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And then there’s the powerful attraction that keeps growing every day I get to spend in her presence.

My tone is too harsh as I ask, “Can you see where you’re going?”

She glances at the staircase, then shakes her head.

Not saying another word, I take the steps up to the second floor before setting Annie down in front of her place.

“Keys?” I ask.

She digs them out of the pocket of her faded blue jeans, and when I take them, our fingers brush. An electric spark passes between us, making my eyes snap to her face.

Annie’s lips part on a quick inhale, and out of habit, she tries to push her missing glasses up her nose before nervously clasping her hands in front of her.

Do I make her nervous?

Is it because she’s attracted to me or scared?

I unlock the door, and placing my hand on her lower back, I hold her close while guiding her into the apartment.

This time, I focus on keeping my voice even. “Where is your other pair of glasses?”

“In my bedroom closet.” She carefully begins to make her way through the living room, the layout of her apartment different from mine.

I take in the light blue sofas, the wood coffee table, and the shelf filled with books and plants.

The titles grab my attention.

The Elegant Universe. Thinking, Fast and Slow. The Signal and the Noise.

There are also worn textbooks.

I don’t get curious about people because having a relationship with someone has never been an option, but with Annie, I’m struggling to keep my questions to myself.

I’ve watched her closely the past four weeks. Not once has she been moody or rude to anyone, no matter how the patrons treat her. She never rises to bait. No, she takes whatever they say with a grain of salt and gives them a sweet smile.

I’ve also noticed a quiet efficiency about how she handles things. When we’re busy, she never gets frazzled. She catches mistakes before they happen, and she’s always a step ahead without even knowing it.

That’s how I knew the guy was going to be a problem. I saw it on Annie’s face, and before I could stop myself, I reacted, launching myself over the counter to get to her.

When the fucker shoved Annie, I was already there to catch her.

It doesn’t escape my attention that I lost control when another man touched her.

I’m already possessive of her, and that might become a problem. In a perfect world, I wouldn’t hesitate to make her mine, but my past and the uncertainty of my future are too dangerous for someone like Annie.

I have to shut down these growing feelings for her because forming a bond with another person will never be in the cards for the likes of me. The Bratva could track me down and force me to give up this identity.

I turn my attention back to Annie and notice she’s about to bump into the counter that separates the kitchen from the living room. I dart forward and grab hold of her hips, yanking her backward and flush with my chest so she doesn’t knock into the sharp edge.

“Oh God!” she gasps, her hands settling on top of mine.

More sparks travel between us as I order, “Stand still. I’ll get the glasses.”

“Oh . . . ahh . . .” When I move past her, she sounds a little breathless as she says, “They should be in a black case on one of the top shelves in my closet.”

I switch on the light in her bedroom and glance over the light blue bedding, and the image of me throwing Annie down on the covers and taking what I want flashes through my mind.

I instantly grow hard and adjust my cock before looking at the rest of the bedroom. There’s also a dressing table, stool, and chest of drawers. Not a single thing seems to be out of place.