Page 84 of Barristers & Bones

“Do they hurt?”

“No. My pussy and nipples always seem to be tender though.”

He grinned. “Good. That will remind you of me during the day.” He cupped both my breasts and ran his thumbs across my peaks, and I arched into him. “I’m a deviant asshole because I love seeing my marks on you. Tell me if I do something that scares you or you don’t like.”

Worry and shadows clouded his eyes, but I slid my palms around his neck and pulled his face to mine. “I must be fucked up too, because I like seeing my marks on you.” I let go and walked around to his back, studying the scratches I’d left there last night. “Do these hurt?” I asked softly, trailing my fingers over them.

He turned and gathered me in his arms. “No, and I love making you lose your shit enough that you mark me without realizing it.” I rubbed against him, then pulled his face down to mine as he slid his hand down to test my wetness. We got a late start that morning.

Alexa and I studied for finals together on my favorite floor in the law library, and Milo sat at the table next to us. A few hours later, she sighed, stretched, and cracked her neck.

I pulled my headphones off. “Are you quitting for the day?”

“No, I just need a break. My brain stopped absorbing after reviewing my civil procedure notes.”

I grimaced. “Is Garrick still teaching it?”

“Yeah, and his voice is so monotone, it’s like he’s trying to bore us to death. I’m going to stretch my legs and grab a smoothie at the student center. Do you want anything?”

“No, I’m good. I’ll just have some of yours.”

She grinned. “You can have as much as you want, but fair warning. I’m getting the green smoothie.”

I grimaced. “Never mind, I think I still have some Red Hots in my backpack. Do you want me to go with you?”

Waving her hand, she stood. “No, I’ll be fine.”

She walked out, and I put my headphones back on. About twenty minutes later, my phone vibrated in my backpack. I was still working through a practice question and ignored it–until my phone buzzed a second time.

I pulled it out and saw a text from Alexa.

Alexa: Hello, Ms. Fowler, we have your friend. If you want to keep her alive, lose your bodyguard and go to the corner of Cottage Grove and Maryland Parkway. You have four minutes.

It took me a second to read and then re-read the text, and realize it had been sent from Alexa’s phone, but it wasn’t her. Primal fear and dread flooded me, and I blanked for a split second. But Alexa couldn’t afford for me to lose my shit now. I texted back.

Luna: I need proof.

I didn’t want to ask for proof of life. No need to give these fuckers any bad ideas. Less than ten seconds later, a photo of Alexa in the back seat of a vehicle came in. She had a bloody lip and looked furious, but she was alive and seemed relatively unharmed. If there was anyone who wouldn’t lose their head even after getting kidnapped, it was Alexa.

I quickly dug through my backpack and pulled out a few things, stuffing my license and a credit card into my back pocket, and my flashlight into the back waistband of my jeans.

Then I stood and ran. It would take too long to persuade Milo, and I was pretty sure I could outrun him.

I heard Milo shout, his chair screeching as he stood. “What the fuck?” He yelled.

“They have Alexa! Corner of Cottage Grove and Maryland,” I yelled over my shoulder.

“Luna! Stop right now!” he bellowed.

I plunged headfirst down the stairs, taking them two or three at a time. Milo pounded after me, but he was twice my age. “Luna, fucking stop! You’re going to get yourself killed!”

My mind raced and my lungs burned as I dashed out of the library, barely missing a couple lingering in the doorway. People turned and stared at me running through the courtyard as Milo pursued me. So many thoughts and feelings raced through my mind, regret and self-disgust among them for not anticipating something like this. So stupid! I pumped my legs faster.

“Do you need help?” a tall woman standing with two others on the auditorium steps called after me.

“Yes! Call campus police!”

The lady tried running with me, but she wore high heels. “Where are you going?”

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