Mick presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Thanks. I’ll see you soon,” he says, rising to his feet. “I have a short errand but will be home before seven,” he adds, and I nod at him before he heads toward the door.
Once he’s out the door, I rise to my feet, a spark of triumph flickering through me as I head to my room.
“Anna, you’re not going,” Landon’s voice stops me, full of warning. “Not if you don’t want consequences.”
I ignore him, lifting my hand in a breezy little wave and walking away, the smirk on my face widening. After all his ignoring, this small act feels like a victory I can savor—my tiny, perfect rebellion.
Chapter 16
Landon
She’s driving me absolutely out of my damn mind. But if she thinks I’m letting her walk into that jerk’s house for dinner, she’s got another thing coming.
I stop at her bedroom door, my gaze raking over her as she stands by the bed, slipping things into her purse. She’s dressed in denim shorts that hug her hips, showing off those toned legs, and an off-shoulder top tempting enough to make my hands twitch. My eyes drift lower. Even in casual sneakers, she’s a lethal mix of cute and sexy.
She senses me even before I speak. She tilts her head, meets my eyes, and that infuriating, smug smile spreads across her face.
“Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not. And you damn well know why,” I growl, irritated that she’s dressed way too sexily to be heading to that asshole’s house. Every time I see them together, I lose it. I know he’s just a friend. Hell, he’s gay, for fuck’s sake. But jealousy doesn’t care about logic when it comes to her.
“Oh… I do know,” she purrs, letting her fingers brush the hem of her denim shorts. “But that doesn’t mean I’m changing my mind.”
My anger spikes even higher at her words, but instead of lashing out, I just keep staring, caught in her spell. I can’t seem to tear my eyes away. Every inch of her winds me tighter. Her brown hair is pulled into a neat ponytail, with a few soft curls escaping to frame that flawless face. Her makeup is light, just enough to highlight her natural beauty. And those lips… painted a soft nude, make me ache to taste them.
My gaze lingers too long, memories of my mouth on hers flashing hot and fast, my hands roaming those curves as I…
“I’ll be late, but call me if Liala needs me,” she says, pulling me out of my thoughts as she slips her purse over her shoulder.
I let out a slow, tired sigh, every bit of my patience fraying. “You’re not going.”
She arches that infuriating eyebrow of hers. “Are you ordering me?”
“Yes, Anna,” I hiss, my voice impossible to argue with. “And this time you’d better listen.”
She smirks, the corner of her lips lifting in that maddening way. “Sorry, but I don’t take orders. Especially from you.”
“Oh, you will listen,” I say, as I step closer, the space between us shrinking. “Because this isn’t about what you want. It’s about protecting what’s mine.” I lean in, my voice dropping lower, rougher. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way, whether you like it or not.” I pull back and hold her gaze. “Get one thing straight, I won’t stomach the thought of you with anyone. Not even that irritating friend of yours.”
Her eyes flash in challenge, but beneath it, there’s a flicker of something softer, a blush she tries to hide.
“I’m not yours to protect,” she whispers, her voice barely a breath.
“The hell you’re not,” I say, my hand sliding over her cheek just enough to make her breath hitch. “You’ll always be mine to protect, whether you accept it or not.”
I grin when no words come from her, only the same heat burning in her eyes for me. I know this stubborn woman. She wants me just as much as I want her, even if she still refuses to admit it.
“Do you have any idea how insane you make me every time you push me like this?”
She swallows hard, biting her lip. “You’re impossible.”
I smirk, my thumb brushing the corner of her mouth. “Yeah? And you’re the one who makes me that way.”
“I… I need to go,” she stammers.
“You’re not leaving,” I say, letting my eyes sweep over her. “Not looking like this.”
Her gaze flicks down to her denim shorts before snapping back to me.
