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CHAPTER TWO

BONES

I’m in fucking trouble. Something I’ve never felt before in my goddamn life flows through me as I stare down at the gorgeous brunette pressed up against my chest, looking up at me like she wants to bite my head off.

Fuck me, I want to find a dark corner to explore whatever the hell is happening between us. There’s nothing soft or scared about her, even though I can see she’s shaken. She’s got her chin tilted up, stubborn as hell, lips parted like she’s drawing breath to curse me out. Hard to focus with those lips, dark red and pissed off and begging for my attention.

She’s all curves, packed into a black dress that looks like it’s one deep breath away from surrendering. The fabric hugs her tits, showing off everything, and damn if the sight doesn’t make my cock ache. Sweet fuck, she’s made for being bent over my bike and screaming my name. Her hair’s down, wild, dark, and begging for my hands. Shoulders straight, attitude even straighter. Her hazel eyes flash between green and gold, sharp as a goddamn razor and twice as dangerous.

Fuck me. Electricity bolts right through my body. Her perfume is clean and sharp, citrus with something sweet underneath. I cage her in before she can bounce off. One hand snags her waist, the other braces against the wall. That’s all it takes to feel the raw panic vibrating through her.

Her head tilts up. Hazel eyes blaze, sizing me up with pure fight-or-flight. Goddamn, she’s beautiful even pissed off and scared. I could eat her alive.

“You okay, sweetheart?” My voice comes out lower than planned.

I’m obsessed already. For a second, we’re eye to eye. Hers are shot through with gold and green, and full of rage and embarrassment.

She tips her chin up, like she’s daring me to disagree. “Do I look okay?”

I can see she’s upset, and I want to protect her from whatever’s bothering her. I stare down into her stormy eyes with my heart squeezing a little at the bruised determination all over her face, and mutter, “What happened?”

Because something sure as hell did.

She exhales, a sharp and bitter sound. “Some bitch stole my purse with my phone and everything. In the bathroom. If you’re security, maybe try doing your fucking job instead of grilling me.”

There’s enough fight in her voice to make me grin. I haven’t been talked to like that in a long time. If ever.

I nod once. “Come with me.” I take the opportunity to take her soft hand in mine. Goddamn. I feel that shit all the way to my soul. My cock turns to stone in my jeans, and I ignore the fucker as I lead her down the main corridor toward the private elevator.

“Where are we going?” She tries to pull her hand back, but I hold on to it.

“We’re going to security. A gnat can’t fart in this goddamn place without someone catching it on video,” I mutter as I punch in my access code on the elevator panel.

When the black metal doors slide open, she whirls, planting both feet. “I’m not getting in that elevator with you. I don’t even know your name.”

“My name is Bones,” I say. “And you’ll be perfectly safe with me.”

The look she gives me would drop a lesser man. “That’s the first thing every serial killer on earth says.”

I can’t help it; I smile. “I’m not a serial killer.”

“And that’s the second thing they say.” She plants her gorgeous ass right there.

“You’re going to have to trust me.” I lean over and stare directly into her eyes. “I’d cut off my own goddamn arm before I hurt you.”

She must believe me, because she hesitates, then huffs out a curse and stomps ahead. I follow her into the elevator, watching the way her hips sway under the ridiculous dress. There’s power in her stride, even if she looks like she’s marching to her own execution. “You didn’t tell me your name,” I remind her as the elevator doors close us in.

“I sure didn’t.” She stares at me with a raised eyebrow.

“This is going to be so much fun,” I mutter under my breath as we step off the elevator. For some reason, her defiance really wakes my fucking cock up. Goddamn it. I lead her down the hall, and we come to the main security door. I punch the staff code and shove the door open. The security office takes up a good portion of the fucking fifth floor, and it’s filled with screens. I wasn’t lying when I said nothing gets by our security. Ty, one of the night guys, looks up and grins when he sees me.

“Trouble?” Ty asks.

I jerk my head toward the gorgeous brunette, who’s already scanning the screens like she can out-detect us all. “This woman had her purse lifted by a guest. Little brunette in a sequin dress, moving with a crew of two. They fled the main corridor bathroom a few minutes ago.”

Ty’s fingers fly over the keyboard. He brings up three feeds, rewinds to the timestamp I spit at him, and hits play. The image quality is crystal clear.

“There.” My girl leans over Ty’s shoulder, finger almost touching the screen. “That’s her, and she’s holding my black purse.”