“Starving, actually.”
“Good, so am I. What do you want?”
You.
Thank God I didn’t say that aloud.
“Something unbecoming of a lady.” I smile, suddenly elated. “Something I can eat with my fingers.”
He smirks, his face lighting up. “And to think that act you put on atScarlett,and again this morning, almost had me fooled.”
“Almost?”
“Almost,” he echoes, and my skin flushes when his gaze drags over me. “There was something in your eyes that didn’t fit the picture... I just kept ignoring it.”
I sit on the edge of the bed, running my fingers along the comforter. “Is this the part where I apologize for conning you into rescuing me?”
“No, this is the part where I saywell played.”
“Okay, so maybe it’s the part where I apologize for...” I wave my hand in his general direction, unsure how to word it properly.
Beating you upmight hurt his ego.
Koby straightens, the playfulness fading into something darker. Hungrier. “If anything, I should apologize for getting off on your assault.” He smirks again, watching my lips part. “You throw a decent punch, hellcat, I’ll give you that, but with a bit of practice... you could do better.”
With that, he turns and marches down the hallway, leaving the bedroom open. I sit frozen, my thighs clenching together.
Did he just suggest I should kick his ass again?
No, surely not... I must’ve misunderstood. Anton sneered whenever I raised my voice. Octavius scowled when I pushed back. Jax barked orders like I was his pet. None of them invited my claws. None of them wanted me unruly.
Koby wouldn’t encourage a rage fit.
I’m surprised he didn’t punish me for the one I already inflicted.
There’s something seriously wrong with me because I like the idea of going at him again. My mind spins, replaying his hard chest under my palms when he pinned me earlier, the flexof muscle under his shirt, the iron restraint in his arms. Again I wonder what his mouth would have done if I’d leaned in instead of pulling back...
This time I let the fantasy deepen, blurring into something reckless. I see myself thrashing against him, fists flying, and instead of shoving me away he cages me in, his mouth crushing down on mine until anger and desire melt together.
God, I’m so weird.
I bury it when Koby’s voice rings out in the kitchen. He’s on the phone, ordering a spread of food perfect for eating without cutlery. I’ll evenlickmy fingers.
That’s not what good, well-mannered little girls do, is it?
Good girls sit straight, use utensils, smile politely, speak only when asked. Good girls don’t clench their thighs imagining what a man’s mouth is capable of while listening to him order takeout.
Anton spent three years sculpting me to his rules. Every day, every hour, he nailed them into my skull until I believed them.
Don’t raise your voice.
Don’t disobey.
Don’t move unless you’re told.
Don’twant.
But I’m done living by those rules. I’ll lick sauce off my fingers tonight. I’ll laugh too loud, throw my head back, and let Koby see every unrefined, improper inch of me.
