Over six feet tall with features that would put any Greek god to shame and a muscular build sculpted by Michelangelo himself, Nathan is danger personified.
He extends his palm toward me. “Come here, angel.”
My hand slips into his, letting him pull my suddenly overheated body into his inviting arms. One large palm curves around my waist, holding me flush and possessively against him.
I have the insane urge to arch into him until he’s cupping my ass.
“I hope you told her everything you wanted to say because it was the first and last time you’ll ever go near her,” Nathan warns a speechless Aryan. “Next time I catch you in her vicinity, you’ll be walking out on a stretcher. Am I understood?”
“A-Arya,” he chokes. “You’re choosing him over me?”
I hold my head high. “We’re over, Aryan.”
“Unlike you, I won’t be an idiot to let her go,” Nathan says smugly. So convincingly that for a heartbeat, I forget we’re acting.
Twirling me around with a gentle touch, he guides me away from the bar and my past that gave me the final kick to move on with my life.
“Didn’t I tell you he’ll come crawling back?” Nathan murmurs once we’re at a safe distance.
I let him lead me to a private corner, away from prying eyes, before stepping out of his embrace. Tilting my face up, I curiously hum, “You don’t have to come rescue me every time.”
“It’s no big deal.” His broad shoulder lifts in a shrug. “Though I hope tonight was the last time he corners you.”
“How are you always there?” I arch a brow, teasing, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were stalking me.”
A dark look flits across his eyes, causing me to tense.
Was I rude?
“Are you going to run away again if I am?”
Goosebumps erupt on my skin at his husky tone. Our brief kiss flashes in my mind, making my stomach knot with nerves at his rejection. I fight to hold his piercing stare, stuttering apologetically, “I… I didn’t mean to kiss you that day.”
“The way you pressed your lips against mine told me a different story.” He inches closer, crowding me until I have to arch my neck more. “So, what should I believe?”
“Does it matter? You pushed me away.”
“You would’ve regretted it.”
“How would you know?”
“You were high on adrenaline.” A frown mars his temples as he grits out, “While I didn’t want to get addicted to the savior complex that I seem to be developing with you.”
I don’t miss the edge of accusation in his voice.
Has he also been thinking about me the past two weeks?
My heart rate doubles.
In a small and unsure voice, I whisper, “It’s a good thing we didn’t kiss then.”
“It would be.” A heavy pause that turns our breaths shallow. “If your pouty lips weren’t all I thought about for two goddamn weeks.”
My sharp inhale spills between us.
“I need to know,” he groans, gaze darkening as he backs me completely into a corner.
“Know what?”
