She pulls her head back a little and then looks just over my left shoulder. I don’t need to turn around to know that my brothers are behind me. They don’t say or do anything, they just watch, wondering how this is going to play out. If I’m honest I’m wondering that myself.
“I came for work. I started a new job this week.”
I narrow my eyes at her, I want to believe her, but the fucking idiot side of me still thinks she’s lying. “I don’t believe you. I think you found out I was in London, and you followed me here. You’re stalking me.”
“Oh fuck,” I hear Ice say behind me. He steps closer, placing a hand on my shoulder, “Brother, maybe we should go get some air.” I shrug him off not bothering to turn around. My eyes are so focused on hers.
She scoffs out a laugh. “Don’t fucking flatter yourself…”
I get right into her face cutting her off before she can continue. “You need to stay out of my way. And that means you can’t be on our side of the city, which means this café.” I gesture to the room. “Is off limits. Take your drink and get the fuck out.”
“Wrath, what the fuck is wrong with you, this is my café and I say who eats and drinks in here,” Jess snaps as she rises from the chair.
I turn to look at her and shake my head. “Actually, you and the Knights own it. We get a say too and I don’t want her in here.” I turn my gaze back to Marissa. Her eyes bounce between us. My brothers may not agree, but they will back me up, it’s what we do. I'm sure they’ll call me out on my shit later, but while she’s here they’ll stand by me.
She grabs her phone from the table and then stands to her full height, I stand straight as she steps up to me, our bodies so close I can feel the heat radiating from her.
“I applied for this job two months before I met you. I got the call while I was in Newcastle offering me the position. The first I knew you were going to be in London was when I saw you outside of the café the other day wearing that damn kutte. Despite what you’ve got going on in that head of yours I’m not stalking you. I’m here for me and only me. Whatever issue you have with me being here is just that, your issue.”
She bends down grabbing her bag from the floor and then stands, stepping just off to the side of me.
“I’ll do what you’ve demanded, I’ll stay away from you, and I’ll stay out of this café, but I work on this side of the city, and I will not be giving up my job to satisfy you. So, I suggest that you find a way to accept that you might just happen to see me around.”
She pushes past me, and I turn to watch her walk toward the door, grabbing the handle she stops to look back over at me. “Don’t worry Wrath, if I do see you, I’ll make sure to turn the other way.”
Chapter
Twenty-Three
I don’t know how I kept my cool in there. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to slap someone so much in my life. I cannot believe that he thinks I followed him down here. I cannot believe that he accused me of stalking him. My anger turns to frustration when I realise that I never even got to enjoy my iced coffee. I have a client this afternoon and that was my one-hour window to have a break.
I unlock the door to the studio, I’m grateful that Eric and his wife trust me enough to leave me alone in my first week. They are both off doing a location shoot in a zoo for a few days for some local wildlife magazine. They had taken on a few shoots this week knowing that I was going to be here, and I’ve taken on two boudoir shoots, one for tonight and one tomorrow.
I shake off thoughts of Wrath, choosing to focus on what I need to do for the shoot. Heading into my studio I flip on the wall lights testing out the lighting, the shoot is for a woman who wants to surprise her boyfriend with some sexy images. She’s hoping to get him here to do a couple session and thinks that when she shows him the photos from her solo one it might convince him.
I’m grabbing some sheets out of the sideboard when I’m startled by a noise.
I quickly spin around and inhale a sharp breath when I see Wrath standing in the doorway. My heart begins to race and I for a split second I think I’m afraid.
But then my anger rises to the surface, I throw the sheets on the top of the unit and storm toward him.
“What the hell are you doing here Wrath? This isn’t exactly staying away from me. Get the hell out.” I place my hands on his chest trying to push him out of the door but he’s too heavy and doesn’t budge, not even a millimetre. I look up at him, his eyes are laser focused on mine, his pupils are so large it makes his brown eyes look almost black. I begin to take a small step back, but his large hands grab my wrists so tight it hurts. I wince slightly but he doesn’t even notice.
He pushes me back a little and then spins me and slams my back against the wall. I’m stunned momentarily and my breath catches in my throat. A second later and my senses are on overdrive, I’m angry and irritated. But there’s more. Standing here like this, trapped against the wall, the look on his face.
I’m turned on. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Wra…” His lips are suddenly on mine, cutting me off mid-sentence. He’s so forceful, my head pushes against the wall, as he wraps his hand around both of my wrists, his other hand moving to my neck, his fingers squeezing just a little.
There’s too much going on, too many sensations my brain can’t focus. Briefly forgetting his lips are on mine I open my mouth to try and pull in some air, but he uses this opportunity to push his tongue into my mouth.
I don’t hesitate, my tongue tussles with his, fighting for control, our teeth clash, the kiss is frenzied. I don’t know which one of us needs this more. His fingers squeeze even tighter, and then everything stops as quick as it starts.
He takes a step back, his eyes roam over my face, his chest heaves with every breath that he takes. And then his face changes, a wave of emotions crosses over it.
Pain, confusion, shock.
“What the…” he whispers, more to himself than me.
