Perhaps it was true that some women were drawn to the bad boy type and a probable death-wish brought on by defiance.Because when Sean reached over to take my hand, bringing it to his lips in a light kiss, I filled my smile with every bit of thrill I could muster yet my eyes once again sought the monster’s reaction more.
One brow raised, he slowly tipped his glass at me, but it was his smile, chillingly possessive that clearly said, challenge accepted.
“Ready to go?” Sean asked, bringing my attention back to him.
“Sure.”
In the time Sean settled the bill, helped me into my coat and walked me to the door, I caught a glimpse of Remo shaking the two men’s hands before my vision was cut off. Thankfully, his unexpected appearance hadn’t dampened the evening and ten minutes into the slow scenic drive back, I forgot all about him as Sean chatted.
He told me about his investigative skills behind the pieces he presented on channel seven and how some day he hoped to become a forensic specialist. Given I was a medical geek, I found his desires truly exciting. In fact, I was pretty sure my lady bits were already anticipating a nightcap with Sean.
Yet when we arrived at my door and I allowed him to kiss me, I felt mildly guilty. Because one part of me scolded that I was using Sean to dissuade thoughts of Remo while the other part liked his kiss. Only Sean didn’t make my heart pump so hard, I felt like I was tethered to a bungee rope about to drop. He wasn’t in my dreams, and he wasn’t the person who I barely knew yet subconsciously haunted every waking thought.
Pulling myself together, I focused on the man in front of me. We stood under the porch light for a moment, breathing in the kiss we’d just shared. “Would you like a drink?” I shoved aside Remo’s warning. He’d already gotten more out of me than I’d bargain for.
“I’d like that.” Sean eyes glittered.
Engaging all my senses to appreciate him and not the other man, I unlocked the door and walked in. Just as I was about to reach for the light switch, Sean slipped a hand around my waist, tugging me into his body. “I really enjoyed our date, Ishika but I enjoyed that kiss more.”
“I did too.” I breathed hard, anticipating his lips again.
“Touch her and youwillfucking die,” erupted around us, pulling us apart and dragging my eyes to the corner of the room.
My stomach flipped and I couldn’t breathe. Remo sat on a couch, nearly shrouded in dark shadows cast by the moonlight dripping through the large bay window next to him. The corner lamp flicked on, flooding the room with a warm glow, a stark contrast to icy stare leveled on me.
“What the hell?” Sean yelled, dropping his arm.
Remo’s regal posture reminded me of a terrifying mafia movie, and I half expected him to point a gun at us. With his elbows on the armrests, fingers steepled beneath his chin, he didn’t move.
If we left the restaurant before him, how did he get here before us? How did he get into my house? How did he know where I lived? A second later, the blood drained from my face. He could’ve been in my house at any time, not just now. How long had he watched me?
Sean grasped my hand, his grip firm, protective. “Who are you?”
Remo’s simmering blue eyes were still fixated on my swollen lips, that square jaw so tight, I wondered if he’d crack a tooth or two. “I’m a possessive fucker but I’ll give you exactly ten seconds to walk out that door if you intend having children.” He leveled Sean with a glacial stare.
After Billy, I knew Remo’s insinuation wasn’t a lie. I looked at Sean offering him an apologetic smile. “Please,” I whispered.
Sean studied me for a moment, clearly not planning to move while my eyes implored him. “Are you sure you want me to leave?”
“I’ll be fine,” I lied with a straight face because I only had an inkling of what the other man was capable of. “I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“Okay.” He leaned forward to kiss my cheek and I was sure I heard Remo growl.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped the second the door closed behind Sean. Instead of answering, Remo stood and took a step forward. I stepped back. “This is my home, you’re not welcome here,” I gritted, pouring loads of anger into my words. That dark brow merely went up. “I’m warning you…” Okay, with what could I possibly threaten him?
He took another step. “Run, little fox.” He winked, that action more ominous than the words he’d just uttered.
Not pausing to think, I turned and bolted. High heels weren’t the best shoes to run in, but they got me upstairs and only when I gained my bedroom, did I turn around to lock the door. Chewing my bottom lip, I leaned an ear to the door, listening for Remo then remembered I’d dropped my purse when his appearance startled me.
“Shit.” I’d just trapped myself two floors up without my phone. “Screw that.”
Adrenaline pumping furiously through me, I didn’t think, just acted. Yanking the comforter off the bed, I grabbed the top and bottom sheets and towels from the en-suite bathroom. Quickly, I knotted them together, rushed out onto the balcony and secured it to the rail. Not bothering with a reason why Remo hadn’t appeared yet, I unzipped my heels, slipped out of them and I climbed over the rail.
My body surged with adrenaline, I didn’t question how I knew this would work, I just began. Movies made it lookeasy enough. Grabbing the sheet rope with my hands and feet, I began the slow descent, trying not to think about the repercussions of me falling.
“Pick up the pace, Ish,” I muttered aware I could fall if I did.
It was only when my legs encountered empty space, did I realize the rope was shorter than I expected. “Crap.” I looked down trying to gauge the distance. If I jumped, I’d probably fracture an elbow or ankle, maybe bump my head given gravel covered the one area I needed grass. Debating my pain threshold, I hung there like a silly monkey.
