Page 25 of Mortal Shift
As the class filtered out, I hung back, torn between following the other students, in lieu of having an actual schedule, or having it out with Cole and trying to get mine back. In the end, I figured it was best to go on the attack. Cole thought I was weak? Well, I was going to prove him wrong. I might not be physically strong, and I might not be fast, and I might not have any powers—Okay. yeah. I was totally screwed.
I squared my shoulders and stalked up to Cole as he made for the door. Jax saw me coming and elbowed Cole with a suggestive grin. Asshole. I pointedly ignored him as I scowled up at Cole.
“I want my schedule back,” I said without preamble. Cole feigned a look of innocence.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t blame me just because you can’t keep track of your stuff.”
“I know you took it, and I want it back.”
He touched a hand to his chest in mock shock, and shared a horrified look at Jax, who sniggered.
“Me? I would never dream of such a thing, beloved mate.”
I thrust a hand out. “Give it back. Now.”
He moved lightning fast, grabbing my hand and yanking me forward, so I crashed into the wall of muscle that was his chest, and it took every ounce of self-control I possessed not to rub myself against him while I was there. Instead, I squirmed and tried to pull back before my base instincts could get the best of me, but Cole pinned me to him effortlessly with one hand.
“Knew she’d warm up to me eventually,” he said over my head to Jax.
“Can’t keep her hands off you,” he agreed. “Too bad she’s just a human. She’s not the ugliest thing I ever saw.”
I felt the snarl rumble through Cole’s chest, and the grin quickly slid off Jax’s face.
“Not that I’d touch her, obviously,” he quickly backtracked. “She belongs to you.”
“Hey, asshole,” I growled against Cole’s chest, whilst still trying to pry myself loose. “I don’t belong to anyone.”
“The mate bond says otherwise,” Jax retorted.
“Maybe Fido here belongs to me, not the other way around, did you ever think of that?” I squirmed enough to get one arm loose and used it to slap Cole’s shoulder, hard. “And if you don’t let me go, I’m going to carve my name into you with my damn teeth.”
There was a moment of absolute stunned silence, then Cole jerked me away from his chest, twisting his hand in my hair to force me to look up at him.
“Fuck, it’s hot when you talk like that. Too bad you’re just a human.”
“Yeah, too bad,” I spat back, with as much sarcasm as I could muster. “I justwishI could turn into an overgrown puppy and play with my favorite bone.”
My horrific word choice hit me all at once and Cole leered at me.
“Not sure you’re worthy of my bone, princess. But maybe if you get on your knees and beg me, I’ll consider it.”
“Ugh. In your dreams, Fido. Get the hell off me.”
I pulled back from his grip and he dropped his hand from my hair, but cupped the back of my neck and bent his head to whisper in my ear.
“In my dreams, you’re on your knees, but you’re doing a lot more than begging with that pretty mouth of yours.”
Heat shot straight to my core as the image hit my mind hard, and I heard a loud sniff from behind me. Shit.
“Smells like she likes that idea.”
“Maybe I’ll take her for a test drive.” He pulled back enough that his dark eyes could bore into mine. “I’m not going to seal the mate bond with a pathetic little human, but if you’re a good enough lay, maybe I’ll take pity and keep you around as a pet.”
“Maybe I’ll keep you as mine,” I snarled. “After all, you’re the beast.”
He curled his upper lip. “Iama beast, princess. And don’t you forget it.”
He dropped his hand from my neck and I stepped back quickly out of his reach, resisting the urge to rub the ache where he’d gripped me so tightly.
