“You’re gonna let some random bitch who I don’t remember ruin our day?” It was the wrong thing to say because she starts shoving her trainers back on in anger. “Remi, please.”
“First of all,” she snaps, looking me dead in the eye, “I haven’t ruined our day, so don’t try to pull that narcissistic shit on me.” I groan. “And secondly, you not remembering her is a huge turn-off, just so you know.”
She marches out, still wearing the dress. “Fuck,” I hiss, grabbing all the bags plus the pile of clothes. I head for the counter, where my unimpressed one-nighter is waiting with an arched brow.
“That’ll teach you,” she mutters as I slam the pile on the counter. “And you’ll have to pay for the one she’s wearing, or I’ll report her for theft.”
“I intend to,” I snap. “Hurry the fuck up.”
She rings the clothes, taking extra time to carefully fold each item. I tap my fingers against the counter, my eyes scanning outside the shop in the hope she’s waiting for me.
When I finally step out, she’s nowhere to be seen, and I groan, pulling out my mobile. I call her number, looking around, trying to listen for the distinctive sound of the stupid rap song she has set as the ringtone.Nothing.
Her voicemail kicks in. “Rem, please come back so we can talk. I’m sorry, okay. Just . . . don’t go off on your own.”
Chapter Thirteen
Remi
I march through the shopping centre, the heels of my trainers slapping against the shiny floor and my heart hammering harder than it should over one stupid sales assistant.
Logan.
The way she said his name, like it belonged to her.I roll my eyes. The truth slices deeper. He made me believe it was a privilege, that his name was mine to hold, mine to whisper. That it was special, sacred even, because he only wanted to hear it from my lips.
I tug the hem of the dress lower, suddenly aware of every stranger’s eyes on me. I should have changed back, should have thrown this lace scrap of nothing at his smug face, but my anger wouldn’t let me. So, now, I’m stuck looking like a hooker on the run while he’s probably still in there charming her with that stupid grin of his.
God, I hate how much this hurts. I knew he wasn’t a saint. I knew his past was crowded with women whose names he can’t remember. I mean, it’s obvious looking how he does that he’s notan angel. But knowing it and having it shoved in my face are two very different things.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I don’t need to look, I know it’s him. I keep walking. If I hear his voice right now, I’ll break, or worse, lose my shit.
My phone vibrates again. I just shove it deeper into my pocket and walk faster, head down, jaw tight.
“Remi!” His voice cuts through the crowd, sharp and commanding. I stiffen but don’t stop. If anything, I move quicker, weaving through the late afternoon rush.
“Remi!” He’s closer now, his boots pounding. My heart lurches, panic and fury mixing in my chest.
Then his hand clamps around my arm, strong and unyielding, and in one swift move, I’m hauled off my feet. A startled cry leaves me as my legs kick at the air, my back slamming against the solid wall of his chest. He’s got me caged, completely lifted, his arms locked around my waist like iron.
“Put me down,” I hiss, thrashing, but he only tightens his hold, his lips grazing my ear.
“Not a chance, darlin’. Not until you listen.”
It’s infuriating, and God help me, intoxicating. My pulse thunders in my veins, every nerve aware of his heat pressed against me.
A man strolls past, eyes dragging over my legs and the too-short dress.
“The fuck you looking at?” Shadow snarls, his voice feral. The man stumbles, mutters something, and scurries away like his life depends on it.
Shadow lowers me slowly, but his grip never loosens. One arm staying locked around me as he digs into the bags with the other. He yanks out my brand-new coat and forces it around my shoulders, jerking the fabric closed. His hands are rough,decisive, tugging it tight and fastening it all the way to the collar, as if I’m a child refusing to wear it.
“There,” he growls, tilting my chin up with his thumb. His eyes are wild, burning. “Now, no one sees a damn thing but me.”
My breath catches. I should slap him, shove him, anything but feel the way my body reacts to the possession laced through every word.
His arm stays locked firmly around me as he steers me out of the flow of people. I dig my heels in, but he’s relentless, a storm cutting straight through the crowd until he finds what he wants—a shadowed gap between two shopfronts.
Before I can twist away, he spins me, pressing me back against the cool brick. His hands slam to the wall either side of my head, caging me in. His chest heaves, the muscles in his jaw ticking like he’s fighting to keep control.
