Page 125 of Rough Around the Hedges

ISADORA: Now she’s taking a picture of it.

ISADORA: Sending to you for sure.

As she predicted, the next message that came through was a photo from Rose.

ME: Good shot.

ROSE: Where do you get off telling me not to dance with someone?????

ME: I don’t like that he’s touching you.

ROSE: Well, now I know how to make your life hell for the next twenty-four hours.

ME: If you send me pictures of you with guys, you better watch yourself when I’m back. Don’t think I won’t drag you out of your bed and teach you a lesson.

ROSE: Cute.

I hit the button to call her, and before she could speak, I said in a low voice, “Cute? What part of what I just said is cute to you?”

“Your little threat. As if you can make me listen to you,” she taunted me. The background noise got quieter, and I knew she was walking away from the crowds.

I got up and walked over to the window, leaning against one of the sturdy panes. “I can make you listen. Half the job is getting you to shut up and giving you a taste of my cock does that pretty well.”

“You—” she stopped, obviously flustered. “I’ll bite it!”

“Go wild. See what I do to you if you do,” I retorted in a warning tone. “I can tell you this—there’ll be no doubt about who can touch you when I’m done with you.”

Silence.

“You’re jealous,” she whispered, a hint of awe twisting her words.

“Yeah, I’m jealous.” I pressed my fist to my forehead, trying to keep my irritation in check. “Just realised, princess? Or do you want me to make it clearer for you?”

“Actually, yeah, that’d be great. Could you spell it out? Like, exactly.”

Frustrated rumbled in my chest.Gladly. “Don’t touch anyone else. Don’t let them touch you. Don’t dance with another man. Don’t laugh at them. Fuck, don’t even smile at them, not when I can’t see you smiling at me. I don’t like it.”

“Oh,” she said quietly.

“Oh, what?”

“That was hot.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes.That was her response?Of course, it was. What the fuck was I expecting? Her to tell me to be quiet, that it was inappropriate, or that I had no business saying any of that to her?

I should have known better.

This wasRoseafter all.

She’d never once done what I’d expected.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” I said in a low voice.

She laughed. “Ah, my plan is coming to fruition.”

If it were anyone else, I’d think it was a joke.

But, Rose?

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