Page 34 of Release Me

Connor ducks out.

I can’t help myself. “Can you survive without my brother next to you for that long?”

“I guess we’ll find out. Hey, Jean, I heard theremight be an extra copy of the Wolf Alaska brochure here somewhere. Would you mind checking?” Ronan smoothly asks.

“Could be one in the mail room? Give me a sec.” She trots off, leaving me alone with him.

I turn to go back to my desk.

“Stop.”

The single word stalls my legs. “What?”

He makes me wait for an answer, leisurely signing and dating the bottom of the form. I use that time to study his sleeve of tattoos. I’ve caught nothing more than glimpses so far—of an angel, a woman’s face, an old-fashioned scale, a skull. The designs are both beautiful and raw. And so masculine.

I’ve never found tattoos appealing until now. It’s more likely the canvas that I’m becoming infatuated with. Ronan could model, as handsome as he is. I could see him on some edgy, black-and-white magazine cover, with motorcycles and leather and cigarettes.

Finally, I can’t stand the silence. “You know you don’t need the pamphlet. You can get all the Alaska info on the website.”

“My mom asked me to send it. She likes things in print.”

Ugh. Why does him saying that make him even hotter? Bastard.

A secretive smile curls his lips. “No jog this morning?”

So, he knows I was hiding in my room. “I wasn’t up to it.”

“Avoiding someone.”

“Just didn’t feel like it,” I lie. A run would have been a fantastic way to burn anxiety.

“Hmm …” He sets the pen down and slides the paperwork forward, the side of his thumb grazing mine as his piercing eyes lift to settle on me. “Didn’t take you for a chickenshit.”

“I’m not.” I fight the urge to pull away. Not because I don’t want to touch him, because I so badly do. I glance around to make sure no one’s watching. “You didn’t tell him, did you?” I whisper.

He leans in, dropping his voice to match mine. “Did you honestly think I’d tell Connor that I fucked his sister last night?”

A shiver skates down my spine with his crass words. “It’s not like he’d care.”

Ronan chuckles. “I think you’re wrong about that.”

“Well … remember your promise.”

“What’s it worth to you for me to keep it?” A rare and wicked smile curves his lips, his focus dropping to my mouth. “Because I’d love to watch you give me a?—”

“The last one!” Jean speeds toward us, waving the colorful pamphlet in her hand.

I step back, breaking contact.

He settles that devastating smile to Jean. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” She fumbles with her hair. “Do you need anything else?”

“Nope. Thanks.” His gaze shifts back to me. “School tonight, Ryan?”

“As usual.” When I enrolled in the master’s program last fall, I had this crazy idea that it would be manageable. Work full time, go to class four evenings a week, use my weekends for assignments … easy enough. Clearly, I was delusional. Thank God it’s Thursday and my last lecture for the week.

“I guess I’ll see you at home, then.”

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