Page 65 of Wicked Proposal
“Doesn’t matter. We’ll be playing a very dangerous game together. Anything could happen.”
My mouth travels close to her ear. As I speak, I can feel the shell of it against my lips. It drives me fucking crazy—how little it would take to bite it. To nibble until she mewls and writhes against me.
“But you can’t be the future Mrs. Lozhkin,” I add. “No one can.”
She struggles free from my grasp and fixes me with a glare that could melt glaciers. “Don’t worry,Mr. Lozhkin.I’m not interested in ever seeing you again after this is over with.”
Liar.
“Then we have a deal.”
I offer her my hand.
She stares at it like it could bite her. But eventually, she gives a firm shake.
“Deal,” she says, like she was ever an equal partner in this. Like she ever had any power in our little “negotiation.”
I turn to leave. “Oh,” I remember at the door. “Get ready for tomorrow night. I have a business meeting. You’ll be needed.”
Mia’s mouth gapes. “That’s too soon. I—I can’t. I have a shift, I don’t have a sitter, I—we just agreed on forty-eight hours!”
“Yes,” I agree. “And going forward, you’ll be given your precious notice. But tomorrow, you will be where I need you to be.”
Without another glance back, I climb down the stairs.
“Hey!” Mia’s voice follows me, then her footsteps. “I’m not done talking to you!”
My patience is hanging on by a thread. If I stay any longer, I won’t be able to control my actions. I’m unpredictable on my best days, but around Mia Winters?
I have no idea what I’ll be capable of if she keeps pushing me.
She chases me out the front door. Her breaths are heavy by the time she’s caught up with me, hands-on-knees kind of heavy. “You can’t—you can’t just walk away!”
I glance back at her figure. Bent, sweaty—exactly the way my worst instincts would want her. “I just did.”
“You…!” she heaves. “You arrogant, cocky, entitled son of a bitch! I amnotgoing to dance to your fucking tune just because you want me to, you got that?!”
Finally—finally—the thread snaps.
It happens faster than I can process it. One second, I’m standing in front of my car, and the next?—
“Hey! What the hell?!”
—I’m dragging Mia into an alley.
I bracket her against the wall with my right arm, slamming my palm hard into the concrete. Plaster crackles and falls at the impact. Mia’s gaze snaps to the spot I crushed, takes in the consequences. Immediately, a shiver goes through her.
Good,the dark side of me preens.Fear me. Hate me.
And show me some fucking respect while you’re at it.
I lower my gaze, meeting hers. She looks terrified, and yet, at the same time, ready to pounce. I’ve never seen such a mix on a person’s face before.
“You seem to be under the mistaken impression you can call the shots here, Ms. Winters,” I growl, low and dangerous. “Let me assure you, you cannot.”
“I—”
“Quiet.” My hand flies to her throat and clamps down. Not enough to hurt, but enough to keep Mia from moving a muscle, her quick tongue included. “I’m talking now.”
