She’d liked your kiss well enough.
A kiss she initiated. Because she believed Hendricks’ threat.
I rubbed her lower lip again, and Stevie opened her mouth. Not far, just enough for the tip of my thumb to slide between her lips. I felt her tongue brush against my skin, felt that intriguing little piece of jewelry, and my cockachedfor release.
If I didn’t get rid of her, I was going to fuck her eventually. No matter how strong my control, she was going to wear me down…and I knew she didn’t want this, not really. I remembered the bruises, yeah, but I also remembered the fifty thousand, and how much I needed that.
“When’s your flight back?”
The question surprised her, judging from the way she startled and jerked back. “Uh…Sunday out of Raleigh.” Her lips curled ruefully as she glanced away. “I’m not even sure how I’m supposed to get there.”
Raleigh? That was hours away. Still, it meant that she didn’t have to go back to Hendricks right away—Sunday was five days from now. He couldn’t hurt her.
Not for another five days.
I scowled, forcing myself to step back, step away from her. “Get out of here,” I announced gruffly, jerking my chin toward the closed door behind her. “I don’t want what you're offering.”
Could she tell how much of a lie that was? All she had to do was glance at my throbbing cockstand.
But she didn’t. Stevie’s expression had turned wary as she fumbled behind her. I could smell her confusion and hated how attuned I was to this little female’s feelings. When she pulled open the door, I turned away—and my gaze landed on the window.
This time of year, the sun still set pretty early, even though the weather was turning balmier. But it was late—maybe too late? I was kicking her out, and was telling myself that was okay since she wasn’t returning to that bastard right away…but where was she going?
For that matter… “How did you get here?” I suddenly barked.
Stevie was standing half in the open doorway and blinked at the new topic. “Um…I walked from the ferry terminal.” She glanced to the west, as if she could see through the walls. “It wasn’t that far.”
No, it wasn’t. When Sakkara, Eastshore’s orc mayor, had suggested the compromise of building these condos to open more housing and keep the land from beingoverdeveloped, placing it near the wharf had the added benefit of convenience.
Still…I glanced at my watch and curled my lip in irritation. “The last ferry crossing just left.”
“What does that mean?”
I hardened my jaw, already afraid I knew where this was heading. Stupid fucking principles. “Itmeans, sweetheart, that the only way off this island until tomorrow morning is a private plane.”
My old boss Abydos might lend me his, but was it worth the ask for this female?
Stevie’s bark of laughter wasn’t joyful at all; it sounded like the laugh of a person who expected the worst from the universe, and often received it…and it made me want to step forward again and gather her in my arms.
“Well, I sure as shit don’t have access to a private plane, Mr. Longspear. My—Hendricks didn’t even give me money for a hotel, but I have enough for that shitty place beside the ferry terminal on the mainland.” She shook her head and blew out a breath, already looking over her shoulder. “Maybe there’s someplace on the island?—”
“There’s no place on the island.” I scowled, thinking of the prices at the bed-and-breakfast, even if there was a room available.
I’d caught her by surprise, judging from the confusion in her eyes as she stared at me. She had a little metal loop through one brow, which matched the ones in her ears. Would it feel as good against my lips as the metal in her tongue did?
She rallied, straightening, her hand on the door. “Well, that’s okay. It’s not too cold out, I’ll find a place to sleep and cross back in the morning.”
Fuck me sideways, she was going to—what? Sleep on the beach? It was one thing to kick her out, but I wasn’t going to allow my female to sleep in the cold.
Stop fighting it, you idiot. You knew from the beginning this was going to happen.
I sighed and stepped back from the door, scrubbing my hand down my face to hide my wince when I shifted my weight wrong and the titanium of my prosthesis pinched my knee. “Where’s your luggage?”
She opened her mouth—to ask mewhy, I just knew it—but then closed it and stepped out into the hall. Without even moving from my sight, she bent down, then straightened with a leather jacket over one arm and a black backpack over one shoulder.
I couldn’t help the way my brow rose.
My mother hadn’t been one for traveling, but when she did, I couldn’t recall her ever packing fewer than two full suitcases. My little female had only a backpack? MyKteergrowled, thinking that Hendricks had sent her off with so little, and Stevie flinched slightly, her gaze dropping to my chest.
