Page 7 of Resist Me (Men of Inked 3)
I knew I was now a pawn in his game. I’d have to play by his rules. I was pissed at Thomas for leaving me with James, and at asshole Flash for being an idiot and not realizing the amount of shit he was bringing me around this weekend.
James looked at the road, the corner of his eye crinkling as he spoke. “Harder for you to run away like that. Plus, you look fucking sexy when you’re pissed off, Izzy.”
“Jimmy, look, I didn’t mean—“
“James.” His eyes momentarily flashed in the rearview mirror before leaving me again.
“James,” I hissed, holding the end, letting the letter stick between my teeth. “I’m sorry about what happened.” I looked down at my knees, chewing the inside of my lip.
“I’m not,” he said flatly.
“It wasn’t nice of me to leave without saying goodbye. I was a jerk. Can you forgive me?” I wasn’t really sorry for anything, but I wanted the damn cuffs off my wrists.
“It won’t work, Izzy.”
“What?”
“Your fake apology,” he said as he pulled up to the red light and his eyes returned to mine. His face had a red sheen from the traffic light. He looked like the devil I figured he really was. He’d torture me as long as I was in his custody.
My mouth dropped open and a scream was crawling up my throat. “It wasn’t—“
“Yes, it was.”
I closed my mouth, grinding my teeth as the car started to pull away, and his face changed color. “I had fun with you and we both got what we wanted out of that night.” I swallowed, remembering the feel of him against my skin. Those sweet-ass lips that were pissing me off right now had brought me so many orgasms that I’d lost count, the amount of alcohol I’d consumed not helping my memory.
“Maybe I’m sensitive and wanted a kiss goodbye?” he said, tilting his head up to look at me. I could see the corner of his mouth as it almost kissed his eyes. He was enjoying himself.
I sighed and pushed my shoulders back. Glaring at him, I said, “That’s total bullshit.”
“Maybe so,” he said, looking away, “but I did want that kiss.”
Fuck, his voice was sexy. It matched him entirely…big in all ways. “You’re not going to play fair, are you?” I whispered, but I already knew the answer.
“Did you?” he retorted with a clipped tone.
“I’m sure you did the walk of shame many mornings, James.”
“Doll, I’ve never been ashamed of spending the night in the company of a beautiful woman—especially you.”
A knot formed in my stomach, and it felt like James had reached inside and was using his giant hands to untie it. He made my belly feel funny, and I didn’t like it. I pursed my lips, not taking my eyes off the back of his head.
“It was easier for both of us,” I whispered, trying not to give anything away in my voice.
He shook his head. “Can’t stop the bullshit from rolling off your tongue, huh?”
“Are we there yet?” I was annoyed and pissed off. James did not get to question me on my truthfulness.
“To the police station, yes, but not the entire trip.”
“I can find my way home. I’m an adult woman.”
“Why don’t you start acting like one, then?” he asked sarcastically.
I felt like he’d punched me in the chest. No one talked to me the way he did—no one with a dick, at least. The only people who could get away with calling me on my shit were my girls, but not a man. Not even my brothers or father.
“I am acting like an adult. I can rent a car and get myself back to Tampa. It’s only a couple of hours away.”
“Izzy, listen up, because this is how it’s going to go.” He pulled the cruiser over on the side of the road, rolling to a stop. He turned around, resting his arm on the back of the passenger’s seat. “I promised your brother I would take you home. I promised him I would keep you safe. I will not just release you to fend for yourself.” He licked his lips, and my eyes moved to his mouth as he continued speaking. “It’s late, after two a.m., and I’m tired. We’re going to return the car and then find a hotel for the night and drive back in the morning. That’s the plan, and I don’t want your brother to worry that I’m not following the plan. He has enough shit on his plate right now. Understand?” He glared at me, waiting for my response.
“Wow. Didn’t know you knew so many words.” I smirked, watching his jaw as he tried to stop a smile. “Fine, but I want my own room,” I requested, knowing that I didn’t have a choice in the whole “how to get Izzy home” plan, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to share a room with him.
“One room, double beds,” he growled, turning around and pulling back on to the road.
“No fucking way. I will not share a room with you.”
“It’s for your own protection.”
“Not happening,” I declared, looking out the tinted window, seeing the police station sign in the distance.
“Yes, it is. Don’t fight me on this, woman.”
“I don’t want to spend the night in your room.”
“Our room, and you do.”
“Jesus, you’re infuriating.”
“Touché.”
“Ooh, he knows French too. Didn’t know cavemen were bilingual.”
“Must you always be a smartass?” he asked, parking the car in the “reserved” space.
“Nothing good can come out of sharing a room,” I said as I sat up, unable to stop the anxious feeling. I had to get the hell out of this car.
“I remember a lot of ear-shattering moans the last time we shared a room. I’d say only good can come from it,” he murmured, a low, smooth chuckle escaping his lips before he climbed out of the car.
“Fucker,” I muttered as his door slammed.
“Out you go, doll,” he said when he opened my door, the hot, humid air hitting my skin. He reached in and grabbed my arm, trying to help me up, and I fought the urge to pull away.
“I hate that term,” I said, climbing out with his hands still on me.
“Doll?” He smirked, giving my arm a light squeeze.
“Yes. It’s patronizing,” I hissed as I turned my back to him.
“As long as you call me Jimmy, I’ll call you doll. And what the fuck are you doing?” he asked, grabbing my shoulder.
“The cuffs. I want them off.” I glared at him. Why did he have to make everything so fucking difficult?
“I can’t take them off yet. You never know who has eyes on the station,” he said, and laughed.
“You’re a prick.”
“You’re hitting every word I like to hear—come, prick, fuck. What else do you have to say?” He smiled as he grabbed my upper arm and pulled me toward the station doors.
“Let’s just get this over with.” I sneered at him as I tried to keep up with his large steps.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” he whispered in my ear as he opened the door and waited for me to pass by. “So fucking much.”
My body shuddered. This gravelly tone of his voice shorted the wiring in my brain. I’d spent too many years trying to block guys like him out, and I’d been successful. James was an entirely different beast. I didn’t know how to deal with him. He always had a reply. It was fucking infuriating.
I closed my eyes, taking the final step into the station and hopefully to freedom—or at least an escape from him.
Chapter 4 - Isabella
We only spent a few minutes at the police station returning the uniform and equipment they let me borrow to rescue Izzy from the clutches of the MC. She sat on the chair, her eyes never leaving me as I talked with a few of the officers. If looks could kill, I’d be dead and buried.
After we finished at the police station, Izzy and I headed to find a low-key hotel just outside of the county. I wanted to be far enough away that no one would find us, but close enough that, if shit went down, I could get backup. She climbed on the back of my bike after protesting and arguing for a few minutes. She knew it was futile. I wasn’t letti
ng her out of my sight.
Feeling her body wrapped around mine—her thighs squeezing me tight, her arms holding on, and her tits against my back—was fucking perfection.
When Thomas had called and asked if I’d help rescue his sister, I’d jumped at the chance to see her again. It wasn’t that I loved her—fuck no. I’d only spent a night with her, but there was something about her.
No one had ever sneaked out of my bed the next morning without saying a word. Izzy was the exception to that rule, and for that, I gave her props. She was her own person. I knew she didn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own. Thomas spoke of her often, and I could feel the love he felt for her with his words.
Thomas and I had met back during training. We’d both joined the DEA right after college. I knew it was where I wanted to be, and had dedicated my life to ridding the world of drugs. I knew it wasn’t possible, but I’d do my best to not make it easy for the sleazeball criminals who preyed on the innocent.
I’d joined because I’d lost my little sister to an overdose. She was only seventeen and I was in my sophomore year at Florida State. Getting the news that your one and only sibling has died is indescribable. It crushes your soul and had made me question everything in my life. I’d felt like I’d lost direction in my life, and the only thing I’d wanted was retribution. The only way I knew how to do it legally was to join the one group that had the ability to stop the flow of illicit drugs. The DEA became my home and my new family.
Yes, I still had my parents, but they’d fallen apart after the death of my sister. They weren’t the same people anymore. They walked through life as shells of their former selves, the sorrow too much for them to bear.
When we met, we were excited and looking to kick some major ass in the drug world. We spent a lot of time talking about our families—his happy and mine not so much.
We each had sisters, his alive and mine dead. Even though I could never touch my sister again and I couldn’t protect her, I still loved her more than anyone else on Earth. We spent our nights drinking too much beer and talking about life. Our conversations always veered off course and would turn to our sisters as the main reasons for us being there.
Thomas said that Izzy wasn’t into drugs but he always felt a need to protect her, and others like her who didn’t come from such a loving family. I’d wanted to join because the same drugs had reached in and plucked my sister from my life.
I was out for payback. After we graduated training, Thomas and I were partnered with veterans and taught the ropes. Years later, we were paired up, and it felt like coming home. He was the brother I’d never had. I was his go-to person when he was placed undercover. I was his link to the DEA and his call of last resort. I kept tabs on him and picked up information when he found a way to get it out.
