No Place to Hide (Havoc's Playground, #1)

by Harper Ashley

A radiant smile appears, and I curse myself for all the things I want to do to her. All the ways I want to take that sweet, innocent little mouth and make it do horribly dirty things.

“Should I be worried about getting kidnapped, Jackson? You mentioned a criminal record.” I laugh. “Not at all, princess.” I wait a few beats before speaking again. “Unless you’re into that kind of thing.”

“It’s dark and quiet back here. I could snatch you up and take you. I doubt anyone would hear your screams over the rides.”

“I’m not like your frat boy, princess. I wasn’t joking about my record. I work in a fucking traveling carnival and live in a shitbox trailer with no hot water.” He places his hand under my chin and tilts my face upwards so I’m staring right into his almost obsidian eyes. “Whatever little defiant fantasy you think you’re trying to live out by slumming it with me isn’t going to end well for you.”

“If you get caught,” he pauses, lingering on the silence. “You get punished.”

As soon as I catch her left leg, the right one kicks me in the shin. She freezes. “You’re going to regret that,” I say, my eyes darkening.

She looks up at me. “Jackson, you’re scaring me.” I grin. “Punishments aren’t supposed to be enjoyable, princess. Admit it, you like it anyway.”