Page 74 of Savage Cravings

“What—whatare you doing?”

Instead of answering me, he moved closer, crowding me to a small corner of the elevator. I blindly reached behind me for the handrail and grasped it for dear life. The bell started to fade away, but I was still stuck in the unmoving elevator with him.

He still hadn’t said anything. His eyes roamed over my face, as if trying to see deep beneath the surface of my very being. And judging by the look in his eyes, he found me sorely lacking.

“I’m trying to see what it is about you that’s got them so fucking interested,” he said, his voice soft. I wasn’t fooled.

“They?”

Did he mean his brothers?

Silas might be interested in me, but Maverick wasn’t. And even if he was, why was that such a bad thing in Killian’s opinion? Because it was clear to me that he wished I didn’t exist. Or, hell, he’d be the one to make it so.

This wasn’t my first time staring into the eyes of a man who could kill me without a second thought. But to see that in the eyes of a man I didn’t even know—I was at a disadvantage. I didn’t know Killian enough to know which line he wouldn’t cross.

I swallowed, regretting the move almost instantly when his eyes tracked down to my vulnerable throat.

“Let me go,” I said, trying to appear strong and unaffected. The smirk he shot my way told me I failed. “Why are you doing this?”

“I’m not doing anything,” he said, moving just a little closer to me. I shook my head, the panic growing as I felt his hard body pressed against me. He would be impossible to fight off. “I just wanted to see what’s gotten my brothers so interested,” herepeated. “Especially Silas. Because of you, we had to delay our trip back home.”

“I didn’t ask him to!” I yelled.

I might as well have not said anything with the way he just stared back at me. I let go of the handrail behind me and pounded my fists on his chest, trying to push him off. He was like a fucking wall cemented into place.

He splayed his hands on the wall on either side of my head, trapping me. I shook my head. Any yelling I did would be pointless.

“And what did you come up with?” I spat out. “Can you see what’s making them so interested?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, obviously not expecting this change in conversation.

I didn’t just escape the MC life only to be intimidated by another man. And even if ‌I was damn intimidated by him, I was going to do everything not to give him the upper hand.

I stood on my toes until only an inch of space separated our faces. “And do you understand them? Is that why you’re so angry?”

He scoffed. “I’m not fucking angry.”

I smiled. I had him. “No? I think you’re lying to me.”

He slid one hand down and curved it around my neck but didn’t tighten his grip. I took a deep breath, trying to keep the panic at bay even though I could feel my heart speeding. With the way my knees were shaking, it took almost everything in me to remain standing.

“I don’t need to lie to you, little firecracker.” The words were almost a growl.

The nickname was so utterly ridiculous, I couldn’t help but chuckle, even if it sounded dry and hollow.

His hand around my neck tightened marginally, not enough to hurt or cut off my air supply, but enough for me to notice, and I was sure he must have realized how my pulse jumped.

The arrogant smile was back on his face.

So I did the only thing I could think of to wipe it off.

I kissed him.

The slam of my lips against his felt like a finality.

Whether it was his or mine was debatable.

I couldn’t let myself get too hung up on that, because his lips were soft, much softer than Silas’ had been, and the way his muscles grew taut only made me want to try harder to get him to lose control.

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