“Don’t worry, Sy. We were keeping her company. She wasn’t lonely,” Frost chimes in.
I pin him with an irked look, my fingers clutching her hip. “I?—”
“No, but I’m glad you’re back,” Anna supplies, nuzzling closer to me so our bodies are flush.
That slaps away the stupid smirk on Frost’s face. It dawns on him, as well as Berlin. Meanwhile, Marc is looking altogether toosmug, and I know there’s a “told you so” on the tip of his tongue. I’m sure they figured it was fake because they know how pushy Mom has been about Florence. They’re smart enough to add two plus two, but I’m sure they didn’t expect how naturally we look and act.
But it’s not acting, at least not anymore.
“Did he coerce you, Anna? Don’t be scared. We’re here for you,” Berlin teases. “If you need help getting out of this, say the word and we’ll help you. Don’t feel like you need to deal with this on your own.”
I roll my eyes, but Anna laughs. “No, I really like this—Sylas. I like us. I’m all right.”
My cheeks warm because she sounds sincere and squeezes my hand as if she were reassuring me.
Marc cocks his head to the side, the expression on his face sayingIf that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.
I nod in return, letting him know it’s going to happen.
26
ANNA
Wednesday, 12:00 a.m. December 25
Sylas has beenweird since we arrived back at his penthouse.
He was fine all night, laughing, smiling, throwing jokes with his friends, Thea, and anyone he spoke with. Although aside from his friends and sister, I could tell he was—for the most part—playing nice. He didn’t tell me, but I could hear the faux enthusiasm in his voice, see the corners of his mouth curl in a tight smile, and notice his stance was slightly rigid anytime he spoke with his father’s closest friends about hockey.
I could see the pressure strain his shoulders, like their words were heavy on him. It was bad when his father would show up and force himself into the conversation, adding stress I could visibly see on Sylas.
It was extra, but I’d insert myself in the conversation or ask Sylas for a drink. I could tell the men didn’t care for me or like it, but it helped Sylas. He was back to being himself, arrogant and smiley.
Until Florence showed up. Sylas warned me that she would be there and around him a lot. He also mentioned that she’dprobably say something to him or me, but she hardly paid us any attention. Her gaze was solely trained on one of his friends on the team, and surprisingly enough, when she wasn’t looking, he was looking at her.
So why he’s being weird is beyond me when she hardly acknowledged or cared to talk to us.
We stop just outside the elevator. He holds my hand and doesn’t let me walk any farther.
“Everything okay?” I hedge, feeling a little nervous because despite tonight not being so bad, I hardly spoke to his parents. It felt like they were intentionally avoiding me. I’m not complaining, but who knows what his mom could’ve told him. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together. If this is your way of telling me you don’t?—”
Sylas cups my face, leans down, and seals the space between our lips. He softly and slowly kisses me, shocking me and making the rest of my words dwindle. A moment later, I’m snapping out of my stupor and meeting his tongue with mine, letting him take his time as I do the same. I lose myself in him and I feel he’s doing the same because one hand stays cupped on my cheek but the other slips around my waist, drawing me in as close as he can.
He releases a shaky breath when his lips slip from mine, and he rests his forehead against mine. “No.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “I don’t want you to go, Anna. I want you to stay here as my girlfriend. I mean that as myreal,not pretend girlfriend.”
I take a few steps back, letting his hands drop to his sides. “What?” I blink repeatedly, in disbelief.
“Don’twhat?me.” He grins as if he were finding my reaction amusing. “You’re smart enough to understand exactlywhat. But…” He studies the still-shocked expression on my face, sees that my smile is even wider than before. “In case you don’t, let me bluntly put it like this: I like you, Anna. I like you a lot. I can’tstop thinking about you. I can’t stop dreaming about you. I can’t stop wanting you. No, this isn’t pretend, fake, or whatever you may think it is. This is real and so fucking honest. I want to make this real. Please tell me you do too.”
My mouth parts and closes, unsure of what to say other than to smile and laugh. Sylas’s lips crack into one, but he stares at me, confused.
“Is this your way of turning me down?” he jokes, but I can hear the disappointment beneath the humor.
“No.” I shake my head and take a step toward him. “I was going to—I was thinking—I like you too.”
There is no point in acting like he’s not what I want, that I don’t like him, because I do, I like him a lot. There isn’t a moment I’m not thinking about him or wishing I was with him.
“Really?” He cocks a brow, taking two steps forward.
