“Oh?” I tilt my head. “And how does it work, exactly?”
He takes a step toward me.
Just one. But it’s enough.
Enough that I have to fight the instinct to step back.
“You come onto my land,” he says, voice dropping, “you follow my rules.”
I let out a short laugh. “That’s not how real life works, Ranger.”
Another step.
Now there’s nowhere to go unless I move.
I don’t.
“You think this is real life?” he asks quietly.
My breath catches.
Damn him.
“Feels real enough to me,” I say.
“Someone’s tracking you,” he says, voice flat now. “Watching you. Getting close enough to leave things behind.”
I hold his gaze. “I know.”
“Then stop acting like you’re in control.”
“Iamin control,” I snap.
His jaw ticks.
And then he closes the distance.
One step.
Two.
Until he’s right there.
Close enough that I feel the heat of him, the weight of his presence pressing in on all sides.
“Then stop acting like prey.”
The words hit low.
Hard.
My pulse jumps, heat flaring through me—anger, adrenaline… something sharper.
“I’m not prey,” I bite out.
His gaze drops slowly.
To my mouth.
