Heath froze abruptly, his fingers stilling on my clit as he sucked in a startled breath. I made a noise of protest and nippedat his warm palm, trying to crane around so I could see his face. Had I done something wrong?
Then Gage’s voice cut through the room, hoarse with what Tony had been doing to him, but underscored with wry amusement.
“You gonna come inside, Knox... or just skulk in the doorway? Because I get the impression Jez is happy to invite you into her nest. We probably ought to have a quick word about some other things, though.”
FIFTY-SIX
Knox
THIS WAS HELL. I WASliving in hell. And the worst part was, I knew there were damn good reasons why I’d decided to pack my bags and move into the burning lake of fire... but at the moment, I couldn’t have articulated a single one.
I’d managed to survive the limo ride to the house with Jez—somehow. Sitting in the back seat, mirroring Jez’s position, pressed into opposite corners while both our scents screamed the truth at us. Then we’d arrived, and she’d fled to her nest before I could say a single word.
But what could I have said to her, anyway?
Heath’s accusing gaze pinned me, as though he suspected me of being responsible for her distress.WasI responsible for her distress?
“Knox,” Heath said. “What the hell?”
I had to keep my shit together.
“Like I told Gage over the phone, there was a misunderstanding.” I swallowed, not sure when my throat had gotten so dry. “I think Jez feels embarrassed about it, although she shouldn’t.”
Gray eyes blazing with territorial jealousy. Ragged fingernails digging into the edge of a cheap desk, to keep from digging into her perceived rival’s throat instead.
My dick twitched.
I prayed Heath wouldn’t notice.
“A misunderstanding,” he echoed, his tone deep with veiled skepticism.
“Yes,” I told him firmly. “A misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about.”
“Right...” He trailed off. “So, you’re sure you’re okay, then?”
“Of course I’m okay,” I said. “I’mfine. But... erm... it might be best if we get a private driving tutor to come out here for her. Less complicated.”
He stared at me, his hard green eyes unblinking. “You know I’ll get the full story one way or another.”
I suspected he would, and I wasn’t at all sure why the thought bothered me as much as it did.
“It would probably do her good to talk about things,” I replied, because that sounded like the sort of thing a rational person would say.
Heath’s wordless noise of incredulity in response to that platitude neatly summed up the entire exchange.
