Page 304 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Elliot’s smile disappeared.

“Yes.”

“I didn’t like it.”

“I noticed.”

“I mean before the knife.”

Elliot stared. Ronan continued.

“When he had you against the wall.”

Something dark moved through Elliot’s expression.

“You were scared.”

“No.”

“Bullshit.”

“I was angry.”

“You were scared when he talked about me.”

That landed. Elliot looked away. Ronan reached up. Stopped before touching the bruise.

“Can I?”

Elliot looked at his hand. Then him.

“Yes.”

Ronan touched carefully. Elliot inhaled. Not pain exactly. Something else. Ronan traced the edge of one bruise with his thumb. Nathan’s fingerprints. Someone else’s claim temporarily written across Elliot’s skin. The thought made something vicious move through Ronan. He hated it. He understood Elliot a little more because of it. He hated that most.

“You’re doing it,” Elliot whispered.

“What?”

“Looking at me like that.”

“How?”

Elliot swallowed beneath Ronan’s thumb.

“Like you want to hurt whoever touched me.”

Ronan stared.

“Maybe I do.”

Elliot’s pupils widened. There. That reaction. Ronan knew that one. His hand remained around Elliot’s throat. Loose. Careful. Nothing like Nathan. Elliot leaned into it anyway. Ronan’s stomach tightened.

“Jesus Christ.”

“What?”

“You’re enjoying this.”