Sinners' Playground (The Harlequin Crew #1) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,222

like. So by the time I was done beating his ass, I was also ready to listen to his advice. Because I was willing to do anything to win Rogue over.

***

I woke to my alarm buzzing at four am and drew in a long breath as I pushed out of bed, yawning as I got up. I dressed in a pair of surfer shorts and a tank before shouldering the pack I’d filled last night, kicking on my sneakers and heading out of the room with a few chicken treats in my pocket.

I knelt outside Rogue’s room, jimmying the twist lock until it clicked open. Then I took the chicken treats out and pushed the door open a crack, holding them up as Mutt’s nose appeared in the doorway, sniffing furiously as he hunted for the bribe I always brought here whenever I wanted to watch her sleep. I loved doing that. Partly because she wasn’t scowling at me when she was sleeping. And the girl slept seriously heavily so she never noticed. The first time I’d come in here and Mutt had yapped at me, she hadn’t stirred. But she would have if he’d continued that shit, so I’d smuggled him downstairs and fed him some kibble. Since then, I made sure I had the finest chicken treats added to our grocery list and he was putty in my hands. Never thought I’d have to bribe a street dog, but here I was, making a damn accord with one.

I stepped into the room, moving to her closet and filling my bag with a little lilac bikini, a kaftan, some hot as fuck booty shorts and a cami.

Then I shouldered my pack and moved to her bed, gazing down at her snuggled in the sheets, her beautiful face perfectly still.

I leaned down, brushing my lips over hers, savouring her taste and she moaned sleepily, the sound making my cock perk up. I slid the sheets back, eyeing her bare legs, her little black panties and the Green Power Ranger tank she was sleeping in. I swear that motherfucker on her top looked smug as hell and I pursed my lips before gently sliding my arms under her and scooping her up against my chest.

Mutt growled and I tossed him a few more treats as she mumbled something about angry badgers then snuggled into my body. The heat of her made my heart pound and I grinned as I stole my girl away, heading out of her room and downstairs to the kitchen with Mutt on my heels. I carefully opened the fridge as I held her against me with one arm and took out the bowl of cooked chicken I’d prepared last night. Then I carefully dropped down, placing it on the floor and Mutt came running over to devour it.

“There you go, little bastard,” I murmured before standing and carrying Rogue to the back door and unlocking it. I headed outside, nodding to Raul who lifted his gun at my movements, then nodded to me, eyeing Rogue in my arms for a second before promptly averting his gaze.

Don’t mind me, I’m just kidnapping my girl on the date of her life.

I headed down the porch steps to the sandy beach, the waves lapping softly against the darkened shore. There was the barest hint of dawn in the sky and I wanted to get moving to see it rise at our destination.

I headed along the jetty and climbed onto the speedboat, laying Rogue in the nest of blankets I’d put there last night before I went to bed. I brushed some hair away from her face as her eyelids fluttered, but she didn’t wake. The wasn’t much I could about waking her in a second, but if I didn’t get the boat moving before she did, she was gonna try to run. So I’d rather be well underway and have the inevitable argument which was coming once we were at sea.

I stood before the wheel and turned the ignition on, the engine blaring to life and Rogue screamed as she woke. I took off across the waves, throwing a glance over my shoulder as she stood up among the blankets, taking me in with wild, tempestuous eyes.

“What the fuck are you doing, Fox?!” she yelled.

“We’re going to spend the morning together,” I called over my shoulder.

“Er, no, we’re fucking not. Turn the boat around. Take me back this second.” She came at me, trying to grab the wheel and I