Page 3 of All Tied Up
“Come here, Noa.” Ransom rarely used my real name.
My feet moved of their own accord. I was closing the short distance between us without hesitation. It was as if I’d written my own actions in a novel. Where was my backbone? Since whendid I do as told? Yet with Ransom holding out a hand to me, I knew I didn’t have the power to stop myself. I wanted to be close to him.
When I was inches away, he pulled me to his side and draped his arm over my shoulders. The warmth of his breath tickled my ear as he leaned down close to me.
“Tell him who needs to leave,” he said in a quiet tone but one that Thurston could easily hear.
I swallowed nervously. He was right. Thurston needed to leave, but this was not the right way to do it. Yet it seemed this was the only way to get the man out safely.
“Ransom is in town for a visit,” I told him. “It is best that you go.”
Thurston’s gaze was on Ransom’s arm over my shoulders. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.
“It’s best that you don’t come back,” Ransom added in a lazy drawl that still managed to hold a lethal warning.
“I was unaware you were seeing someone,” Thurston said, straightening his shoulders.
“Well, now you know,” Ransom said and pressed a kiss to my temple.
Oh good Lord, he was laying it on thick.
Thurston appeared as if he would say more, but when he began striding toward the exit, I sagged in relief. A chuckle vibrated Ransom’s chest. Tilting my head back, I did my best to glare at him.
He winked at me, which made my chest flutter like the fool I was.
I started to step away. “I should go see him out—”
Ransom’s hand clamped down on my hip, where it had slid when I moved. “If you care if he lives, you’ll stay put.”
A surprised laugh bubbled out of me. “That’s a bit dramatic.”
His gaze drifted down over my face to my collarbone, thenlower. “I believe I mentioned that I don’t share,” he said as he ran a fingertip over the slight gap in the top of my robe. “I also don’t like another man seeing you dressed like this.”
I started to point out that I was covered up when his hand slid inside and cupped one of my bare breasts, then squeezed so hard that I yelped.
“Don’t let it happen again.” His voice took on a darker sound, and I shivered. “I can’t promise you I won’t kill the next fucker who gets this view.”
Breathe. It was hard to breathe.
My body was tingling in areas with anticipation while my head was screaming,Danger. Run.
I was torn between pressing against him and tearing myself away.
Reaching up, he cupped the side of my face, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “I see fear,” he said, studying me. “You should know better than that, Shakespeare. I’d never hurt you.”
There was fear, but not for me exactly. More for what I didn’t know. How sane was Ransom Carver? Ten years of texting him didn’t mean I knew him. I knew only what he’d allowed me to know. What was he not showing me? The glimpse I’d just gotten made me wonder if that was a question I never wanted the answer to.
“You just did,” I replied just above a whisper. “Hurt me.”
The corner of his mouth tugged in amusement. “Did I squeeze too hard?” he asked, moving in closer to me as he pulled at the belt on my robe until it fell away and left me exposed. “Let me kiss it and make it better,” he said, caressing my left breast as he lowered his head to press his lips to the curve of my jawline. “And then I’ll move between your sweet thighs and kiss there too.”
My knees buckled slightly, and I grabbed on to his arms to steady myself. All other concerns seemed to melt away. Leavingme needy and very, very stupid.
The heavy thud of my door closing made me jump. Ransom’s eyes shot over my head toward the sound, and a dark scowl came over his face. Wanting to explain Thurston since he’d not asked before ordering me to the bedroom, I squeezed his arms that I still had a grip on to get his attention.
“He is Jellie’s boyfriend’s best friend. The guy I was set up with this weekend. You know I’m not interested in him.”
When he dropped his gaze back to me, it softened. “He seems to feel differently about you.”
