At least one of the men muttered something that I couldn’t hear. What did it matter? I was cold and antsy, still unable to processthe experience. When I heard footsteps, I stopped moving, almost fearful of what Alexander would do now.
He was so unpredictable, ready to explode. As soon as he stormed into the room, I knew he’d yet to calm down. His features were locked, stone cold and furious. Yet his eyes swept down to my feet, his chest rising and falling.
“Alexander.”
“My angel.”
Every time he called me his angel, I quivered while heat built in my core. I found myself taking a step closer, admiring the man. He looked even more formidable. The dark material of his shirt was unable to completely mask the blood, the cut on his upper lip drawing my attention. Even his once pristine hair was a mess, but he didn’t give a shit.
“You can’t go around beating up or killing anyone who touches me.” With my fingers shaking, I lowered the glass onto the table so I wouldn’t drop it. I’d never felt so unnerved or uncertain of what I should do.
Or of the future.
“So you keep telling me.”
“And I’ll continue until you finally listen to me.”
He seemed almost amused at what I’d said, as if I was giving him an order. He took a step closer, the predator now stalking his prey. “Is that so?”
Yet so did I, refusing to fall into his game of cat and mouse. “Yes. Promise me.”
The way his eyes narrowed, hooded while darkening as the hunger built, pulled me forward by another step.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” While his words might be considered toxic to some, they were just a part of the devilish dance played over and over again. That man was far too charismatic.
“Why not?”
His nostrils flared as he took purposeful steps closer until he was only inches away. “Because then I’d be lying. And the last thing I will do is lie to you. That much I will promise.”
“I can take care of myself and don’t tell me not in your world.”
“But it’s the truth. Did you recognize him?”
“No.” That much was the truth.
“Did he say anything to you?”
I hesitated, which caused him to narrow his eyes. “He called me a bitch and said you were no prince.”
His laugh was bitter. “He was right about that last part. I’m sorry you were exposed to the seedier side of my existence. That will never happen again.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. I know enough about this world you keep claiming I shouldn’t know about to realize I’m a weakness. Which you don’t need.”
He took a deep breath as if surprised I had an idea about what he was dealing with. “Maybe so, but I will not let you go.”
“Alexander.”
“Don’t say it, my angel. I won’t because I can’t. You are mine. Whether you want to believe it or not, we are connected in a way that even you can’t deny.”
“I never said I wanted to. I just… This isn’t my life. You don’t need to worry about whether or not some crazed idiot tries to hurt me. I just need to walk away.”
“You know I’ll find you.”
His words not only inflamed the situation, the statement and the realization he wasn’t lying created more of the very type of need he was talking about. God help me, but I didn’t want this to end.
We were now only inches away. There was such a powerful pull that left me completely incapable of thinking clearly any longer. Just being around him brought far too many emotions and needs I couldn’t control.
“Come here, my angel.”
