Chapter 914
“Jonah, what do you mean you’re ‘out?’ I called you so many times last night, but your phone was off. Are you with Ms. Hailey right now?” Joanne demanded.
Hailey’s face went pale. At that moment, she felt like nothing more than a dirty secret.
Jonah glanced at her, clearly amused by her expression. “What’s up?” he asked.
Rattled, Joanne didn’t back down. “Jonah, seriously-wake up! Ms. Hailey is just a temptress. She’s trying to seduce you!”
Hailey was frozen, completely stunned.
Did Joanne really just say that to her face?
Hailey hadn’t seduced Jonah-he was the one who had assaulted her.
Hailey lifted her chin and shot Jonah a venomous glare.
Jonah’s eyes locked with hers. She still had the just-woken-up look, and her long dark hair spilled carelessly over her shoulders.
Her delicate camisole clung to her, exposing her porcelain skin. She lifted her chin toward him, her dewy almond-shaped eyes meeting his with a silent, cutting reproach.
Desire stirred deep within Jonah. He lowered his head and kissed her.
Hailey recoiled with a sharp gasp, fear flickering in her eyes. She never imagined Jonah could be so reckless-answering Joanne’s call and still daring to kiss her.
Her startled cry reached Joanne’s ears on the other end of the line. Joanne’s breath caught, and her voice rose in panic. “What was that? Was that Hailey? Jonah, are you with Hailey right now?”
Hailey hit Jonah with all her strength, trying to escape his grip.
But Jonah remained unrelenting. His kiss was deep and overpowering, as though he intended to consume her completely.
Hailey bit down on the corner of his lip in a last-ditch effort.
“Ouch!”
Jonah flinched, pain shooting through him.
Taking advantage of the moment, Hailey shoved him off and scrambled out of
bed. She threw the covers aside and fled the room.
She was gone.
Jonah touched his lip, feeling the blood oozing from the bite.
She’d bitten him hard enough to draw blood.
That little vixen.
Joanne’s voice cut through the silence. “Jonah, are you even listening? Hello, Jonah!”
The warmth in Jonah’s eyes faded, replaced by a cold indifference. “Joanne, you’ve gone too far for a friend.”
Joanne’s breath hitched.
Jonah tightened his grip on the phone. “I’ve made myself clear. 10 don’t feel that way about you. You know who I care about. If you keep I pushing me, we won’t have a
friendship anymore.”
Joanne’s voice shook with desperation. “Jonah, please, listen to me. I’m sorry. I was just so worried. I don’t want you to be manipulated by MS. Halley again
But Jonah didn’t need her reminder. He knew better than anyone not to let Hailey deceive him again.
Still, every time she was near, he lost all control. He craved her, and nothing else seemed to matter.
Without a word, Jonah hung up the phone.
…
Just as Hailey stepped into the corridor, Aileen emerged from her room, her eyes widening in surprise. “Hailey, you’re here?”
Hailey quickly regained her composure, forcing a calm expression. She didn’t want Aileen to catch on. “Good morning, Aileen.”
Aileen eyed her with growing suspicion. “Hailey, you look like you just woke up. What’s going on?”
“I…”
The door behind Hailey clicked open at that moment, and Jonah stepped into view.
Aileen’s eyes immediately locked on Jonah’s face. “Jonah, what happened to your lip?”
Jonah gave Hailey a lazy glance. “I got bitten by a wildcat.”
Aileen stared at him, clearly skeptical. “A wildcat? Since when do we have one in the house? And why would it bite your lip?”
Jonah poured himself a glass of water and took a deliberate sip. “Maybe it was a little vixen. It
must’ve been drawn to my
vel
irresistible charm and thought my lip
was a tasty treat.”