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He chuckled, the rich sound burrowing under my skin. “I’m not using any magic on you.”
I didn’t believe him, but what was new? He couldn’t be trusted.
He studied me for a moment. “Have you learned your lesson?”
“Yes.” I squirmed under his hard gaze.
Gage fully relaxed his grip, and I slid away from him, all too aware of my trembling legs, the sweat slicking my skin, the racing of my heart. The lines of his face remained stony as I retreated and put some very necessary distance between us.
“You kissed me.” The words were half accusation, half confusion.
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“My head?” I spluttered, instantly regretting any doubt I’d had about him being a grade-A prick. “Do you think I wanted you to kiss me?”
He shrugged. “You didn’t seem to mind.”
My mouth hung open, every rational thought emptying from my brain, which was busy imagining a target right over his arrogant face. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. I wouldn’t let him get to me. “Don’t do it again.”
“I won’t.” But those sinful lips twitched, sending a rush through me. “Not until you ask me to.”
I dared a step closer. “I wouldn’t hold your breath. Because I will never ask you to kiss me.”
“Never is a long time.”
“Not long enough,” I snapped. Forcing my hands to stay at my sides, I backed away from him. “I have to go.”
“How?” He squinted at my car.
“I can walk.” Anything to get away from here, away from him.
He bent and scooped the necklace off the ground. “What are you really mad about?”
I glanced at the burned husk of my car. “That, to start with.”
He nodded. “And?”
“This bargain,” I shot back. And the fact that I was no closer to guessing what his secret was—why he’d agreed to the deal in the first place.
“And?” he pressed. “It’s something beyond that.”
“I think that’s more than enough.” I narrowed my eyes. He was trying to get into my head. It was probably another fae trick. But there was a glimmer of something in his eyes, foreign to him but familiar to me. It wasn’t possible that he actually cared, though. “But if you’re keeping track, the hospital is short-staffed because people are covering for me. Because I got suspended for breaking the shitty policy they agreed to in exchange for your money.”
He rubbed his lips thoughtfully. “I see.” He was going to see my foot up his ass, but before I could cheerfully follow through, he pulled out his phone. “I already told you the job was unnecessary. I can see now that it will only be a problem.”
“What are you doing, Gage?” I lunged for the phone, but he turned away. He only had to make one call to get me fired. “Don’t. I have student loans. I have bills.”
He held up a single finger, his back still turned to me. “Garcia, please.” A pause. “Make him available.”
He was making a power play. I’d pressed too many of his buttons, and now he was going to press one of mine. Unfortunately, it was the one that sent my entire world into self-destruct mode.
I tried again, the fear in my voice making it thin and needy. “I’m begging. Please don’t—”
“Garcia.” He didn’t bother to tell him who was calling. I barely managed to stay on my feet. “I wanted to let you know I’ve taken on a private nurse.”
Private what? “What are you—”
The finger went up again to silence me. Forget our new deal; I was going to kill him.