Seward raises an eyebrow at me.
“Holt Manliffe is missing unless you’ve got another update you haven’t bothered to share.”
The man wrinkles his nose and plunges his hands deep into his trouser pockets. “I’m sure someone will be in touch shortly with a formal update.” He tilts his head to the side, staring at me through narrowed eyes. “Since you’re so eager to be questioned at the station rather than in the street, I’ll arrange it. You’re still on the same number, right?”
A multitude of thoughts spin through my mind. They can’t have found the body. There wasn’t enough left to make an identification. He must be bluffing. This is just more of the same bullshit. A waste of my time.
But another part of me wonders if he’s telling the truth. If I wasn’t as careful as I needed to be. If Gabriel’s been running his mouth again. Selling me out again. Taking his revenge for me stealing Crimson, the same way that she was my revenge on him.
The detective smirks at me, slapping my shoulder as he walks past. “See you soon, buddy. Better get those affairs in order, yeah?”
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
MICAH
Blood pounds in my head strong enough to make it ache when I catch up with Crimson. She’s waiting with Warren at the base of the apartment lift.
“Follow him,” I tell the bodyguard. “Make sure he’s not hanging around here and tell me if he meets with anyone we know.”
Warren nods and leaves without needing to ask questions. He knows the drill.
“Sorry if I spoke out of turn,” Crimson says in a small voice when we’re alone. She can’t meet my gaze, frightened eyes bouncing away from mine whenever she tries to look straight at me.
“You’re fine,” I say curtly, my jaw tight. In any other circumstance, I would have loved the way she went to bat for me without a moment’s hesitation. With Seward, every instinct tells me it made things worse. “Next time, just keep your mouth shut. The man’ll twist anything we say and use it for his own ends.”
She nods, folding her arms like I make her nervous. Like she’s standing next to a murderer. She is, of course, but not one who intends her any harm.
Once we step inside the lift, Crimson shuffles her feet, breathing in and out through her mouth. The lift pings as it reaches the apartment and I take her arm, directing her in front of me.
Watching her tight rear end as she walks ahead puts a chink in my irritation, letting in a streak of lust. I promised myself I’d take things slow, ease her into the sexual arena at the speed she dictates, but those thoughts are burning off in a cloud of steam.
Whatever the impulse that drove the detective to my door this morning, the proximate cause is the same as ever. Gabriel and his loose lips. Gabriel and his weak will. Gabriel and his envy that seeks to destroy me simply for having a better life than him.
No matter that he got the two-parent house in the suburbs while I got the single mother struggling to make ends meet, he’s envious of me. The unfairness eats into my brain. My father rates him, invested thousands more hours into his upbringing, and Gabriel’s not even his biological son, but he’s the one who’s jealous.
When Crimson hits the end of the corridor, I steer her into my room. Her eyes lower to the carpet, but if she expects the display of submission to bank down my flames, then she’s taken the wrong tack. Seeing her obedience makes me crave to dominate her even more. See how far she’ll bend to me.
The blood that was clouding my head abruptly shifts direction. I rub the front of my trousers as my cock stirs, smile broadening when Crimson follows my action, her eyes flicking up to mine then skittering away.
“Take your clothes off.”
That snaps her gaze back to mine. “I… what?”
I rub my jaw, feeling the bristle. By the time I’m finished, she’ll be coated with stubble rash. As I drag my thumb along my lower lip, I wonder if that’ll be the same shade as her deepening blush. If it’ll stain her cheeks longer, still be there when she falls asleep tonight.
Only one way to find out.
I clamp a hand around her upper arm, drawing her closer. She hasn’t obeyed my direction, not even the tiniest bit.
“I said, take your clothes off.”
Her eyes try to move from mine, but they’re locked in position like she’s hypnotised. The tip of her tongue darts out to wet her lip and I curl my other hand around the back of her neck, drawing her closer until I press my mouth to hers, hungrily taking what’s rightfully mine.
When I’m finished with the kiss, I pull away, gesturing to her blouse.
Crimson stares down at it as though she doesn’t understand. Going straight into shellshock mode, and we haven’t even started.
I don’t have time for this. Don’t have time to treat her gently or coax her into enjoyment. My brother’s face pulses in my mind, in time with my elevated heartbeat.
