I don’t budge.
And I don’t get zapped.
What?
Did Danica turn the spell off?
Grinning, I reach for her face with both hands and she goes pale, wincing and shrinking.
After I lay a hot and heavy kiss on her, she’s getting thrown over my shoulder and carried home in order to immediately be wifed.
But the second my fingers connect, the jolt sends me flying backwards, crashing into a shelf of books. A bunch of them tumble down, some big hardbacks thudding on my head and shoulders before they land on the carpet.
“Fuck!” I clip. The effects are still hitting. My limbs feel like they’re on fire. And books continue to fall on me.
Rye and Grey both look tweaked. Bailey is wide-eyed with both hands over her mouth.
So, she can touch me and I don’t get zapped, but I can’t touch her or I do? Figures.
Tears spill from her eyes and she turns and runs deeper into the library, slamming a door.
Clenching my fists I growl at the ceiling.
“Jase,” Grey says gently.
“Unless you can fix this, please fuck off.”
“I wish I could fix it, bro.”
“Fuckin’ leave me be, then. Tell your cousins, Grey. Your mate, Riley. Get them to fix this shit before I rip everything in this fuckin’ place to shreds!”
“Don’t you dare hurt a single book!” she shouts from one of the back rooms, likely the bathroom.
“Fuck!” I shout.
I need to shift. To run. To get my aching cock inside Bailey Blackwood and fuck some damn sense into her.
Rye asks, “You want me to ask Rikki for something to take the edge off? She gave something to Brody.”
“No,” I deny. “I need space. Leave me be, you guys.”
“Call if you need anything,” Rye offers.
I grunt in response. They both go.
I hear her talking in the bathroom. Her voice is muffled by water running, so I strain to hear. She’s crying while speaking hysterically, saying something about a book talk? A book talk lean? A date with Malachi, underwear being on fire, and me being a fucking asshole. And now she’s apologizing.
I back away and find my back against a wall. I slide until I’m on my ass, blowing out a long, hard exhale, trying to cool my jets. I thrust my fingers into my hair and press my forehead to my knee.
22
BAILEY
Stacy texted me.
Stacy: WTF?
I’m not in a good state of mind, but it’s the first message she’s ever sent me, so I call her from the bathroom.