"So what, you're just going to follow me everywhere? Sit in on my classes? Lurk in the bathroom while I pee?"
The mental image of Shanice in a bathroom made my dick twitch. I’d watch her pee for fun on a Tuesday, don’t threaten me with bullshit. That sounded like a damn good time to me. I shoved the thought away.
"Everywhere that matters. Classes, the library, the gym, wherever. And we need to clear out your apartment. Get the rest of your things."
Her expression shuttered at that. For just a second, I saw something vulnerable in her expression before she locked it down.
"My apartment," she said slowly. "It got destroyed when I was kidnapped. I still need my stuff out of it."
"Yeah."
She sighed. "Every time I think about it, I want to throw up."
My chest tightened. I'd seen the photos. Furniture overturned, belongings scattered, signs of a struggle everywhere.The place had been a crime scene, and she'd been living with that knowledge for two months.
"You don't have to go alone," I said, voice rougher than I intended. "I'll be there. Nothing's going to happen to you."
"Because you'll be there to protect me." Her tone was mocking, but I heard the uncertainty underneath it.
"Yes."
"And if I say no? If I tell you to fuck off and mind your own business?"
I leaned in, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off her skin. Close enough to see the way her breath hitched, the way her pupils dilated.
"Then I'll follow you anyway," I said softly. "This isn't a request, Shanice. It's not up for debate. You want your life back? Fine. But you don't get to risk it just because you don't like taking orders."
Her eyes dilated, letting me in on how affected she was by me.
Newsflash.
I’d never suspected that she could actually like me too.
"I don't like taking orders from you."
"Get used to it."
For a long moment, we stood there, toe to toe, staring each other down. I could feel the tension crackling between us like a live wire, could see the way her hands had curled into fists at her sides. She was challenging me and I wasn’t about to back down.
God, she’s magnificent when she’s angry.
"This is bullshit," she said finally.
"Probably." I bit back a smirk because I didn’t want to set her off in the wrong direction of this debate. I could handle feisty, but having her blow up and try to do something harmful to herself, like leaving, wasn’t the goal here.
"I'm going to make your life hell."
"Looking forward to it."
Her jaw worked like she was biting back a string of curses. Then she grabbed her laptop and brushed past me, heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" I called after her.
"To tell Katrina that her husband is a controlling asshole who assigns bodyguards without asking."
I watched her go, my eyes dropping to the sway of her hips despite myself. When she disappeared around the corner, I let out a long breath and adjusted myself in my jeans.
This was going to be a big problem. Her curves were addictive, she was stacked like a full deck of cards and I wanted to play all up inside her, on her, with her…
