His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(36)
Author: Shayla Black

Her footfalls across the floor were his only warning before she grabbed his arm and pulled him back around. “Stop making me question my sanity, then ignoring me. I might be small, but I’m not some wimpy little pushover—”

“I’m warning you right now. Unless you want to be flat on your back again, this time naked and stuffed full of my cock, don’t touch me.”

It took a moment for his words to register. Finally, her eyes widened, and she uncurled her fingers slowly from him, then lifted both palms beside her head as if he’d barked at her to put her hands up. It would almost be funny if her rebuff weren’t so irritating. How had this girl twisted his balls up in knots with one damn kiss? He’d kind of been an ass about it, too. Being on edge in more than one way wasn’t good for his mood.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, rubbing at his tired eyes. “I’m out of line.”

“So you’ll give me my phone and let me talk to Blane?”

Why didn’t she just stab him in the guts? Faster and more straightforward than this verbal torture. He was already more addicted to Bailey than he wanted to admit—than he could even believe—but that didn’t change a damn thing. “No.”

Before she could argue with him again, forcing him to listen to her whine for her boyfriend, Joaquin yanked the door open and slammed it behind him. Quickly, he locked it.

Flopping back against the surface, he closed his eyes and sighed. What the fuck had happened in there? He’d gone in to convince her that she was Tatiana Aslanov and nearly ended up fucking her. Worse, now his body seemed cued into her, like she was the itch he hadn’t scratched and he was going to suffer a terrible set of hives until he did. No, it was more. Deeper. He hated this confusing feelings shit.

Distance between him and Bailey would be good. The door wasn’t enough of a barrier between them. He couldn’t afford to separate himself from her by a few miles, so he’d settle for a few hours, a few drinks, a few work-related problems. He’d check in with Hunter, Jack, and the others to see what new information they’d gleaned about her adoptive parents. Yeah, that would work. And this fucking boyfriend stood between them, too. Couldn’t forget about that.

Joaquin marched down the hall until he came to the smaller bedroom he’d crashed in last night. As soon as he entered the little space, he hunted through Bailey’s phone until he found the button that played her voicemails. He listened to Blane’s message once, twice. Then he couldn’t decide whether to be furious or thrilled as fuck.

He clasped her mobile in his hand, gripping it so tightly it flickered. With a curse, he shoved it back in his pocket, took a deep breath, and counted to ten.

If he were smart, he’d wait on this confrontation. With a bad mixture of desire and anger juicing his veins, he wasn’t feeling like he had two brain cells to rub together. He wanted to blame her because he desired her so badly, but that would make him an absolute douche. He was a grown man able to take responsibility for his penis. Honestly, he had no one to blame for this antsy, overheated mood but himself. He’d wanted to avenge Nate, so he’d pursued this case. He’d been determined to learn Bailey’s real identity, so he’d stripped away the façade of her life and exposed the truth underneath. He’d allowed his need for her to burn past his good sense, so he’d kissed her. No, he’d all but fucked her mouth with his own. And now . . .

“Shit!” He stalked back to the bedroom Bailey occupied, unlocked the door, and let himself in. He wasn’t at all quiet as he banged it shut behind him.

Bailey snapped her gaze his way. She sent him a wary stare but didn’t back down. Why did that make his dick hard all over again?

“What?” she snapped.

“He’s your boyfriend?” Joaquin challenged.

“My sex life is none of your business. What happened earlier between us shouldn’t have. Don’t try to coax my cooperation again by doing your level best to nail me. I was stupid enough to fall for it once, but never again.”

Every time she opened her mouth to defy him, he clawed an inch closer to taking her over his knee. He ground his teeth together and drew in a bracing breath, looking for some self-control.

“Answer. The. Question,” he snarled.

She crossed her arms over her chest and leveled him with a glare. “My relationship with Blane has nothing to do with your case.”

Damn it, she was right. Whatever bad attitude had crawled up his ass needed to crawl right back out . . . but he couldn’t seem to make that happen.

“I heard the voicemail he left.” Joaquin held up the phone. “Blane would be far more interested in being my boyfriend than yours. Why did you lie to me?”