Part 10 (2/2)

I fell into him for a moment, absorbing the warmth his arms offered, and resting my head against his chest. The beat of his heart calmed mine.

”Hey, relax, go home.” He pulled back, looking at me. ”Youve been here all weekend, and youve got school tomorrow.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. ”Im fine. Cla.s.s isnt important.”

”It was to you. Go home, its late, you need to sleep.”

”Stop acting like a parent.” I jerked back from him.

He whirled me around in an instant and pressed me into the desktop. Pencils and paper and possibly a stapler jabbed into my back as he pinned me with his body. But the fire in his eyes, inches from mine, captured all my attention, making my pulse skip.

”Im no parent. But you are mine to take care of.” One hand gripped my chin at an angle to meet his lips as they closed over mine.

I fisted his s.h.i.+rt in my fingers, body throbbing for more of him. Each pulse only strengthened my need, reinforced his words, it all belonged to him, and only he could take care of it. He pressed his hardness between my hips, grinding into me, and I moved my hands to his pants, eager to remove the barrier between us.

A knock at his door interrupted.

”Go away,” He yelled, barely removing his lips from mine. The smile on his face only raised my excitement.

”Ivans here for you, and Tyson got hurt kicking out some guy.”

Still hovering above me, he groaned. ”Ill be there in a minute.”

He pressed a quick kiss to my lips and his light eyes kept me in place. ”You. Stay.”

Pus.h.i.+ng back to standing, his fingers straightened the b.u.t.tons on his jeans and s.h.i.+rt, never taking his eyes off me.

I sat up on the desk, smiling at him. ”So I wont go home early.”

The corner of his mouth curled and he stepped back to me, hands on either side of my legs. ”What the h.e.l.l am I supposed to do with you? Youre so f.u.c.king dangerous. I cant say no to you.”

”Then say yes.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, pecking at his lips before sucking his bottom lip between my teeth.

”Youve been here all weekend, whats another couple hours. Just stay out of the main club.” He pointed to me with a stern look as he walked out the room.

We both stayed busy the rest of the evening and into the early morning hours. The club was closed and my work was done, so I waited in Gages office, reviewing a paper that was due in my English cla.s.s. Ian sat on the couch, counting money into different piles for the umpteenth time with Kane.

Covering my yawn with my fist, I pulled my eyes from the computer. ”You need help with that. I can recount for you.”

”Nah, Im just double counting, checking Kanes numbers. You focus on that paper, college. I expect to see an A plus at the top of that s.h.i.+t.” He was banding the money piles up and sliding them into a duffle. Then he looked up at me with a grin. ”We can hang it up on the bar. Motivate some of them bi- I mean girls.” He cleared his throat, covering his slip in words as he stood. He turned back to Kane. ”Clean this up. Ill meet you at the car in ten, just got to run this by Gage.” He lifted the bag over his arm and left the room.

Kane picked up the extra bands and markers from the table, stopping in front of me as I stifled another yawn.

”You got a lot left to do?” He was squat, and his quiet, light voice didnt match his build.

”Nope.” I turned off the computer screen and leaned back in the chair. ”But I have to wake up early and drop it off.” I was half asleep already, eyes stinging with exhaustion.

He c.o.c.ked his head, hand digging in his pocket. ”Ive got something if you need help with that.” He pulled out a little pouch from his pocket, gesturing it to me.

I was too stunned, reactions too slow, and he took that for acceptance. He poured the powder on Gages desk and then grabbed something from his pen cup to line it up like he was comfortable doing this here.

”What the f.u.c.k,” Gages hard voice jolted me from my trance. I jumped out of the seat as he stomped into the room followed by Ian.

Kane stepped back, eyes wide and confused. ”We were only-”

”I f.u.c.king see what you were doing.” But he wasnt looking at Kane, his fire was directed at me.

I shook my head, coming around the desk, unable to form words. He pulled me out of the room, pus.h.i.+ng me to the wall just outside the door. The force wasnt painful, but it was rough and my own anger flared in return.

”Stop jerking me around.”

”You are to never f.u.c.king touch that stuff. Im not playing about this Regan. Do you hear me? Never.” His grip tightened as he ordered.

”Im not the one who uses here. I didnt do anything.”

He pulled away, dropping my arms. His anger grew before my eyes, making him larger. He jerked his head once in a nod and then stormed back into the room.

I followed as quick as I could, but he already had Kane pinned to the wall, forearm over his throat. ”This s.h.i.+ts done. I dont want to f.u.c.king see you around here again you piece of s.h.i.+t. I-”

”Stop, dude. Let him go.” Ian pulled on Gages s.h.i.+rt, trying to get between them. ”He didnt know. We do this s.h.i.+t all the time.”

Gage released Kane and turned on Ian, shoving him away. ”Get the f.u.c.k off me.” He turned back to Kane who was bent over, sucking in air. ”And you, get the f.u.c.k out of here. Now,” he roared.

Kane scurried out of the room, and then Gage turned his attention back to Ian. ”You let every d.a.m.n person out there know, shes off limits; none of them can do that s.h.i.+t with her-not even you.”

”Dude, calm down.”

”Im f.u.c.king serious, Ian.”

”I can tell. All right.” He glanced at me with wide eyes as he pa.s.sed by, exiting the room.

Gage didnt turn to me at first. He stared at the empty wall where Kane had been. ”I could have killed him. I wanted to. If you would have taken that s.h.i.+t, I would have.”

I looked back to his desk, but the lines were gone, a smudge where they use to be.

”Is it you dont want me trying it with someone else, or you dont want me doing it at all?” I spoke low, not wanting to reignite his anger but wanting to understand what really sparked it.

His eyes narrowed, brows furrowing, and he stepped closer to me, voice low and serious. ”I dont want you touching that s.h.i.+t at all. Ive brought you down enough, Im not going to let you go down that path.”

I didnt step back like I wanted to. He wasnt erupting, but this quiet, cool anger simmering in him was intimidating.

”But you do it still? Ian said so, and Kane seemed comfortable to whip it out in your office. How far down that path are you Gage?”

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