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He pulled on my ponytail again. “Pack your shit, or leave it all here—I don’t care. Either way, you’re coming with me.”
Who did he think he was? It was bad enough he was telling Mrs. Quinn I kept stopping up the toilet. Now he was dishing out orders like it was his job?
“I’m not. Now go away. I’m busy.”
He snorted. “You look like it.” He eyed my attire suspiciously. “The only thing you’re busy doing is thinking about me.”
“Fuck you.”
“Excellent idea.” He yanked on the hem of my top, and I batted his hands away.
“You’ll get me kicked out of here.”
A wicked gleam glittered in his eyes, and I inwardly cursed myself. “That man you got tangled up with will kill you for that coin and toss you in a garbage dump.”
“Not if he can’t find it. And if I’m dead, he never will,” I said haughtily.
“I can’t protect you here.”
“I’ve been in worse situations.”
“You promised me truth.”
Damn him, he almost sounded hurt. And how did he know I was telling a fib? This was about as bad as it had gotten. I’d never taken anything worth this much. A paperweight. Letter opener. Favorite coffee mug. The things I stole generally had more sentimental value than anything. Because I wanted someone else to know what it was like to have something they loved stolen the way I had.
Stealing as I’d done at the bar was just for sport. For fun. For the rush. To see if I could get away with it.
To get personal mementos took time and trust. I didn’t often immediately know what items were important to someone. I’d become a student of observation and patience.
It always amazed me how quickly gifts of high monetary value were given. That was part of my game. To see what I could get and how fast.
But learning what that certain something was that meant more wasn’t always as easy. I could’ve taken Tamas’s favorite robe, yet when I’d seen he fussed about that coin, I couldn’t resist lifting it.
“Fine. It’s not the best predicament to be in. But I got myself into it, and I’ll find my way out.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Why? Because you’ve screwed up your own life and think if you help me fix mine, somehow that will make you a better person?”
He blanched but quickly recovered, his expression turning hard. “I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself, but you can’t hide here forever either.”
“Sure, I can. If I tell them my ex who beat me in the face found me, they won’t turn me away,” I replied indignantly.
“Tigress, stop arguing. You aren’t going to win this one. Now put some shoes on and let’s go.”
“How’s your cheek?” I trailed my fingertips against the bruise.
“It’s nothing.” He brushed me off, but I couldn’t make my hand leave his face. “Stop trying to distract me.” His voice was soft, and I rose on my toes to kiss the bruise.
“Thank you. Did I say that yesterday?”
“Not in those exact words, but the way you tried to rip off my clothes was way better.”
My cheeks heated, but I didn’t look away. His fingers dug into my hips. He shoved me against the edge of the counter, and the look in his eyes turned feral. Instinct should have had me backing away, but instead, I elongated my neck until my lips almost touched his.
“I’ve decided how you can thank me.” Drew fisted the hem of my shirt and tugged upward until my stomach was exposed.
I stepped closer to stop his progress. “I’m not showing you my gratitude with sex.”
