I shift in my seat, thighs pressing together for a little friction because all I can think of is tearing his shirt open, clawing his back, and us burning together until there’s nothing left but sore muscles, bite marks, and broken furniture.
God, what’swrongwith me?
“Hey, you okay?” Koby leans in, the heat of him soaking through my skin.
“Yes, sorry, got lost in my head.”
“What will it be?” Carter asks. “Are you going with Jax, or—”
“No, I’m staying with Koby.”
I realize too late what I’ve said, my mouth running faster than my brain can process. I shouldn’t have let that slip out like a strike of lightning.
“I mean... if that’s okay?” Heat crawls up my neck. “I’ll try not to beat him up again.”
“Don’t try too hard.” Ryder grins. “Pretty sure he likes it.”
***
The series of unfortunate events continues as Koby places his palm on the scanner that opens the door to my newest prison.
At least Ichosethis one.
I’m supposed to feel wary, I think. Annoyed, scared, and angry about trading one cage for another, but a part of me—the one aching between the legs just because Koby’s standing nearby with his sleeves rolled up—isthrilled.
Maybe I’m sick. Maybe Anton broke something important in me, twisted my instincts, and now, what should terrify me thrills me instead. Or maybe this is what it feels like when your body starts to thaw after being frozen solid for so long.
Whatever the reason, I don’t mind feeling the way I do. Hot, bothered, mindless with the sensations Anton repressed.Alive.
Koby moves past me, his collar stained red from my earlier attack, and my body reacts with a fever.
Yeah, I definitely don’t mind being here.
Not just because my new roommate looks at me with dark, lustful eyes that turn my knees to jelly and send my brain into overdrive. Not just because this particular prison carries his delicious aroma, but because I hope Carter’s plan will work.
I thought running for the rest of my life, praying Anton wouldn’t find me, was my only option. But now, there’s a chance he’ll be gone for good, and I’ll sleep without fear.
My fingers drift across the hallway wall as Koby leads me deeper inside and I ground myself in the ordinary details. The hum of the air conditioning. The faint vibration of traffic from outside.
I’m safe here. That much is obvious.
Koby won’t let Anton take me. He said he wouldn’t even allow Jax to take me unless I wanted to go, and I know that extends to anyone else who might come after me.
Koby’s easy to trust. He asksquestions instead of ordering me around.It’s a nice change from the mind-numbing dizziness Anton ignited and the combat mode Octavius triggered.
Blaze wasn’t bad. It surprised me that he chose human trafficking and selling girls to brothels as a career. He’s just so... soft inside. Compassionate despite his ruthless aura.
Jax, on the other hand, drove me insane from day one. He’s arrogant, cocky, and neverasked.
Koby’s a different breed from all of them.
“I’ll show you your room,” he says, leading me deeper into his apartment. “Carter and Broadway will grab your stuff from Jax, but if there’s anything else you want, I’ll bring the girls over so you can tell them what you like, and they’ll be more than happy to shop for you.”
I don’t point out we could shop online. Partly because Ryder droned on about security protocols for ten minutes, so I bet he’d flag skirts, dresses, and lingerie being delivered to a bachelor pad as suspicious, and partly because I don’t have any cash, and I can already hear Ryder listing all the reasons why I shouldn’t access my bank account anytime soon.
“I’ll make do with whatever Carter gets.”
He nods, opening the door to a guest bedroom, then stops in the doorway, one shoulder propping the frame. “You hungry?”
