Page 76 of Devious Lies (Cruel Crown)
My fingers twisted the knob in the wrong direction. I jumped out of the water’s trajectory when it scalded my skin, suddenly closer to Nash, like a caged animal on display.
Not a tiger.
A kitten, running from hot water.
He finally ended the call. When he opened his mouth, I braced myself for his words, wishing I could step back into the safety of the water without getting burnt.
“Get the fuck out. You’re not worth the orange jumpsuit, Jailbait.” Slipping his phone into his pocket, he added, “Don’t forget to wash behind your ears.”
Anger whipped at my chest. Resentment chewed its way up my throat. I wanted to shout my age for the millionth time, but it would fall on deaf ears. He’d humiliated me time after time.
In Reed’s bed.
In the elevator.
In front of my coworkers.
But I knew I affected him, because I refused to believe he affected me this much without at least some reciprocity.
So, fine. If he wanted to make my life miserable, I could dish back what he served. I needed this job, but he needed his reputation.
And I was bad for it.
So, so bad for it.
Ticked.
Everything about me was ticked.
My jaw.
The vein in my neck.
The vein on my temple.
The vein on my fucking cock.
Emery’s hand shot out, reaching blindly for the temperature control. She twisted it and stepped back. Water cascaded down her face, dripping past the curves of her eyelashes, over her lips, and lower.
I refused to pay attention to her body, even though she filled the room with her presence. Everything about her was too much.
Too destructive.
Too toxic.
Too reckless.
“Such a simpleton,” I lied, burning at the way those discordant eyes speared me.
Hot mist boiled the room, sheathing my clothes and whatever skin it could latch onto. I leaned back against the sink, letting the counter carry my weight as I stripped my suit jacket off, tossed it on the steam-coated tile, and took my time rolling up my silky button-down sleeves.
My neck felt choked, but I kept my collar buttoned, unwilling to strip anymore with a twenty-two-year-old girl naked in front of me. Especially when I noticed the distinct red bottle with the blue label and prowling wolf behind her.
She used my old body wash. Same brand. Same scent. A thief, stealing my essence for reasons that evaded me.
That’s why I recognized her scent in the elevator.
She rubbed me all over her body.
