Page 28 of Dark Reasons

Chapter Eight

Jamison

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She sleeps in the shapeof a letter G; her knees to her chest, arms curled around, the fingers of one hand half-bent. The blanket she'd wrapped around herself like a plaster cast was discarded within minutes of her going unconscious. I'd watched her for some time to make sure she was truly asleep.

This woman is a risk.

Not just to my life, a fact I've been struggling with for some time now, but in another less definable way.

I rub my hand over my face to hold back a yawn... and freeze.I can still smell her.I can remember the exact temperature of her body as it went each degree hotter.

All because of me.

Everything I did, she reacted with obvious desire.

She said she's aware I can end her life in a blink, and yet, multiple times, she's gone toe to toe with me... daring me to do it. It would be easy to call her insane, but I know better. Selena isn't simply crazy. She also isn't stupid— she's keenly aware of her predicament with me.

So where does she find theballsto start arguments with me? To push my buttons?

To be on the verge of daring me to show her my rock hard cock.

I shudder with the memory. My lower belly tightens, waking my shaft until it's half erect. If she'd asked, would I have shown her? Can I risk giving up that level of indifference? If she knew for a moment how much she affects me, surely she'd take advantage.

I can't let that happen. She's hard enough to control as is.

I check my phone; 7:05 a.m.

I'd managed to slip in three hours of sleep after our little face-off. The numbers blinking on my phone drive a stake of anger into my guts.She set up a trap and I fell for it.Tucking my phone away, I stare at hers where I placed it back by her pillow. It's not as if she'll forget what happened, but I have no reason not to return it to her.

Well, alright, I havereasons.

It's better to keep the peace. Selena's ability to call the cops down on me hasn't vanished, but taking her phone won't hinder her. It might even incite her into action.

If your goal was to gain her trust, you've gone a long way off that path,I chide myself. Breathing out, I shift away from watching Selena to check the door. The chair I set under the knob is moved back to the kitchen. I quickly peer out the windows, seeing nothing concerning.

Returning to sit on the floor, I reach into my backpack. The black short sleeve shirt and straight-leg faded jeans are as nondescript as what I wore yesterday.

Smoothing my fingers over my shirt in my lap, I glance at Selena again. Unlike me, she's fully clothed where she's lying on the mattress. I'm naked to the elastic band of my underwear that pokes out of the waist of my gray joggers.The way she looked at me last night, she thought I was wearing nothing.I swallow thickly at the memory of her hungry eyes. I should have ignored her look, but I'd chosen to tease her.

She's fun to tease.

Frowning hard, I shake myself, as if that will chase the filthy thoughts away.

This isn't a game.I need to be on my utmost professional behavior... no matter how tempting the ulterior is.

"Morning."

I jerk around, finding Selena watching me from the bed. She's propped up on one elbow, cheek in hand, her smile wider than normal. Her pink hair is tangled around her in thick waves. If I reach out, I can smooth them with my fingers. "Good morning," I reply.

Selena covers her mouth to muffle a yawn as she sits up. "Did you sleep at all?"

"Of course."

"Of course,"she mocks. "I don't know, maybe you watched me all night."

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