Page 136 of Hellbound

“What a waste of time,” she mumbled at the parchment in front of her.

“What’s a waste of time?”

She nearly tumbled from her chair, her pen skittering from her fingers.

Bohdan emerged from the dark line of shelves behind her and sauntered over to lean against the edge of the desk. In his hand, he examined her pen. “Status report on potential murder suspects.”

“You can’t bear to spend a single moment away from me.” A devilish smile slipped to her lips.

Addict.

“Status. Report.” His words curdled her blood.

She produced a silvered flask from her hip and took a long drink before responding.

“Ask me, don’t tell me.”

He arched a brow at her challenge. “Are you telling me what to do?”

There.

The unique scent of his irritation was like a pheromone to Ksenia.

She held up a slender finger, flask back at her lips as she took another drink, her half-lidded eyes cast upon him.

His expression was deadpan, the line of his body stiff. His eyes locked onto the smooth column of her neck bobbing with every gulp.

“No, I’m teaching you manners.” A drop of liquor slipped from the corner of her mouth.

His eyes tracked the movement. She wiped it with her cuffed sleeve.

“You will regret making me repeat myself a third time.”

“Finally.” A crooked smile twisted her lips.

Something snapped in him then, because he closed a hand around her ankle, dragging her feet off the lacquered desk and pulling her body closer until she nearly slipped from her seat.

The chair legs slammed to the ground and skidded forward.

“Use your words, Captain…” She chuckled as she slumped back in her chair, the heavy soles of her boots colliding with the flagstone floor.

“You exhausted that option.” His towering form settled between her splayed legs.

“Mmm. You’re prettier when you’re furious.” She peered up through her dark lashes as she raised the flask again.

He whisked it from her hand and tossed it across the floor with a sharp clatter.

“You’re making a mess…” She breathed. “And you said I was impatient?”

He drank in her relaxed, nonchalant pose. Trousered legs spread, one arm resting over the back of her chair as if she were having a pint at her favorite tavern.

His fingers reached forward slowly, tips tracing the embossed design on her underbust leather corset, fingering the front laces. “I don’t tolerate insubordination.”

He gave the laces a furtive pull. Ksenia’s smile widened, daring him.

“I think you more than tolerate mine.” You get off on it.

His fingertips tunneled between the crisscrossed gaps, meeting against her tunic-covered sternum where he could feel her racing pulse.