Page 34 of Reluctant Rebel

“What if I said you?” Eric murmured, his voice deeper than usual.

Jinx grabbed his face, her palms flat against his cheeks. “What was in that message? Was it a spell that causes psychosis?” She could feel his cheeks heating beneath her hands.

“Sorry,” Eric whispered. His eyes flicked behind her. “It wasn’t my idea.”

“What are you talking about?” She found herself snatched up in strong arms before Eric could answer. “The fuck?!” she snarled.

“Hey guys,” Sabre said cheerfully, popping up in front of Jinx.

“Sabre?” Jinx’s mouth fell open in shock when she looked up, finding Mikhail’s gorgeous face close to hers. “Mikhail?”

“We were in the neighbourhood,” Sabre volunteered, looking smug.

Mikhail ignored her, his gaze locked on Jinx. “Can I talk to you?”

Jinx had no idea what was happening, but Mikhail’s arms around her felt sublime. “Uh … sure.”

Mikhail strode across the room, depositing her on her feet only when a bookshelf obscured them. Jinx steadied herself against the stacks, her legs feeling weak. “What is happening here?”

Mikhail spoke swiftly. “I know I have no right to make demands of you, but please don’t fuck the vampire.”

“Fuck the …?” Jinx tugged on her ears, hoping it would help her understand what she was hearing. “Are you talking about Eric? Why would I fuck Eric?”

“Because now that I’ve made it clear I’m not interested, maybe Eric thinks he has a chance with you,” Mikhail said, his green eyes looking a little wild.

She was so confused. “You think Eric is interested in me?”

Mikhail’s hands fisted by his side, his jaw clenched in anger. “I don’t know what to think anymore, to be honest. But I know I can’t stand seeing him all over you.”

Jinx shook her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Eric has never beenall over me.That’s crazy. He and I are just friends. Nothing more.”

Mikhail let out a frustrated growl, running a hand through his hair. “But that could change, couldn’t it?”

“No. It really couldn’t,” Jinx asserted, eyeballing the anxiety-riddled man before her.

He’s jealous,she decided, and she couldn’t deny the thrill of excitement that shot through her. She’d never made anyone jealous before. He paced away, mumbling under his breath. She watched avidly as his butt cheeks flexed beneath the taut fabric of his slacks, quickly averting her gaze when he spun to face her.

“I know what we agreed. And I haven’t changed my mind. But the thought of losing you to someone else makes me feel possessive.”

Mikhail, as a demon, was territorial. He couldn’t help it any more than she could help recognising him as her mate. But theycouldhelp their choices. And they’d made them. “You can’t lose what you never had, Mikhail.” The reminder was gentle yet firm.

Mikhail stilled for a moment before smiling small. “Touché.” He groaned and dropped his head, his chin resting on his chest. “I am so freaking embarrassed. And so very sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

She was about to empathise with him when her sensitive ears picked up on the hushed conversation between Sabre and Eric. Sabre was congratulating Eric on a job well done, and Eric was whimpering like a baby. “I thinkIknow,” Jinx said drolly, waving at her friends.

Mikhail frowned, peering through the gap in the shelves. His expression swiftly morphed from shame to awareness. “Sabre!” he hissed. “That sneaky angel.”

“She’s the best assassin in Purgatory for a reason,” Jinx reminded him.

“That doesn’t make my ego feel any better,” Mikhail admitted a little sheepishly. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for overreacting. It’s just …”

“I know,” Jinx interrupted sympathetically. “It will get easier.”I hope,she added silently. They stared at one another for a tense moment before she suggested, “Want to go kill the two idiots?”

Mikhail grinned, his dimples flashing. “More than anything else in the world.”

Jinx was relieved when she could laugh. They walked back to the table together, where Sabre and Eric looked at them expectantly. “Good try,” Jinx said mildly. She moved on before either could comment. “We found something. Something big.”

Sabre looked down at Mikhail’s crotch, her face scrunching in disgust. “I didnotneed to know that.”

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