Page 50 of Dismantle & Prevail
Indy glances behind him at Zoro and then back to me. A look passes between them and something tells me they know something, and I’m about to go from content to pissed off.
“She’s locked herself in The Heart. Says she is working on a case and doesn’t want to be disturbed, but I didn’t believe her. I tried to get a look, but she shooed me away and said she was skipping game night,” Indy explains, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Interesting.
“Thanks. And she will be at game night. You have all been busting your asses on back-to-back missions since Christmas. Hell, most of you skipped New Year’s. Hopefully, I’ll be back soon, but until then, everyone is coming to game night. Especially that stubborn brat.”
Zoro chuckles and shakes his head as he places a cigarette in his mouth. “Oh, this is going to be a fun night. Good luck, Prez.”
I make my way through the Clubhouse, on a direct path to Taylor. Whatever she is working on can wait. Everyone needs a break, especially Taylor. She has been busting her sweet ass for weeks nonstop.
Stopping in front of the doors of The Heart, I glance through the rectangular glass panes that span from top to bottom of the wooden door.
Zoro and Indy weren’t kidding. Taylor is sitting at the table, in my chair—an issue to address at another time, engrossed in her laptop.
Her long dark hair is up in a ponytail, curled tendrils falling in her face. Taylor rolls her eyes at something on the computer, her head falling into her hand that is resting on the table.
Suddenly, Taylor’s head snaps up and I think it's because she sees me and I’m about to get an earful for spying on her, but she doesn’t even look towards the door.
Taylor rises from her chair, pulling an oversized Braveheart hoodie over her head. The hoodie gets tangled in her hair; the struggle causes her graphic tee to raise, exposing her stomach lined with vines and roses.
My body stiffens, and I move my head from side to side, cracking my neck.
My teeth grit and I ache to feel her skin against mine.
Finally, she frees herself and tosses the hoodie on the chair opposite of her before returning to her chair—my chair.
As if my control wasn’t seconds from snapping, I catch sight of Taylor’s now messy hair. It looks as if someone ran their hands through it for the sake of desire with an utter need to devour her soft lips.
Cracking my neck again, I glance toward the ceiling, thinking about anything but Taylor‘s skin touching mine. Taylor’s lips against mine.
The images run rampant in my head and my cock hardens in my jeans.
Dammit. I can’t go in there and tell her to get her ass to the common room with a damn hard on.
I force myself to think about anything other than the tattooed beauty and walk the length of the hallway before twisting the door handle to the Heart.
Except I don’t make it far because the little brat locked the door.
Not bothering to knock, I free the set of keys from the chain connected to my jeans.
I move slowly so she doesn’t hear me, but I’m caught the moment I step foot inside. Her head pops up with a look of annoyance on her face as I shut the door.
I don’t approach her, instead I lean forward, my hands propping me up on the table.
“Whatcha up to, Hellhound?”
Taylor glances back and forth between her laptop before leaning back in my chair, her arms crossing over her chest. “Working. I thought I sent the memo that I wanted to be left alone tonight?”
Tilting my head to the side, I don’t allow her to escape my gaze. “I heard, but I didn’t accept that answer, so I came to find you and drag your ass to game night.”
She lets out a sigh and shakes her head. “I’m skipping tonight. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.”
Rising to stand, I slowly make my way towards her. Taylor’s eyes follow my every move. “Like I said, I don’t accept that answer. You know you have the upper hand when it comes to me, but not on this, Hellhound. You have been busting your ass with back-to-back cases, helping me escape my nightmares, and helping Reagan study for her exams.”
“How the hell do you know that?” she scoffs.
I stop at the seat that holds her sweater and lean against the high back of the leather rolling chair. “I know everything that goes on inside this compound when it comes to you, Taylor.”
