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I really don’t want to give in and literally use him for the support he offered. On the other hand, I couldn’t help myself and my body relaxed against him.
“That’s it, My Lass. Now, listen to those messages.”
Damn my praise kink, always getting me into trouble.
Exhaling sharply through pursed lips, I unlocked my phone and navigated directly to my voicemails before I could chicken out, studiously pretending that my belly didn’t churn with nausea.
“Ms. Miko Gowdie,” Dean Maxwell Patkin’s voice ripped from my tiny phone speakers causing me to recoil as my ears throbbed with sensitivity, “it has come to my attention that you did not open the library for several days this week. Did you misunderstand the importance of following the agreed upon terms of your employment or did I fail to accurately warn you of the consequences should you fail to comply with ALL of them?”
My throat constricted and I fished into my dress’s pocket for one of my ducks, worrying with my fingers.
Bane’s hand squeezed the slightest bit tighter as he sent a simmering half purr, half growl rumbling through my torso. For some convoluted reason, I breathed easier in his comforting hold.
Shit. He could definitely hear every word the dean spoke.
“Surely, it shouldn’t be that difficult to open and close a library while taking only one course?” Dean Maxwell Patkins continued berating me. “Do not bother calling me back about this latest infraction.”
Latest infraction? I haven’t done anything to cause his ire before now. Well, at least that he knew of.
I clenched my fist around the little duckie, my nails digging into my palm.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
There was no question. I was fired. There was no way I could afford to finish my master’s without financial aid.
I closed my eyes and almost pressed stop on the recording, but faux understanding crept into his harsh, barking voice. “All that being said, you’re lucky that I’m on vacation in Barbados and have no desire to deal with the resulting paperwork when letting someone go.” He released a thoroughly put-upon sigh and my shoulders tensed. “Not to mention, the additional phone call and even more paperwork it would require me to fill out to inform the financial aid department that they must pull their funding. This is your first and last warning. Do not make me regret my benevolence, Ms. Gowdie.”
I flinched as a loud bang pierced my ear drum and the voicemail stopped.
How the hell did he manage to make that obnoxious noise? It’s not like you can violently hang up a cellphone, was he really so childish as to slam his phone against something before ending the call?
Yes. Yes, he was.
My eyes misted over as relief filtered through my body, loosening my locked joints and muscles. “Thank fuck.”
It took me a moment to realize I was shaking. No, that movement wasn’t coming from me, but Bane. My brows pinched and I ran my hand over his tense, vibrating forearm where it rested between my breasts, all of the sexy veins bumping along my palm.
Oh, no.
I tried to turn in his arms, but his hold on me only tightened. “Bane?”
“We’re sorry, Bane’s not here right now, please leave a message after the beep.”
My blood frosted over in my veins, then froze solid as another voice added, “Beeeeeeeep!”
The voices coming from his lips were his, but not. Something about them was distorted, or did it contain an echo? I shivered. Either way, I’d never felt more like prey in my life than I did at this moment.
“Bane?” I tried again.
Cackling laughter, far from the normal resonance of my grotesque’s, emitted from him as I managed to pry his hand and arm from me. I stumbled away a few steps only to land on my hands and knees, his tail still trapping my ankle.
Shiiiiiiit.
Bane moved over to me and crouched, canting his head. “We already told you, woman, Bane’s not here.”
My brain scrambled for solutions as my pulse thudded in my ears and sweat trickled down my back. Well, I’d just have to meet his crazy with mine.
I crossed my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at him. “Fine. Then at least do me the courtesy of introducing yourselves.”
