Page 8 of Her Outlaw Prisoner
I should ignore it. I should stop whatever this is that’s budding between us, but a reckless part of me, the part that has always been stifled, caged by the terror of always being watched—wants to push.
Just a little.
So I tilt my head, pretending to study him. “You faked a stomachache just to see me…why?”
“Why not?” he counters, his lips spreading in a carefree smile that makes him look even more handsome.
“That’s kind of desperate, don’t you think?” I let my lips curve slightly, challenging him.
Something flashes in his blue eyes, but he doesn’t look offended. If anything, he just looks…intrigued.
“Desperate?” he repeats, like he’s tasting the word. “No. Just…determined.”
I arch a brow. “Determined for what?”
He leans in just slightly, enough that I can feel the heat rolling off him. “You tell me.”
My breath catches.
I should not be doing this. I should not be flirting with a convicted felon, especially one as dangerous as Ronan Callahan. But there’s something between us…an undeniable pull that’s fast spinning out of control. Something keeps drawing me to him. Maybe it’s the way he looks at me, like I’m something precious. Something beautiful.
Or maybe it’s the way he lets me push, lets me prod.
Like he’s giving me control.
And God, that’s a new feeling.
My entire life has been dictated by the whims of others. My stepbrother’s cruelty, the world that told me to keep my headdown and be good. I’ve never felt like I had control over anything in my life, but right now, with him, I do.
Yes, Ronan is dangerous. The kind of man who could snap his fingers and make someone disappear. A man who is feared inside these walls. And yet, he’s letting me play with him.
My pulse skips as I take a step closer, breaking the last bit of space between us. His nostrils flare slightly, but he doesn’t move away.
“You know what?” I murmur, tilting my head, pretending to examine him. “Maybe I do need to examine you again.”
His eyes darken. “Yes?”
“Yes.” I place my fingers lightly against his wrist, right where his pulse beats strong and steady. “Your pulse seems normal.”
He watches me, unmoving, as I trail my fingers up his forearm, slowly. His muscles twitch beneath my fingertips, his eyes burning with a fire that urges me on. I know I’m playing a dangerous game, but I can’t seem to stop.
I press my palm lightly against his chest, over his racing heart. “Though…your heartbeat does seem a little…erratic.” I bite my lip, trying to suppress a smile. “Are you under some kind of stress, Mr. Callahan?”
His jaw tightens. “Careful, Eleanor.”
“Why?” I let my hand linger a second longer than necessary before I finally step back. “Afraid I’ll diagnose you with something embarrassing?”
His eyes burn into mine. “No. Afraid you’ll keep pushing until you get more than you’re ready for.”
A shiver rolls down my spine. I should back away now. But I’m enjoying this too much.
So I lift my chin, meeting his stare head-on. “Maybe I’m ready.”
Ronan exhales slowly, like he’s reining something in. For a second, neither of us move. The air between us becomes charged, crackling with tension. Then, in a move so subtle I almost miss it, he shifts so I’m standing between his legs, my thighs pressing against his erection.
My core clenches in response, heat pooling between my legs. I glance down to see him looking at me, waiting…
He’s waiting for me to decide.
