Page 20 of Be Mine

“Then why act like it? You wouldn’t even look at me, and when you did it was with nothing but disdain.”

He advances on me in an instant, until there’s nowhere left to go. My back slams up against the wall. His body follows, his hands finding the wall behind me, barricading me in. “Is that what this is? Disdain?”

His breaths are coming fast and shallow. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen him affected by anything before, and God, is it intoxicating. His hand goes to my throat, his thumb sweeping the pulse there that roars like a steady drum, increasing in tempo with every second that passes. He tightens his grip until I’m nearly breathless, and it should scare the living shit out of me, but it’s like a fire has been ignited deep in my belly, filling me with a yearning that threatens to burn me alive.

He leans in, every word he utters next a hushed whisper that feels like a lover’s touch. “I don’t dislike you, Frankie baby. Though some days I wish I did. It would make my life a hell of a lot easier.”

Tipping my head back against the wall, I observe all of his features up close, from the crest of his brow to the dip in his Cupid’s bow. My eyes feast on him, consuming every morsel like a woman starved. Why does a man so cold have to be so strikingly beautiful? His chiseled jaw clenches, the muscles in his biceps bunch—like it’s taking all his energy to restrain himself right now.Don’t,I want to say. Unleash the beast, do your worst.

My lips part on an exhaled breath and his eyes immediately drop to them. In response, he licks his own. It’s a dangerous game we’re playing right now, one that I know will go up in flames, ‘cause we’re burning too hot, both fueled by anger and desire. Each of us inches closer, giving into the other’s calling for damnation and destruction. We’re so close we’re exchanging oxygen. I wait for him to close the distance, to devour me alive, but the sound of ringing breaks the spell.

Noah slams his fist against the wall, making me jump before he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out the phone. He looks at the number, then back at me before swiping and answering the call.

“Hello.” His eyes never leave mine as he speaks.

“Yes, she’s available, one moment.” He holds it out for me. “It’s the police. They want to speak to you.” His voice is restrained, but I can see the storm waging behind his glasses.

My hands shake as I take the phone from him and bring it to my ear.

“Hello?” It comes out like a croak, like I can’t trust my own voice.

“Miss Clarke, it’s Officer Barde. We must have got cut off last night.” He sounds suspicious.

“Uh, yes, sorry about that.”

“Frankie, is everything alright?”

I could tell him that Noah kidnapped me and I think he murdered someone, but the words refuse to come forward.

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just been a long couple of days.”

“I understand. I need to ask you a few questions regarding the disappearance of Emmett Brown.”

My eyes flick up to Noah, still looming like a dark cloud.

“Am I a suspect?” I ask.

“No, Miss Clarke, we have witnesses that have corroborated Mr. Porter’s story that the two of you left the club together, and Mr. Brown left alone. Again, it’s just standard procedure. We understand you’re under a lot of stress with the incidents that have transpired, but you are connected to one man who has gone missing and another whose heart turned up on your doorstep yesterday morning. It’s my job to follow any leads.”

“I understand. And I’ll give you any information I have.” The night is hazy, my memory only retaining flashes of time.

“I know you’ve been through a lot. Can you come into the department tomorrow? I need an official statement from you and Mr. Porter.”

“Yes, we can do that.” I’m just telling him what he wants to hear. I don’t know how Noah plans on handling this, if he will let me leave to give a statement. Or ever.

“Great, I’ll speak to you then.”

“Okay, bye.”

I blow out a breath and lean against the wall. My legs wobble beneath me, threatening to give out.

“You didn’t tell him.” Noah quirks his eyebrow.

Looking past him, I shake my head slowly.

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

---