I turn to face him.
He leans against the door frame, blocking the exit with his legs. His strong arms are crossed over his chest, and he gives me a look that has me feeling like a child for running. “Are you going to behave?”
Heat flares through me at his question.Fuck this shit. I’mmad athim.
I look over my shoulder at the window.
River tenses. “Don’t be stupid.”
“Sorry, Sir.” I give him a half smile then run for the window. I reach my arms up like I’m going to pull it open but the second River lunges after me I change directions. I launch myself over the bed towards the now unobstructed doorway.
Tricking people is easy, Angelica, it’s all about the misdirect.
River curses but I’m already in the corridor. Fool on him for thinking I’d be stupid enough to jump out of a second story window.
My plan is to lock myself inside Oz’s room. I’m halfway down the corridor when a strong arm hooks around my waist.
I scream as I careen towards the floor but River twists us at the last second.
He takes the brute of the fall on his back, landing on the oak floorboards with a thud that rattles my bones before rolling us, so I’m trapped beneath him.
Fool on me for thinking I could get away.
I hammer my fists into his chest. “Are you insane?”
River pins my wrists either side of my head and presses his forehead to mine. “Stop running from me,” he growls.
He’s straddling my hips. I try to pull my hands free, but he squeezes my wrists in warning.
My anger is drowned out by a flush of arousal. My panties dampen.Damn it,apparently my body hasn’t caught onto the fact that we’re mad at him. I wriggle beneath him and turn my head to the side. I freeze.
Oh shit.My stomach clenches, my eyes widening. I quickly look back at River but it’s too late.
He glances over to the side. His jaw hardens. “Freya, why is there a phone on the floor?”
I lift my shoulders in a restricted shrug. “How the hell should I know?” Except I do know. It’s because I’m an idiot who remembered to hide the key to my tracker but forgot to stash the damn burner phone. It must have fallen out of my pocket when River tackled me.
River keeps my hands pinned but sits up. “Where did you get it from?”
I press my lips together. I can see his brain working, thoughts flicking through his mind.
He finds what he’s looking for and his dark eyes settle on me. “Luke,” he says with a sigh. “When he dropped off Camilla’s file. Son of a bitch.”
“River–”
“No. Enough,” he cuts me off. “I thought I owed you an apology. I was going to say I should have trusted you more. Now, I’m not so sure.” River lets go of my wrists only to settle one hand loosely over my collarbone. It’s like a switch flicks in my brain. He’s not holding me down with any force, but the touch is so dominant I couldn’t move if I tried.
River runs his other hand over my body. Down my arms, across my chest. It takes me a moment to realize he’s searching me, but there’s nothing professional about it this time.
My breath hitches when he strokes his hand over my breasts. He stills for a second and I feel him harden against my stomach. “You’re not going to find anything,” I say.
“Quiet.” He uses both hands now, circling my ribcage and dragging them down, over my stomach, to my hips.
I arch into him.
He lifts up to free my right leg, keeping my left trapped between his. Patient, determined fingers undo my laces and slip off my boot. He spreads my leg out to the side and runs his hands up my calf, my thigh, right to the top of my leg.
I’m wearing jeans but I may as well be naked for the fire his touch leaves behind. I wet my lips and drag in some more air.
