He huffs. “Weren’t looking for an escape?”
“Not this time,” I answer quickly, wondering if this man has some hidden superpower for reading minds.
He reaches out and takes my chin in between his fingers. “Not funny.”
I sigh heavily, the weight of knowing I have to save them bearing down on me. “You can’t keep me forever, Jagger, we both know we’re running out of time.”
His stare intensifies. There’s a deadness to it that sends a shiver down my spine. “Whatever fucked-up idea you have spiraling through that pretty head, forget it. I’m not giving you up for fucking anything.”
My bottom lip trembles because I know how serious he is and how dangerous it is for both of us. “They’re going to kill you.”
“They have to catch me first.”
“Jagger, I don’t want any of you to die because of me. I’m not worth it.” Our eyes lock, a silence hanging heavy between us that’s killing me.
“Some other motherfucker isn’t getting his hands on you. I don’t care if we all have to fucking skip town and hide out in Antarctica until he fucking forgets you ever existed. I will go to the end of the earth and back to keep you safe, to keep you for myself.”
A stray tear tumbles down my cheek. I want to swipe it away, but with the tight way his fingers are gripping my chin, there’s no room to even try. I stare into the depths of his black soul, and I know it doesn’t matter what I say, he won’t hear me. His mind is made up. “Jagger,” I whimper, not sure what else to do.
“You’re staying with me tonight.”
“What?” I ask, not because I didn’t hear him or understand the sentence he said but because I don’t understand the meaning.
His lips contort, twisting menacingly. “Do you really think I’m stupid, flower? I can read your mind and body, you’re about to run. You think you’re saving us. It’s sweet really, but it’s not going to fucking happen. I’ll chain you to my bed if I have to.” His eyes run down my face, a chill coming over me with his intensity. “Forever.”
“You can’t say stuff like that,” I whisper. The threat in his tone was too real. I try to step back but hit the cold glass door. “You want so badly to protect me, but what about what I want? Why don’t I get to protect you three?”
“We don’t need your act of bravery. I’m not sending you back to a lifetime of suffering so we can walk free.” His hands grip my waist as he lifts me and presses my back into the glass door, his large frame coming in between my legs as he holds me in place, our bodies impossibly close.
“But they know I’m alive, this charade won’t stand up anymore. What the hell are we supposed to do next?” Like this I can stare deep into his dark eyes and pretend there isn’t a big bad world out there just waiting to swallow me up. Pretend everything he says is true and he can save me from my reality. Tentatively I reach a hand up to touch the side of his face.
He flinches away with a scowl but doesn’t put me down.
I push my fingers through his surprisingly soft hair, roughly tugging at the ends.
“Did I say you could touch me?” His voice is a low growl.
I meet my eyes with his, challenging him to stop me as I trail my fingertips down his neck and shoulder, then bring them back to his neck, gripping him tighter. “If you don’t want my hands on you, stop me.”
His eyes narrow. “Brat.”
“Controlling asshole,” I throw right back at him. I’m in no mood to be pushed around tonight.
His lips twist menacingly. “If that’s what you want.” He tosses me over his shoulder so my ass is in the air. He marches from the kitchen space and toward the living room where the others are. I have no idea why I thought he was going to take me up to his room and screw me until I agreed with all his messed-up ideas around my security.
“Jagger, put me down,” I cry, trying to wiggle free of his domineering hold. The last thing I need is the three of them ganging up on me tonight when I’m feeling so fragile.
That only makes him grip me tighter, his rough fingertips biting into my thighs. “Nope.” He tosses me down on the sofa, looming over me in a way that makes my breath catch, all powerful and dominant. What the hell does he want with me? I can feel both Cruz and Asher’s eyes on me, but I don’t dare look away from Jagger.
One of the other boys turns off the TV, and then the silence is so heavy I can hear his ragged breathing. “Our girl needs to be taught a very important lesson,” he tells them, sending a shiver down my spine.
Chapter 18
The Consequences of Falling
Jagger’sdarkeyesboreright through me, and I’m not sure if he’s about to punish me or fuck me. Either way, I’m a little turned on. “What are the rules, Asher?” he snarls in his brother’s direction.
My head spins. The rules?
