“I didn’t bring a gun tonight, but I have a knife. Want me to threaten you with that?”
“No need. I’m here with someone, too.”
The brief furrow of his eyebrows made me want to smile, but I held it back.
“No, you aren’t.”
“I am, actually. And I have to get back, so have a good night.” I spun on my boot heel, angling myself in Jake’s direction, when a hand wrapped around my wrist, ripping me back. A thrill went through me, my wrist burning where his hand held it.
“We aren’t done,” he said, his voice low and edged with anger.
“We are. You’re the one who ran off two times now. I’m here with someone, so you need to let me go.”
“Who?”
“What?” I asked, pretending I hadn’t heard as I pulled away.
“Who are you here with?” he asked again.
I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes searching the crowd for Jake again until I saw him still by his bike. Jake wasn’t exactly my type, and besides the dinner I agreed to, I wasn’t planning on spending any extra time with him. And as much as I didn’t want to get on a motorcycle with him ever again, I still thought it was nice he brought me.
Rook must have noticed who I was looking at. “Jake? You’re here withJake?”
“You know him?”
“Yeah, I know him, and there’s no fucking way you are leaving with him.”
“I can leave with whoever I want. I really did get a taste for you motorcycle guys after meeting the one that held me at gunpoint, you know? But I went and found one who wasn’t trying to kill me.”
“He wrecks his bike once a fucking week. He is trying to kill you more than I ever did.”
“Too bad. I came with him. I’m leaving with him.”
I made it another foot before he grabbed me again. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me hard against him until my body was flush with his. “No, you’re not.”
I wiggled out of his grasp, heading fast towards Jake, who seemed to notice what was happening now. His eyes went wide, and I knew it meant an angry Rook stalked after me.
Every part of me was on fire. I couldn’t believe I found him. I’d been looking, but came up with nothing and had been mad atmyself for not learning more than his first name. It should have been a part of our deal when he chased me for mine. I wanted to know why he ran off when he learned my name, and why he would want to suddenly stalk me after.
Now he chased after me again, and I could only wonder if he would keep catching me.
“Stop following me,” I said. He reached out again, but this time he caught the back of my neck. His fingers dug in, ripping me back and tipping my head until his mouth crashed onto mine, rough and urgent. I felt a small sting as he bit at my lower lip, forcing me to open more. My lips parted for him, letting his tongue explore every inch of mine.
The only thought running through my mind was how badly I wanted this. Despite his roughness, I have never had someone touch me like they desperately needed it, and I couldn’t resist it. He kissed me hard, not caring that my lips would be bruised. If anything, it might be his goal, but I took it. I got lost in it. He hadn’t kissed anything except my neck, and it had been enough to make me want more, but this felt all-consuming.
The roar of a motorcycle engine broke through my thoughts, jolting me back to reality. I bit down and pushed against his chest, trying to wiggle out of his grasp again. A metallic taste of blood coated my tongue, and I realized I had bitten down until he bled.
He loosened his grip on me, but his fingers still dug into my arm. His eyes trailed over my face as I stared at the smeared blood on his lips. A wicked grin came over him as he glanced back at Jake, and I realized how badly I had messed up.
“You took my girl on a date, Jake?” He asked, his eyebrows shooting up.
“I’m not your girl,” I hissed.
“Say it louder then, Rebel,” he whispered. “Tell him you didn’t come here just because you wanted to find me.”
I didn’t say anything. Jake’s eyes were wide, and they didn’t leave Rook. Apparently, they knew each other well enough that Jake seemed scared of him. I wondered how many other people here were scared of him.
And more importantly, why they were.
