The Keeping(105)

Finally, Ryne had enough. He turned with a snarl and grabbed her upper arms, “I said there would be no interview.” He accompanied each word with a little shake. Her hair swished back and forth as her head bobbed, the scent of her shampoo wafting around him. He steeled himself against its enticing effects. “Now get it through your stubborn head before I do something I’ll regret.” The last word was accompanied by a backwards shove and he released her arms. Without the support of his hands she stumbled and he restrained himself from reaching out to steady her, despite the fact that his wolf was growling angrily at him.

Brushing her hair from her face, she glared at him, but stepped right back up to confront him once again.

“This interview is important to me.” Her chin was stuck out, her face belligerent.

“And it isn’t to me.”

“There’s a lot riding on it. Finishing my education—”

He snorted. “Do I look like I care?”

“If it’s money you want, maybe I could work something out...” Her tone changed. Ryne could see her mind racing and wondered what she’d come up with. From things she’d told him earlier, he assumed she had no cash reserves. Hmm... He could use that against her right now.

“Forget it. You don’t have enough money to cover what I’d want and if you think the sex we’ve had can be used as a down payment, forget it. You weren’t that good. It wouldn’t buy you five minutes of my time.”

She gasped at the spitefulness of his statement and for a moment he thought she’d slap him, but, he had to hand it to her, his Melody was never predictable. Instead, she tried to kick him.

Ryne easily sidestepped the blow that was aimed at his groin. In response, he grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm behind her back. Using it to keep her under control, he dragged her close so their bodies were pressed together. Pitching his voice as menacingly as possible, he growled a warning. “That wasn’t funny sweetheart. Little girls, who play those types of games, better be prepared for the consequences.”

Before she could protest, he gripped the back of her head and delivered a punishing kiss. He ravaged her lips, ignoring her whimpers. His tongue invaded her mouth, dominating her, demanding her submission. There was no tenderness, no concern for her pleasure. She struggled against him, but he pulled her arm up tighter and she gave a cry of pain, before finally stilling. Releasing his grip on the back of her head, he ran his hand insultingly over her body, squeezing her breast then pulling her hips against his so that he could grind against her. A tear trickled down her cheek; he tasted the saltiness but hardened his heart. Mercy didn’t enter into this; others were depending on him to get rid of Melody. Lives hung in the balance. Personal feelings had no place in the situation he was faced with.

When he could literally smell the fear coming off of her, he ended the kiss and hissed into her ear. “Now listen closely, Ms. Greene. There will be no interview. Not now. Not ever. No matter how many times you plead and beg and spread your legs for me. It’s not going to happen. My suggestion is that you go back to where you came from and forget you ever heard about me because if I see you around here again... Well, I’ll let you finish the sentence.”

Ryne allowed her to pull away fractionally, the threat hanging in the air between them. He could hear her heart pounding, her rapid breathing. There was an aura of hurt and fear and anger around her; it was exactly as he had planned.

She stared up at him for a moment, then spat in his face and pulled herself completely free. He made no move to grab her nor to wipe the spittle from his cheek.

“You bastard.”

“And don’t you forget it.” He winked, blew her a kiss, and walked away, nonchalantly grabbing a socket wrench and started to loosen the nuts on the next wheel he needed to change. His sensitive hearing conveyed the story that unfolded behind him. Melody stood watching him, her breathing ragged. There was a slight hitch to it, as if she’d like to cry, but wouldn’t allow herself the luxury. Finally, he heard her spin on her heel and stalk away muttering obscenities about him under her breath.

Once she was out of hearing range, he let the tool fall lifelessly to the ground. The sound of metal hitting cement echoed through the cavernous space of the garage. It was a cold, lonely sound and reminded him that he stood alone in the dim and damp space. He ran his hands through his hair. That had been God awful. Hurting her like that was the last thing he’d wanted to do, but there was no other way. She couldn’t be here when the Loberos arrived. And the longer she stayed, the more attached his wolf got to her.