Page 50 of Billionaire's Promise
"You don’t say?" I pause so suddenly she crashes into me. Then, turning, I scoop her up,
"Hey, what the hell? I can walk."
"And see how that turned out?"
She huffs, wriggles around in my arms. I pull her close, her handbag jammed in between us. "Stop it," I growl.
"Or what?"
"Or I’ll have to take my hand to your arse when we get to the car."
Her breath hitches. "I’d like to see you do that."
"I’m sure you would." I allow a smirk to curve my lips. "Just as it turns you on to be brought to orgasm with the threat of being discovered in a public place."
"You know nothing," she snaps.
"I know that I am never again letting you go anywhere unguarded."
She freezes, then glances up at me. "Who were those men?"
I set my jaw. If she thinks I am going to tell her anything that could upset her further, she’s crazy.
"Don’t do that," she snaps, and I stare down at her, before glancing forward again.
"Don’t do what?"
"Don’t treat me like I am some stupid woman who doesn’t know what’s happening around her half the time."
"Trust me, if you were, that would make my job so much easier."
"Job?" She raises her voice, "So I am just a job for you, is it?"
Of course, not.Damn her. What the hell does she want me to admit? That from the moment I’d laid eyes on her, this entire plan had been shot to hell? That I should have tasked one of the Seven with protecting her? That I should have turned away and ensured I had nothing to do with her? As if I would have been able to do that. I’ll never allow any other man close to her again. And Edward? What about your once best friend? After all, it’s thanks to him that you met her. It’s because of him that you returned to your life, that you found your life. I tighten my arms and stare ahead of me. "No," I say stiffly, "you’re not just a job. You’ve never been just a job, and you know that."
"Do I?" I sense her stare up at me, but refuse to return her gaze. "Do I know anything about you, Baron?"
"You know enough."
"Spoken like a man," she gripes.
"That’s me, all right." I reach the SUV, beeping the doors unlocked as I approach. I lower her to her feet, opening the door for her. She steps in, throws her bag down on the dashboard, then folds her arms across her chest. "You’re a jerk."
I bend over her and she freezes. I tug on her seatbelt, snap it into place, then straighten. Her breath catches in her throat; her chest rises and falls. I smirk down at her, "You didn’t think I was going to kiss you there, did you?"
"You—" She raises her fist, as I slam the door shut. Good, she’s angry. I can work with that. It’ll takes her mind off what just happened, while I track down whoever was responsible for that attack, though I have my suspicions. I open my door on the driver’s side, then slide in and slam it shut behind me. The entire vehicle rocks.
"What crawled up your pants?" she mutters. "I’m the one who was attacked. If anyone should be angry, it’s me."
I turn on her and she meets my gaze head on.
I reach for her, then curl my fingers. "Shut up," I growl. "Not another word out of you."
She sets her jaw, but not before I spot the trembling of her lips. Shit, she is upset. Of course, she’s upset and emotional. She was just attacked. I’d let her out of my sight and they’d moved in. If I had been a few seconds later, they’d have hurt her. Anger thrums at my temples and my blood thuds in my veins. I turn, stare forward through the windshield, draw in a breath, another. I can’t drive like this. I need to calm down. I rotate my shoulders, glare through the darkness.
"I still don’t get why you’re so upset."
I move toward her so fast that she squeaks. I thrust my face right into hers. She blinks, skitters back against the window. I follow her until I’m looming over her. She tips up her chin, her green eyes glowing in the darkness. Feline eyes. Eyes of a witch. Of a siren who’s entranced me. Who’s dug her pretty little claws into me and is hooking me to her in such a way that there is no bloody escape. "You want to know why I’m upset?" I growl. "Want to know why I am so fucking pissed?"
