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He starts trembling as he frantically nods his head.

“Now go fucking home. I don’t want to see your face here tomorrow, either.”

I give his arm one more hard squeeze before letting go and hearing his fast footsteps fade out.

The storm outside.

The thump of the door.

Then silence.

Just me and her.

“Hello, Angel,” I drawl, watching as her chest rises and falls with every breath in that pathetic scrap of material.

I push off the wall, taking slow steps towards her. She’s not scared. No. I know what fear feels like. I’ve threatened enough people to know it.

She’s aroused. It’s practically dripping off her at the speed of the rain outside. But I don’t think she’s quite aware of that.

Her breaths come in quick and shallow as I approach.

Not too close. I don’t know what happened here in the short space of time it took me to get to her.

I should’ve been fucking quicker.

She watches me with those wide, sparkling eyes, flicking between my own with curiosity. But she doesn’t step back. She meets my stance.

Standing up taller, she folds her arms across her chest. “What are you doing here?”

My mouth curls up on one side.

There she is.

That fiery attitude I’ve come to crave, along with every bit of her.

She’s unshakeable.

“A drink?” I offer, extending my arm in the direction of the lounge upstairs.

She scoffs. “No, thanks. I have to get home. I’m sure you have someone you need to get back to, too,” she spits the words at me, attempting to get around, but I follow the direction she steps in, ending up directly in front of her again.

Her head snaps up. She’s much smaller than me without her heels, yet, somehow, she still manages to look taller.

Her face is painted with a scowl of jealousy. She can pretend all she likes that she doesn’t care. But I bet she’d be singing a different story if I pinned her up against this wall and fucked the truth out of her.

Fuck.

I swallow harshly, not breaking our staredown. “There’s a storm outside. You’re not going anywhere.”

Her eyebrows pull in, and her head jerks back. “Excuse me?” She places the back of her palm on my arm and attempts to push me to the side. “Get the fuck out of my way, Xander.”

If she says my name one more time, I swear to the high heavens my restraint will break, and I’ll follow through on every depraved thought I’ve had of her.

I step in front of her again, caging her in with my arms in the corner of the hallway, bringing my face down and forcing her to look up at me. “You’re not going anywhere. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Her chest rises faster again, but her hips lean towards me. I trace my eyes down her face and to her mouth.

Her tongue darts out, and she wets her lips.