreat. My knees bump against his bed. “What else do you like to grab, hm?”

My throat closes over, my olfactory system overloaded with his body’s heady mix of sweet smoke and the salty bite of the ocean.

“Or is this what you want?” He drops the pills back in the drawer, withdrawing my phone instead. Before I know what’shappening, he seizes my hand, pressing my thumb to the screen, unlocking it.

“No!”

“What?” He dances away from my grasping hands; his gaze shifting from my face to the phone and back again. “Don’t you want me to read your messages and find out all your secret crushes?” His mocking smile grows broader as he scans the list. “And look here. It’s our lovely neighbour. Want me to tell him to fuck off and die?”

When I grab for the phone this time, he lets me take it, and I shove it into my bra. As I pull back, his brow darkens; he seizes my wrist, fingers closing tight. Staring where Arnold’s pinch has darkened into a bruise.

“Did Hudson do this?” Drake’s nostrils flare with anger, thunderclouds storming in his grey eyes. “I’ll kick his fucking arse.”

I jerk free, tugging my sleeve to cover it. “It’s nothing.”

“I decide if it’s nothing.” His low growl makes my hairs stand on end. Especially when he bends to whisper, “The only one allowed to torment you, is me.”

The words are a sweet menace, setting my nerves alight with their slow, seductive heat. But I resist the temptation.

Nothing good can come from confessing the truth.

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