Page 65 of Indulge
She tilts her head, mouth curving. “And you’re the rule-maker now?”
“Someone has to be,” I say. “Because if I don’t set limits, someone else will—and they won’t stop where I would.”
The words hang there, thick between us. For a heartbeat, neither of us moves.
Bella’s breath catches; her defiance flickers into something else—something that looks a lot like understanding. Then it’s gone again, replaced by that dangerous smile.
“Maybe I like testing limits,” she murmurs.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “That’s what scares me.”
For a moment the tension hums like a live wire. Then I step back, forcing the distance I should’ve kept from the start.
Bella King is many things. Her fire is enough to bring any man to his knees. That man can’t be me. Even though I’veimagined it since the moment I first locked eyes with her. I’m not him.
“Why are you so mad about this? It was literally just a bar fight?” she says, hands on hips.
I swear to god, if she rolls her eyes at me, that could be my last straw. She tests me more than anyone else has in my life.
“Bar fight? You and Rowan nearly cracked the guy's skull open on the dance floor.”
She smiles at that, which sends my blood running south.
“It’s not funny, Bella,” I snap.
“And that’s not the real reason you’re so pissy, Irish.”
I take a deep breath, trying to find the calm inside of me, when all I want to do is toss her over the table and spank her until she cries.
“I’m pissed off because you put yourself in danger and I wasn’t there,” I tell her, using honesty as a tactic this time.
She sucks in a breath, looking away from me, and I tut. Fuck, I want to grab her throat.
“Eyes on me when we’re talking, Princess.”
Those dazzling green eyes snap to mine, and my heart nearly stops.
“I didn’t realize you cared,” she whispers.
I keep my expression sharp. I can’t let her see the cracks she’s making in my armor.
“Well, now you know.” I shrug it off, not breaking eye contact.
This is exactly why I have to keep my distance. This fire between us, it could potentially not just blaze through us but the entire Quinn family. The alliance. Taking down The Preacher. There are so many more parts in play here that are beyond my control.
For Bella? Rowan is the better choice. He is free from the burden of the alliance. I am there to protect them both.
“Rowan’s waiting outside,” I say, voice clipped. “You’re free to go. We’ll talk about this… properly, when we’ve cooled off.”
Her smile doesn’t fade. “And if I don’t?”
My hand instinctively wraps around her throat. Her eyes go wide, lips parting. This is how I like her, stunned into submission. It makes me smile.
I lean in, my mouth hovering over hers, feeling her pulse thrash against my palm.
“Then I guess I’ll have to learn how to handle you differently.”
Her laugh is menacing, but I don’t let myself answer it. I release her and I just turn away, jaw locked, pretending the sound doesn’t follow me out of the room.
