Page 18 of Guarded Rebellion

When I looked at Eva again, I didn’t let the frustration slide off my face.

“Was that necessary?” she asked, deadpan.

“Wasthisnecessary?” I took one more step closer, pinning her to the wall with my leg between hers as I gripped her elbow.

Her brows dipped down as she frowned.

“Flirting with that pathetic piece of shit? Isthatnecessary, Eva?”

She licked her lips, keeping her gaze cast down at the scant inch between us. While I knew she broke eye contact because she was livid, likely wishing she could strangle me, that coy move turned me on.

More than ever before in the three weeks she’d been with me day in and out, I was tempted. To slam her up against the wall harder and kiss her. To put her in her place and show what happened when a woman really wanted a man’s attention. To prove to her that she wasn’t ready to handle a man’s passion. Struggling with the desire she incited, I clung to the fact I couldn’t dismiss.

She’s not mine. She won’t be mine.

This is just a job.

Just a fucking job.

Her blue eyes sparkled with ire as she lifted her chin. “I wasn’t?—”

“Don’t lie to me,” I warned as I gripped the back of her neck.

I could do it. I could lean in, hold her close, and cover her lips with mine. She was right there. Within reach.

I can’t.

“You knew damn well what you were doing.” I pushed my leg against her, pinning her with a little more force where she’d feel it between her legs. “Don’t play these little seductress games like Maria does with the soldiers. Not with pieces of shit like that waste.”

“Oh.” She mocked surprise. “Now you’ll tell me who I can play with, huh?”

“Not him.”

And not me either.This desire pushed me to the edge of teetering on such a fine line of control. She was taunting me,begging me to scold her and discipline her, and I continued to forbid myself from acting on it. Even this stance with her was a risk.

“Play stupid games and win stupid prizes,” I warned her. “If you’re going to act like a flirt and try to get the wrong attention here, all it would take is one call to the Boss and your adventure is over.”

“How dare you threaten me?” she sassed, shoving at my chest. I followed the momentum of her push, not because she had the force behind it to make me move but because Rurik added to the suggestion that I back up. He grabbed my arm and tugged me away from her, from the wall.

“Don’t you have another class to get to?” he asked, furrowing his brow at me.

Eva growled, spinning on her heel and walking away.

We fell into step behind her. Of course, we did. Once we saw her to her chemistry lab, though, I stationed myself outside the closed door. Unlike the lecture halls and bigger classes, these small labs were too rigid with seating for me to hover over her like I wanted to.

“What the hell is going on?” Rurik asked as soon as she was inside the lab room. “Why are you goading her like this?”

“I’m not goading her.”

“Fuck, Lev.” He laughed once as he shook his head, incredulous. “I see the way you two fight. I get it. She’s living up to her icy bitch persona, but this antagonism is like a fucking game between you two.” He raised his brows. “Forget about it, man.”

I ground my molars, peeved that he’d even think to call me out on this. “You’re imagining things.” I gripped my neck and kneaded the soreness there from another lousy night of sleep with the most uncomfortable pillows on earth.

“Bullshit. You looked like you were ready to fuck her up against the wall back there.”

I shot him a stern look.

“Forget about it. You, messing around with the Boss’s niece?” He laughed again, bitter and sarcastic as he swatted his hand at my chest. “Fuck that. That’s never gonna happen.”

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