He’s going to say something.
My heart stutters.
Please, please don’t push me away.
CHAPTER 33
DIANGELO
Present
Fuck,I hate seeing Terina so out of sorts. She’s practically skittish, and that’s not at all like her. That’s not the same woman who stuck her finger in my chest while railing at me about what I do and don’t know. That Terina demanded to witness a snake being killed and welcomed a growling Rottweiler into her open arms. This new Terina is timid and uncertain.
I’m responsible for that shift, and I hate it.
Fuck what I should and shouldn’t do. My conscience won’t allow me to leave her flailing.
I set down the glass, then, with the tactfulness of a blind gorilla, I wrap my arms around her and crush her against my chest in a hug. It’s not exactly romantic. I want to comfort her without tempting myself, and this is the only way I know how.
She’s still at first, then I feel her hands loosely wrap around my waist.
I take a long, steadying breath. “Rina, everything’s going to be fine. What happened today changes nothing. Your family loves and respects you. And trust me, they wouldn’t want theirprivate lives broadcast to anyone else and won’t judge you for yours. It’ll blow over. I promise,” I say as soothingly as possible. I have to. I can’t stand to see her so rattled by something I did.
Her fingers curl ever so slightly tighter into my shirt.
Relief loosens the knot in my stomach.
“That’s better. Now, you good to eat? I’m fucking famished.” I pull back.
Pleasure like liquid sunshine in my veins fills my chest when she gives me her eyes and nods with a small smile. I’m blindsided by the urge to get her back on her knees, or even better, naked and cuffed in my bed.
I don’t want to lose her.
I want to simultaneously destroy whoever is threatening her while dragging out the situation just so I don’t have to let her go.
The craving is loud enough that I have to wonder if fighting it isn’t more of a distraction than simply giving in and claiming her. I want her safe. How can I protect her properly when I’m mentally at war with myself?
I’m not sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion I’ve been looking at this all wrong. It’s an entirely new angle I’ll have to consider.
After pizza, because fuck, I’m hungry.
Why thefuckis this guy here? I thought he only taught afternoon classes, but it’s ten in the morning, and fucking Chase is Terina’s class instructor. I’m fairly certain that when we were in this class before, it was led by an Aussie woman with an obnoxiously high-pitched voice. I’d prefer that over Captain Tentacles, who has to touch every person he sees.
People gather in the room and ready their spots as he walks around welcoming them one by one. I watch as he gets to Terina and places his hand on her arm. I nearly crush the water bottle in my hands when this asshole slides his hand down her arm instead of simply letting go.
You can’t fucking tell me that’s normal.Thatwas a caress, and I’ll be goddamned if he touches her like that again.
The second he heads for the lobby, I’m in motion.
“Hey, Chase, can I talk to you for a minute?” I ask without inflection, motioning to the back hallway as I set the trap.
“Yeah, but I only have a second. Class is about to start.” His smile doesn’t erase the wariness in his eyes. Smart. My motives aren’t at all friendly.
“Definitely won’t keep you.”
The second he rounds the corner, I pounce, crowding him. I’m a good foot taller and have at least fifty pounds on him. I don’t touch him, but my features harden.
He pales.
