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“Jag, you realize what they do best is illegal, right?”
“No questions, remember?”
There was a low sigh and a pause. “Okay, brother, I want you to understand something. When you tell them to do what they do best, they’ll do it. Completely and without consideration.”
“I get it.”
“Fine. I’ll call you when it’s done.”
“No, I don’t want to know about it. Just do it.” I didn’t give him a chance to reply. Breathing heavily, I jerked the phone away and ended the call.
Everything I did was for Phoebe’s safety, so why did everything inside me scream to call Zane back and revoke the orders?
I couldn’t turn back now. Whatever it took to keep them safe was worth the risk. I turned back to the window and continued staring at the street. The vein in my temple pulsated and my head throbbed. Surely, I’d taken enough precautions and paid off everyone to have some semblance of peace of mind.
Surely.
***
I stiffened as she slipped her arms around my waist and trailed her fingernails down my ribcage. My breathing halted. A feeling of dread wafted through me.
“Baby, are you okay?” Her soft voice penetrated my shitty mood like an elixir. “You’ve been down here for hours.” I leaned my head against the top of her head and inhaled the familiar scent of her coconut shampoo.
“Yeah. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
For a fleeting moment, I considered telling her everything, easing the burden I’d been carrying. The minute I opened my mouth, I closed it. I couldn’t justify upsetting her. Especially with me leaving.
“No, I’m just thinking about the tour.” I faced her, and the smile she gave me sped my pulse as I took her in. Her dark, tousled hair fell randomly around her shoulders, and her crystal blue eyes weighed heavy with remaining fatigue. She seemed tired and worn. Her face reinforced my choices. “I don’t want to spend my last days standing here talking about me.”
A sly smile danced across her lips. “Oh? Want to take a walk?”
“Most definitely.” My smile widened as I stalked forward, backing her up as my hands guided her hips. “Just keep walking.”
She dropped an accusing eye toward my hold on her waist. “I meant outside.”
“Well, that’s up to you, princess. But the neighbors might talk.”
Her hand darted out, pressing purposely into my chest. “Maybe I don’t want to take a walk with you.”
I lifted a brow. “No?”
“Maybe I want to make you wait to take a walk. You know, something to look forward to.” Her mouth twisted in a grin so wicked, I was hard before she’d finished her taunt.
Adrenaline pummeled my veins with the rush of a narcotic. My voice dropped to a husky growl as I backed her against the dining room table, kicking the mahogany chairs to the side with the heel of my boot. “I think you’re full of shit, Miss Ryan.”
Phoebe tilted her face within an inch of mine. “I think you give yourself too much credit, Mr. Rock Star. I think you’re all talk and no action.” Pressing herself against me, the roundness of her abdomen molded against my erection. I groaned with need. “I think—” a lusty sigh escaped her parted lips “—maybe you need long distance bus rides to think about what’s waiting for you at home.”
I swallowed roughly, her words pinging from every wall and circling back around to my throbbing cock. My thinly held control had been stretched too far. Lifting a hand, I ran it up her neck until I cradled her head in my palm. Slightly pulling her hair back, I forced her eyes on me.
“I think you’re treading on very dangerous territory, princess. I’d be careful if I were you. I’m not in the mood to be fucked with.”
A teasing smile inched its way across her mouth and she bit her bottom lip. Dropping her eyes, she trailed a finger down my bare chest. “Well, if that’s the way you want to play, I guess you can just fuck with your own mood.” She grazed her finger over my stomach and lingered at the waistband of my boxers before trailing it down the front. Fire ignited inside me and burned with the intensity of a live wire. Fear of the unknown had pushed my patience to the limit.
Closing my eyes, I fought to regain control. “Damn it, Phoebe, I’ve got too much on my mind for games. Just—don’t.” My pulse raced in tempo with each breath she took. The roundness of her breasts spilled out of her scoop neck dress, battling my mind in a twisted game of wills.
Standing up on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips against my ear. “Checkmate, baby. Your move.” As she pulled away, she traced a finger along my jawline.
Something inside me snapped.
Before she could react, my free hand grabbed her wrist, pulling it from my face. With my other hand still wrapped around her hair, I forced her against me, taking her lips in a tangled web of kisses that intensified with each flick of my tongue. Her halfhearted resistance only fanned the fire, and I claimed her mouth as our kisses dripped a steady stream of need into each other.
A momentary break allowed me to look at her. In her eyes, I saw a reflection of my own…vacant of anything but lustful want. “I told you not to fuck with me. Or maybe that was your plan all along?”
