Page 10 of Unbound

But I can’t help it. Even scowling and posing a significant threat, I’m lusting over him a little bit. Wondering if maybe I should have told him he could frisk me to ensure I didn’t have my cell phone earlier. Wondering if maybe he can frisk me now. I’m already pantsless, so it would be a super easy process.

Just thinking about his big, rough hands dragging across my skin has a weird sound climbing up my throat. Something akin to a whimper.

How long has it been since I’ve gotten laid?

Probably too long. Because as Walker advances on me and I instinctively take a step back, I’m not thinking about all the things I hoped to find in his office or how I’m going to explain what I was doing. Nope, I’m wondering what he’s going to do when he catches me. If maybe I’ll end up with my back against the wall and his big, broad body pressing me in place.

I think something is wrong with me. This guy might be ready to throttle me, and all I can do is hope I get a little well-placed friction in the process.

“I can explain.”

Can I? I’m not sure that’s a great idea now that I’m really thinking about it.

“I was really hoping to get some fucking sleep. But somehow I knew you weren’t gonna let that happen.” Walker continues prowling closer. “If you want to explain, start explaining.”

“Well…” I continue backing up, the thrill of being half unclothed in the vicinity of the man I’ve probably thought about way more than any mentally stable woman would clouding my thoughts just as much as the panic of being caught is. “I was just looking for—” My back hits a wall, the impact a little harder than I expect. It cuts off my words and sends the air bursting from my lungs.

In the blink of an eye, Walker’s on me, gripping my wrists in one big hand as he raises both arms over my head, pinning them to the wall as he glares down into my eyes. “You were just looking for, what?”

I don’t even remember anymore. Something about biceps and pecs and the thickest thighs I’ve ever seen.

I wiggle a little in his hold, not because I’m trying to get out, but because I want to see how strong he is. The movement drags my nipples against his chest, and I make that little noise again.

Walker suddenly releases me, stepping back like my skin burned him. “Fuck.” He scrubs one hand over his face. “I’m not trying to scare you.”

Scare me? I almost laugh, then think better of it. It’s probably a good thing he thinks I’m scared and not embarrassingly horny. I must be ovulating or something. It’s also slightly possible this unending quest for justice has pushed me over the edge of sanity.

Or maybe both things are true.

But letting Walker think he did something wrong doesn’t sit right.

“You didn’t scare me.” I rub my wrists, the ghost of his touch like a brand. “You were just reacting like any normal person would if they found a stranger digging through their drawers.”

I should not have phrased it that way, because now my eyes are dipping down his frame, locking onto the drawers I would totally be trying to dig into in a different life.

But this isn’t that life. This is the one where things are messy and convoluted and twisted together in ways I don’t fully understand and might never learn. Because I’m pretty sure I just drew Walker’s last straw, and I’m about to be locked in a room.

Or worse, turned into the cops.

Which would be an awful, terrible development. Because I’m also pretty sure there’s at least one person in that department who will do anything to make some problems disappear.

3

Walker

Iknow Sybil claims she’s not afraid of me, but I heard the sound she made. The whimper of fear betraying her words. And in spite of everything, I feel like an ass over it.

I shouldn’t. She was going through my shit, for Christ’s sake. Proving she’s not completely innocent in whatever’s going on.

I wanted to wait till morning to have a conversation. Give us both time to sleep and come back with clear heads. But she’s forced my hand. I need to know what the fuck is going on, and I need to know now.

“Let’s go, Snoopy. Time to talk.” I turn, leaving Sybil where she stands. She can follow me or not. That’s her choice.

I guess she could also try to run out the front door, but then I’d have to chase her down, and I’m sure that’s the last thing either of us wants. Hopefully it’s enough of a deterrent to keep her from making a break for it.

Reaching the kitchen, I go to work filling my coffeemaker with grounds. Since it doesn’t look like I’ll be getting the sleep I desperately need anytime soon, I’m gonna need some caffeine to power through.

The hard line of my shoulders relaxes a little when I hear Sybil’s soft footsteps on the hardwood. One of the stools pushed against the island scuffs across the floor, and I turn just as she slides into the seat, long legs still bare. I try to keep from taking in the curve of her calf and the soft slope of her thigh, but my eyes seem to have a mind of their own.