She narrows her eyes at me, clearly recalibrating. She doesn’t trust me—not remotely—but she’s doing the math.
I decide to save her the trouble. “I’m the biggest threat.”
“That’s what I figure,” she mutters. “Why are you kidnapping me, Justice?” She sighs like she’s run out of an entire day’s worth of patience.
“We’ll discuss that later. I’m having my doctor take a look at you. I don’t trust your stepmother’s.”
She shifts slightly. “Why do you even care?”
“I need your help,” I say simply.
She blinks once, then twice. The blue of her eyes cuts through the shadows inside the car, sharp against the dimness. Rain taps against the roof like fingers drumming in warning, and the windows begin to fog. The air’s close now, tight. “My help?” she asks cautiously.
“Yeah. First, I want to know why you’re hacking into the Beaumont servers.”
“Not going to tell you.”
“I didn’t think so.” I can make her talk. I’ve made worse people give up bigger secrets. But right now, she’s warm on my lap, wrapped in that blanket like a stolen thing, and I’m not in a hurry.
She shifts again and then freezes. Her eyes widenslightly as she no doubt brushes against my erection. I don’t apologize. I just watch her.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I say.
She goes still. Utterly still. Not in fear, but calculation. She’s trying to decide what I am. Cute, though. I’ll give her that. Even when she’s glaring like she wants to bite someone. “That’s not what you said before.”
I nod. “I’ve decided you’re forgiven. But if you try to kill my brother again, we’re going to have a real big problem.” Yeah, I might have to neutralize her away from computers, but she doesn’t need to know that tonight. First, I require her help.
“I already said I was sorry,” she snaps. “I can’t believe you’re still pissed about one little virus.”
Truth be told, I’m not feeling particularly pissed at the moment. I could be wrong because I want her. Badly. Her words don’t cut me. Her voice heals. I’m curious. And very aware of her weight, the way she fits against me even when she’s doing everything she can not to. So I turn her attention elsewhere. “I want to know exactly what you did to the garnet to poison it—and then Thorn.”
Even through the blanket, I can see her cross her arms. She might not be able to get free, but she sure as hell makes the movement anyway. That defiance. Always. She winces slightly.
“What hurts?” I ask instantly, every nerve on alert.
“Just my shoulder from the fight with the asshole in my safe house.” Now she looks a little pouty.
Unable to help myself, I reach out and run a finger down her flushed face. Her skin is even silkier than her hair. Warm. Soft in a way that makes my jaw tighten andmy erection harden further. I curse myself silently. Not the time. Not the place. But damn, she’s something.
Her eyes go wide.
“I said you’re safe, right?” I murmur.
She mutters a barely audible “yes,” but there’s something layered behind those eyes. Interest. Intrigue. A light blush touches her cheekbones, and I know this tension between us is mutual—and unwanted by us both.
I don’t trust myself around her. My alliance and my loyalty belong to Malice Media, to my brother, and to the organization we built. I won’t let that slip. I won’t let her make me weak. But a quick fuck? Maybe a few times? That we both need.
She glances toward the window, voice low. “Where are we going?”
“My place,” I say simply.
She huffs out a breath. “I take it your guy was the one who got hit in the head in the driveway? The one who shot the attacker for me?”
“Yep.” Wynd has a hell of a headache.
“How’d you find me?”
I settle her more comfortably in my lap and ignore the fact that my cock tries to punch through my zipper. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
