Page 74 of When She Falls (The Fallen)
Am I that easy to read? Ras must be good at picking up on body language. I suppose it’s a handy skill to have in his line of work.
“Why not?” he presses, sitting down beside me on the sofa.
I don’t want to cause any problems. Benjamin is a creep, and he deserves to be reprimanded by his supervisor, but I don’t want to set the literal mob on him.
He didn’t kill anyone. He just tried to cop a feel.
I need to get my dress and get out of here.
“It’s nothing. I’d just prefer a woman.”
Ras shakes his head. “Tell me why.”
He’s like a dog with a bone, intense and focused. How do I make him drop it? “He just gives me a weird vibe.”
Ras throws one arm behind me and turns, his chest brushing against my shoulder. This man has no concept of personal space. His face is inches away from mine as he says, “If you’re not going to tell me what happened, I’m just going to assume the worst.”
I glance at him from under my lashes. I’ve never seen him look this serious. Almost stern. Heat spreads through my core. What is wrong with me?
Benjamin reappears. “All right, we’re all ready—”
“We need a few more minutes, Ben. Do you mind?”
I nudge Ras with my elbow. What is he doing? We’re in a common waiting area, and he’s acting like this is our personal meeting room. He just stares at Benjamin until the man slowly backs through the door.
“No problem.”
“Ras, this is—”
He leans even closer, forcing my back against the sofa, and cradles my chin between his fingers. “What. Did. He. Do.” His minty breath brushes over my cheeks.
I swallow, searching his eyes for any sign that he might still drop this.
He won’t. He’s going to keep me here until I give him an answer.
“Fine,” I grind out, jerking my chin out of his grip. Not because he’s hurting me, but because being touched by him makes my body buzz all over. “Last time he walked in on me while I was changing.”
Ras’s eyes darken. “On purpose?”
“Yes. He grabbed my ass, okay? He tried to play it off like he was just helping me with my dress, but I’m not that gullible.”
Ras’s jaw clenches. He gives me a terrifying smile and pats my cheek. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Ras, it’s not a big de—”
He’s already up, prowling toward the door Benjamin disappeared behind.
I jump to my feet. “Ras, don’t—”
The door flies open. I catch a flash of Benjamin’s panicked face before Ras blocks him from my view.
“Sir?” Benjamin squeaks, sounding appropriately frightened. “What’s wrong—”
Ras grabs him by the neck, forces him backward, and slams him against the wall.
“Shit,” I mutter, running after them and pulling the door closed. We don’t need any witnesses.
“You fucked with the wrong girl, Ben,” Ras growls.
