Page 196 of The ARC Unit: Breach

“I say stop,” I replied.

“And what happens?”

“You stop.”

“How fast?”

“Immediately.”

Wolf studied my face.

“Good.”

I rolled my eyes before I could stop myself.

His hand closed around the back of my neck so fast it stole my breath, fingers settling firmly at my nape and keeping me exactly where he wanted me without tightening.

“What did I say about your eyes?”

My pulse hammered against his palm.

“To keep them on you.”

“Then why the fuck am I repeating myself again?”

The pressure of his hand, the tactical mask, the black webbing hanging from his other fist and the anger he had not bothered to hide should have pushed me farther away from him.

Instead, I wanted more.

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

“Bullshit.”

“Maybe I just like hearing you say it.”

Wolf’s fingers tightened at my nape.

“There’s that dirty fucking mouth again.”

I smiled. “You seem to like it that way.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Open it.”

I pressed my lips together instead.

It was childish, probably, but the corner of my mouth still pulled upward when I shook my head. Wolf watched me for a moment, his hand loosening at my nape before slowly sliding around to the front of my throat.

He didn’t squeeze. His palm simply settled there, warm against my skin, his fingers spanning enough of my neck that I was painfully aware of how little effort it would take if he decided to.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded, still smiling at him through sealed lips. The fact that he asked only made me want to push him further.

His fingers tightened around my throat, gradually enough that I could feel the warning in it before the pressure became uncomfortable. I kept my eyes on his, refusing to give him the reaction he was looking for, and something darkened in the narrow strip of his face the mask left visible.

“Open your mouth,” he repeated.