“You are not my slave here.”
“I’m contractually obliged. Well, unless I decide that you not telling me about Luther ends our agreement.”
“You are not to leave this apartment until Luther is no longer a danger.” His voice sounded like a whip.
“That’s not the deal!”
Again, anger possessed him. The more she knew him, the easier she found to push him over the edge and lose his cool. It was a strange thing.
“We have to decide if there is still a deal. Where is Gage?”
At her simple question, Locke seemed to snap and slapped his hand with all his strength on the counter. The sound made her jump, and Tessa almost dropped the bowl.
He was furious now, and for reasons she didn’t understand. She had only asked a simple question.
“If you need to hit something, go back to your punching bag.” Ignoring him, she turned to turn off the heat on the stove and start the oven. Greasing up the pan, she lined it with strawberries and poured the batter on it. In less than a minute, it was ready to bake.
“And while you’re angry for no apparent reason, I’m gonna go ask Gage if he’s hungry. He’s in your bedroom?”
Tessa asked the question, but didn’t wait for an answer, walking past him. Locke barred her way and caged her with his arms against the counter. His erection was hard against her stomach, his face so close, his lips were an inch away. The ice of his eyes was burning her, his square jaw locked tight. All she wanted was to finally kiss him. A weird thought as she had access to every muscle and sinew on his enticing body, but his lips held the only true, real piece of him. At this moment, everything was possible, but it was on his terms, even if she was dying to taste him. What had happened for him to close himself off like that? What had happened to him?
That suspended instant ended when he pushed himself back, all heat gone.
“I’m gonna get Gage.”
And he was gone.
