Chapter 6 #3
She slugged Bren, as she’d done earlier. He fell back against the table, barely grabbing onto it to keep from falling on his ass. Before he could say anything, she said, “Your kisses were awful. I had to wipe my mouth afterward. And during them I’d be thinking about my to-do list.”
Kade chuckled. “You obviously weren’t kissing her right.”
“I did a lot right, didn’t I, baby?” Bren made that stupid V and licked the crease. He’d actually thought it was provocative when they were dating despite the fact that she’d rolled her eyes and looked away every time he’d done it. Now that he knew it disgusted her, he did it every time he saw her.
This time Kade hit him, and he staggered back several steps. “You’re disrespecting the lady. Knock it off or I will.”
Violet threw her hand out when Bren’s brothers rushed forward. “Stop! Your brother’s being a jerk, as usual. I know you’re not used to seeing men treat women with respect, but let it go.”
Bren wiped his hand over his mouth, checking for blood. “We can take this into the Conference Room.”
Violet shook her head. “No way.” Ernie would kill her if she exposed the Conference Room to a Vega.
She twined her arm through Kade’s and tugged him toward the door.
He went willingly, unlike anyone who lived in the Fringe who’d be spoiling for a fight.
He watched his back though, every muscle tight and ready for action.
Kade wasn’t spoiling for a fight, but he’d kick ass if he needed to.
Bren watched with the same posture, though he looked ready to come after them.
“Pretty,” Kade spit out, clearly disgusted.
“Well, you are pretty.”
“I’ve got a scar, for hell’s sake.”
She paused at the door, lifting his hair and looking at it.
“Sorry, but it’s just not ugly enough. Maybe if it were all red and angry and came down to your mouth.
” She drew her finger down that imagined path, ran it across his lower lip.
Then she slung her arms around his neck and planted her mouth on his.
It was a very bad idea, an advance he might reject out of surprise.
But he fell right into it, tilting his head and opening his mouth against hers.
His hand came up to cradle her cheek, and his tongue moved expertly against hers.
Heat sparked between them as fierce and fast as it had outside her home.
“I thought we weren’t going to kiss again,” he murmured between kisses.
“We aren’t. I mean, this isn’t really kissing.” Then, for a few moments, she fell into a mindless spin as he sucked on her tongue. She snapped back to reality. “We’re pretending.”
“Ah.” He slid his hands down to her behind and pulled her tighter against him. “Just as long as you don’t mind that my reaction isn’t pretend.”
No, it sure wasn’t. “I guess I can’t complain.” She pulled back even when her body wanted to grind right into him, grabbed his hand, and shot Bren a look before stalking out into the fresh air.
As soon as the door closed, she let out a scream. “That felt so good!” She spun around.
He rubbed his fingers over his mouth. “Yes, it did. Now, want to explain what that was about?”
Her cheeks burned. “It was impulsive, which isn’t like me anymore. Sorry for using you like that. Bren’s such a jerk, and since we were already”—she didn’t want to say pretending in case anyone was out there—”well, you know, something just came over me.”
“Yeah, that seems to be happening a lot between us. So, you were using me to get the ex jealous?”
“Gods, no.” She continued to her car. “It was more of a eff-you kiss. Or really an eff-off kiss. Thanks for indulging me.”
His gaze settled on her mouth for a moment. “My pleasure.”
The words skittered down her spine because she was pretty sure he meant them. It was her pleasure too, but she held back that sentiment. “So…now what do we do?”
He gave her a heart-stopping smile. “We could do it again.”
Her Dragon jumped at his silky voice, and her pulse fluttered. “I meant about the investigation.”
“Let’s go to your place.”
“You really are something, aren’t you?” She laughed, feeling better now that she thought he was just a player. “This is a role, an illusion, something you Deuces are good at—”
“To look at your map. I had a chance to check out the one in Ferro’s office. I want to compare.”
Her cheeks burned again. “Oh. Of course.”
He gave her a knowing smile. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between illusion and reality. The lines blur. Boundaries disappear.” The mist in his eyes swirled as his gaze held hers. Even though the Dragon flames had disappeared, it was still provocative.
She felt that fog swirling inside her, too. “We need to keep those boundaries solid, the lines clear.” Her Dragon shimmered and sensually stretched. Damn beast should’ve been sated, not itching for more.
The door flew open, and Bren and his two brothers shot out.
“Parking lot fights are off limits—” she started to say, but they ran to their truck, their faces pale and drawn.
“What’s going on?” she asked them.
Bren paused, his fingers gripping the door’s edge. “It’s Butch. Someone killed him.”