Page 30 of Saving Her

I don’t buy it. She’s still got tricks up her sleeve and I’m running out of time to figure them out.

“What if I gave you back your weapon?” I hedge. “Would you trust me then?”

Her tongue snakes out to quickly swipe her lower lip. It’s devious. “You’d do that?”

I’m fucking tempted that’s for sure.

It’s those eyes. The strength. She undoes me with her determination despite the shattered pieces of her psyche I itch to place back together.

“Here.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the cylindrical tube. “Take it. It’s yours.”

She inches back, her disbelief a sweet price to pay.

“It’s okay.” I nudge the device closer to her. “Take it.”

Hesitation reclaims her features as she eyes the weapon, her attention moving from my hand, to my wrist, and farther along my arm.

Fucking subtle.

She’s devising another plan to jab me. She practically hasPlan Bwritten on her forehead in neon.

“Thanks.” She steps forward, cautious.

Those delicate fingers brush my skin as she claims her prize.

But the thing is, her touch is worth the upcoming battle. The graze of her fingertips is the softest friction. A hypnotic fucking spell. And when her attention returns to my face I can almost pretend she’s peering back at me in sincerity.

Unfortunately, I know better in that regard, too.

She sinks her teeth into her lower lip, trying to play the timid yet thankful role. To get closer. To obtain the perfect vantage point to strike from. It’s so fucking obvious it plays out in my head like a movie before she even makes a move.

“Really,” she whispers. “Thank you.”

I keep my jaw locked and pretend every one of my nerves isn’t hyper-sensitive as I tell her, “Don’t mention it.”

My sincerity doesn’t stop her from tightening her grip on the weapon, though. And the resulting twitch of my cock isn’t my proudest moment.

Some sick part of me wants her to fight. Adrenaline floods my system at the thought of another reason to grab her.

“How do you plan on getting me out of here?” She creeps closer. “Just because Luther handed me over doesn’t mean he’ll allow my freedom. It’s too big a risk.”

“Let me worry about that.” I remain still, on alert, patiently waiting.

I should warn her not to follow through with her attack. If I was the good guy I’m pretending to be, I’d tell her to think twice. But she’s made it clear she has no desire to give me the truth. Not in words anyway. I’ll figure her out from her actions.

“Okay.” She nestles closer. “I trust you.”

The jut of her hand is quick. Lightning fast. I almost don’t catch it in time as she aims for my stomach.

“Too slow.” I snatch her wrist before impact, pull her forward, and sweep out my leg to knock her feet out from beneath her. I push her off-balance, delight in her gasp, and keep clinging to her arm as she falls.

I guide her slightly, making sure she doesn’t hit the carpet too hard. But then I’m all over her, pinning her body beneath mine and her hands above her head.

“I’m done playing games.” I smother her with my weight. “This was never about payback, or getting the syringe to Luther.”

She turns rigid, yet again refusing to call for help. It’s clear she knows she’s on her own. With no one to save her.

Well, she has me now. If only she’d fucking realize it.

---