She kind of agreed with North. She hated when people told her to just calm down. If she could do that, she would have.
“On your knees.”
“Fuck. You.”
“On. Your. Knees. Or I will put you there.” Jared moved his other hand to wrap his it around North’s wrist. Then he started drawing the knife away from his throat. “You are mine, boy. You belong to me. You do what I say. And you’re being very naughty right now.”
She winced at those words. She didn’t think North would take them well. And he didn’t. He lunged. But Jared managed to spin him, knocking the knife from his hand as he turned him so North’s back was against Jared’s front and Jared had his arm across his neck.
North was heaving for breath, his face twisted.
“This was not on you. I’m at fault here,” Jared told him. “It’s my job to take care of you both.”
“Nothing happened,” she said. “No one is at fault.”
Both men stared over at her and she swallowed heavily.
Sheesh.
“Someone got into your room without our permission,” Jared told her. “Friend or enemy, it doesn’t matter. Security failed you. But it is on me, not you, North.”
“I should have stayed,” North said.
“And I told you to go. This isn’t on you and I expect you to listen to me.”
North wriggled in Jared’s hold. “Let me go.”
“Not until you tell me that you know this isn’t your fault,” Jared replied.
North seemed to grit his teeth. But Jared didn’t appear willing to let up.
Jared wrapped his hand around North’s neck.
Shit.
Was he going to strangle him? North’s face started to grow red.
“Jared,” she said worriedly.
Both men moved their gazes to her.
“You’re scaring Angie,” Jared told North.
Um. She disagreed. He was the one scaring her. But Jared let go of North’s neck and the other man took in several breaths.
“Don’t worry, baby girl,” Jared reassured her. “I know it looks bad, but North actually enjoys having his breathing restricted. Don’t you, boy?”
North nodded as Jared reached down and cupped his crotch.
Holy Moly.
Was he turned on?
Jared let him go and backed away so he could lock the door. Angie swallowed heavily.
This was not the way she expected that her day might go.
58
