Page 6 of Never Fear (Whiskey Ridge)
“Doing what? Walking the fine line between life and death?”
She groaned, arching her neck back to lean her head against the car. “God, you’re so dramatic.”
I grabbed her chin, pulling her back to look at me. Her jaw was firm, her eyes blazing with annoyance.
“Is it dramatic of me to want you to be careful?” I asked, my mask brushing along the tip of her nose as Iinched closer. “Is it dramatic to want you to watch your fucking back, and not be so naive about all of this?”
Her lips parted, and the look lit something inside me. I wanted her to react. To fight. To dosomething.
Slowly, my fingers glided along her jawline as I widened my hand. I trailed underneath her jaw until my hand was wrapped around her throat. She stood so still, I wondered if she was even breathing now.
If she hadn’t been before, then she definitely wasn’t now. Not as I pressed her harder against the car and tightened my grip enough to cut her breathing off.
But still, she didn’t move. Her cheeks tinted red, her eyes turning glassy as she glared at me. If she was trying to prove that what I was doing wasn’t affecting her, she needed to use some common fucking sense.
Seconds ticked by, and I trailed a finger down her cheek. “You’re stubborn, aren’t you?”
It was almost like my words spurred something in her. Her hands shot out and grabbed my wrist, gripping hard as she tried to shove me away, but I didn’t let up.
“How does it feel to not breathe, McKenna? To know that I could take not only your ability to fill those precious little lungs, but also your life?”
Her eyes widened as the panic set in, her nails digging into my skin where the sleeve of my jacket slid up my arm.
I watched her effort, reveling in her fight. “Good girl. Use your claws, kitten. Fight me.”
Her knee came up, slower than she’d probably anticipated, but I dodged it easily. Knowing she’d likely pass out soon, I let go of her neck and stepped back.
She choked on air as it filled her lungs and burnedher throat. Her body bent at the waist. I knew what it was like to be choked, knew what she was seeing and feeling.
I watched her, shaking my head as she gasped for air. Better she hate me than be careless and lose her fucking life.
I wasn’t trying to assert any kind of role with McKenna. I only wanted her safe. And if she wouldn’t listen to me, then maybe instilling fear in her was what would make her open her damn eyes.
No. That wasn’t it.
Killing the person who left that note for her was the solution.
I shoved my mask down my face, leaving it around my neck.
“McKenna,” I started. Maybe I’d gone too far. Maybe?—
She shook her head, but no amount of breathing seemed to calm her. Was she panicking?
“McKenna. Hey. Look at me.” I crouched, looking up at her where she was still keeled over. She had her hands on her knees, her cheeks beet red.
Almost like she’d flipped a switch, she straightened, big, narrowed eyes meeting mine. “You want to turn me on, you’re going to have to try harder than some light choking.” Her words didn’t hold their typical bite, despite how hard she tried to cover up whatever she was feeling.
“Light. Right. I’ll remember how rough you really like it for next time.”
“Fuck off, Austin,” she snarled, a damning scowl on her face.
She was angry. Good. That meant she’d fight hardernext time.
“I know you didn’t go on a date the other night,” I stated.
She gave me an exasperated look, like that wasn’t important right now. “How do you guess that?”
“I watched you.”
