15:40 FA, 11 Apr 4.
Chapter 13
Chapter 13
The approaching footsteps were steady and deliberate, and Jonas could tell right away—these men were trained.
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Jonas didn’t bother to move, his relaxed posture unchanged. Instead, he cast Myla a sharp glance, a silent order conveyed with nothing more than a flicker of his piercing eyes.
Without hesitation, Myla tossed aside the smoldering firewood she’d been holding, her expression unflinching. She strode toward the crumbling staircase, her every move fluid and calculated.
With a few effortless leaps, she scaled the jagged remains of the structure and landed on what was left of the second floor with feline grace,
The group closing in on them. their chatter grew loud enough
~no effort to conceal their presence. They were brash, confident in their numbers, and
ven Natalie—an outsider to this world–could hear the commotion.
Forgetting any fear of irritating Jo she quickly bolted toward him, her footsteps hurried and uneven as she closed the distance. Without waiting for an in…ation, she slipped behind the crumbling wall he was leaning against, instinctively using it–and him–as a shield.
Jonas had been on the verge of continuing his teasing conversation about their “intimate collaboration‘, but Natalie’s sudden display of self–preservation amused him. For someone who seemed so reluctant to be around him, she was quick to seek him out when danger loomed.
He glanced over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of her, half–hidden and peeking cautiously from behind the wall. The sight of her delicate face, half–obscured, with her wide, wary eyes darting nervously, was oddly endearing.
Sensing his gaze, Natalie looked up fully, her luminous eyes meeting his. Her long lashes cast shadows that danced like whispers over her cheeks, giving her an almost ethereal glow.
For a fleeting moment, she seemed serene–if not for the tension in her posture and the way her gaze darted nervously toward the approaching threat.
‘She’s really using me as a human shield, Jonas thought, raising his brow.
“Natalie.” It was the first time he had said her name, his voice as lazy and low as ever. But there was something about the way it rolled off his tongue that sent a shiver down Natalie’s spine.
She hesitated before peeking her head out a little further and meeting his gaze. “Yes?” she answered cautiously.
Jonas didn’t bother with a reply. Instead, he shifted his weight and reached out, grabbing the front of her jacket with an unceremonious tug.
Natalie let out a startled gasp as the force yanked her forward, her body propelled straight into his chest.
“Mm-“The muffled sound escaped her lips as her face collided with the firm, unyielding expanse of his muscular torso. The unexpected impact sent a sharp tingle through her nose.
She scrambled, her hands pressing against him as she tried to push herself away. But before she could gain any leverage, one of his large, calloused hands slid under her camouflage jacket and pressed firmly against the small of her back. The sudden pressure locked her against him.
“Let go of me,” she demanded, or at least tried to. Her voice, trembling and breathy, betrayed her resolve. What should have been a stern rebuke came out as a soft, quivering protest–closer to a plea than a command.
Jonas hadn’t planned for more than a quick pull to get her into position, but the second he felt Natalie resist, his fingers, already poised, tightened with decisive strength. That slender waist of hers was now firmly under his control, leaving no
escape.
room for
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15:40 Fri, 11 Apr NAO.
Chapter 13
Natalie squirmed uncomfortably, her lower back arching slightly under the pressure of his unyielding grip.
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Jonas’s gaze darkened imperceptibly, and the heat from his rough palin scared through the thin fabric of her clothes, sending a tremor through Natalie that she couldn’t control. Her heart skipped a beat, thrown off balance by the intensity of
his touch.
Natalie lowered her head, her teeth grazing her bottom lip as she contemplated her next move.
She wanted to push him away, but just as she shifted, Jonas’s deep, languid voice reached her ears, laced with mocking amusement. “You’re in such a hurry to get up. What is it–planning to take a bullet for me? I’m touched. Truly”
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