The woman bites her lip, fresh tears filling her eyes. She shakes her head. “No. But, could you let me know how he is?”
I nod, giving her hand a squeeze. I turn to the friend and give her a brief nod. She’s here supporting her friend, whose life has turned upsidedown, and I’m grinding my teeth over her giving heart eyes to Jonesy.
We head out of the house, ignoring the throng of media. The snap of cameras is nothing compared to the questions yelled at us by journalists. Jonesy places a protective arm around me, helping me into his car and closing the door before striding around to the driver’s side. I’d relented this morning and allowed him a comfortable drive to our interviews rather than thetoy carI’ve been driving. Thank God I did; every time the media closes in on me, my hands shake uncontrollably. Not like Jonesy, cool, calm, nothing seems to faze him. And honestly, watching him do that thing where he puts his hand behind my headrest as he backs out of the driveway. The veins on his forearms are prominent as he spins the steering wheel one-handed. Honest to God porn. I’m biting my lip, clenching my thighs. And he’s loving it. Because once we’re on the main road, he places his hand high on my thigh, gripping me hard.
“I love it when you claim me like that,” he says.
I know he’s talking about Hannah’s friend who was practically drooling over him, but I feign innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He has the audacity to laugh. “Yeah, princess. You do. But let’s pretend that you weren’t marking your territory like a goddamn dog pissing ona streetlight.”
“Did you really just compare me to a dog?” I spit.
“I do like you on your hands and knees begging. And I do give you a treat when you do a good job, so yeah. I guess you are my little pup, aren’t you?” His grin is wide, his teeth flashing.
“I will wreck this car, with both of us in it, if you ever call me that again.”
He laughs, his fingers squeezing my thigh. “But I just bought you a new leash. I thought we could try it.”
“Oh, we’ll try it. But you’ll be crawling for me before the night is up. I want you barking just to get a taste of me.”
“I’d lick up any treat you gave me, princess. Woof.” He snaps his teeth at me, the maniacal grin breaking out across his face tells me he’s serious.
“God, you’re insane.”
“What can I say? I’m unhinged for you, Katie. I’d do just about anything you asked of me if it turns you on.”
“You’d really crawl around?”
“Absolutely.” He shrugs as if I’d asked him to make me a coffee and not partake in a humiliation kink.
“The big, strong soldier would get on his knees and bark like a dog just to taste my pussy?” I whisper, leaning over the console, I palm his dick through his pants.
“Jesus . . . Katie, you’ve gotta stop. Not while I’m driving.”
“I’d tell you what agood boyyou’ve been, and I’ll stroke your hair whilst you lick me?”
“Katie, stop.” He adjusts the front of his pants, and I bite back a smile.
“Such a good boy. You do deserve a treat, don’t you?”
“Why is this working?” he mutters, turning up the radio.
I lift my arm and start to stroke his hair. “So well-trained.”
He laughs, smacking my hand away. “The she-devil is back. You always have to win, don’t you?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I’m not a loser who gets off on dog cosplay.”
“Yeah, yeah, we’ll see.”
“Okay, back to business. Anthony is coming over tonight. He’s apologetic, so please can you be open to hearing him out before you rip him a new one? We need his help to work out whether Connor Maddox did this.”
“If he behaves, I’ll behave.”
???
I don’t particularly like the term alpha male because of the bullshit Andrew Tate-yielding nonsense it springs up. However, Jonesy andAnthony prowling around each other as they both aim to contain their strong dislike for one another does remind me of two lions circling each other.
