Page 9 of The Chief
Moving quickly and quietly in her direction, I paused at the head of the stack and smiled wickedly.
She stood with her back to me, her head bowed as if she was looking at something. If I had to guess, she was staring at her phone, waiting for the next message to arrive.
However, I was more than happy to let her sweat it out.
“You bastard,” she whispered. “Youfeckingbastard.”
I stepped up behind her, her attention so riveted on the phone it let me get closer to her than was safe. But as I raised my arm, the softswishof my leather jacket caused her to lift her head. Wrapping my hand over her mouth, I cut off her words as she turned toward me. Her mouth may not have been able to talk, but her bright blue eyes were saying more than enough.
The hate burning in them made me smirk.
“Now, now, Jynx,” I taunted. “I caught you fair and square.” Snaking an arm around her middle, I hauled her smaller frame against my chest, biting back a fucking moan when I realized how perfectly she fit. Her fine ass sat snug against my hips. Her struggle to survive sparked a fire beneath my skin. Dipping my head to her neck, I inhaled her scent, drawing in those citrus hints. Swallowing down the hint of fear.
She bit the inside of my hand, my palm stinging from the force of her jaw.
With a sardonic grin, I returned the favor—taking the meat of her shoulder where it joins her neck in between my teeth and biting down.
Jynx shrieked behind my hand, bucking in my arms. I tightened my grip, knowing my fingers were digging in. Her body was like a live wire fighting against my hold, writhing as she attempted to slide out of my grip. All of this only made me wish I’d knocked her the fuck out instead.
Her hot breath condensed against my palm, sliding between my fingers. Muffled curses came soon after. All it would take was one unsuspecting student to wander up here, and they’d know shit wasn’t right. I had to get her out of here with the least amount of fuss, which meant the emergency stairs.
“If you don’t cooperate with me, I’ll make you regret everything in your life leading to this moment,” I murmured, maneuvering us toward the end of the row.
Before we cleared the last foot, she used my grip on her as leverage and braced her feet against the shelf. Bending her knees, she shoved, throwing me off-balance.
My backward stumble ended in a grunt when I landed against the shelf behind me, the bite of the thick spines and metal shelves jabbing me in the back. I cursed as she fought against my hold, breaking it enough to slip through my fingers.
Without a backward glance, she bolted.
Biting out a curse, I took after her, tackling her to the ground as she attempted to reach the main stairs. I flipped her onto her back as she glared at me.
She thrashed against me, her hair whipping wildly, as she gritted out, “Let me go.”
I reached for her wrists, trying to pin them to the floor. “Say please, Jynx.”
She paused, her eyes wide, as if she was considering whether I could be serious.
Newsflash—I was not.
“Really?” She blinked.
Cocking my head, I stared at her. There was hope in her eyes. Like I’d thrown her a lifeline. Then, for the second time in the space of a few minutes, she took my distraction and used it to her advantage, slipping one hand free from my grip.
“Fecking hell! Stay still.” Recapturing her wrist, I manhandled her off the ground, securing one arm around her waist, while I grabbed my gun from the small of my back. Shoving the weapon against the base of her skull, I snarled, “Don’t fucking play with me. You’re coming with me, and you’ll do it quietly.”
“Fuck…” she started, panting through bared teeth. “You.”
Annnd my dick twitched to life once more. I was getting hard from this combative little minx. What was it with this woman?
“You already did that, remember?”
“Believe me. I wished I hadn’t,” she gritted out.
“Ouch. You might’ve just hurt my feelings,” I retorted wryly.
“I’m pretty sure you don’t have any.”
She didn’t know how close she was. “Now, now, Jynx. It’s not the time to sling insults. I literally hold your life in my hands.” To prove my point, I shoved the muzzle of the gun in a little closer.
