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Instead of melting against him, as I would normally do, I stiffened and pulled away slightly. Ivan glowered at me and yanked me back against him, obviously not tolerating the distance I was trying to create between us.
Hannah groaned and collapsed back on the couch. “Does everyone in Chicago want to fuck with us? And why are they all friends?”
“So, what’s the plan?” I asked grimly, eager to hear how we’re going to put an end to this whole messed up situation of crazy stalkers and criminally insane, newly discovered relatives. All of whom seemed to be focused on kidnapping me for whatever reasons.
“We wait,” Ivan said morosely. He didn’t appear to be any happier about the current plan than we were. He dropped his arm and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go,” he said, pulling me toward the door.
I resisted, yanking my hand from his. This earned me another scowl. “I think I’m going to stay here tonight, you know, reconnect with Hannah after this whole Armstrong situation.”
Hannah’s head jerked in my direction, obviously surprised because we had not discussed this at all, but then quickly nodding her head. “Yeah, I think that’s a great idea.”
Ivan’s jaw clenched, unfamiliar, and unhappy, with my sudden non-compliance. “I don’t.”
I folded my arms. “I do.”
Ivan’s emerald gaze bored into me as if I would obey him by the strength of his eye contact alone. It was oddly effective because I found myself starting to falter under his steady, disapproving stare. “Emmy, we need to talk.”
I knew this was Ivan’s version of “Emmy, can you please come with me so we can talk?” It was him giving some sort of explanation instead of simply demanding I mindlessly follow his direction.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t feeling accommodating. Emotions were rocketing around inside me and the only emotion that felt clear was anger. I knew the minute he got me alone, he would coax me out of it and I wasn’t ready to let it go.
“Why don’t both of you stay here tonight,” Nikolai suggested, obviously trying to put an end to the awkward stand-off in his living room. I had a feeling he was siding with Ivan. “The guest bedroom is on the other side of the apartment, so you’ll have privacy. Probably wouldn’t hurt to have her in a more secure place than your apartment.” Though the building wasn’t that tall, Hannah and Nikolai lived on the top floor of a very well-guarded building.
Ivan nodded and rubbed his jaw. “You’re right. I’ve got to find another place for us to stay,” Ivan murmured almost absently, and it was hard to rein in the thrill that went through me when he spoke of us together.
“Great! Then it’s settled. You guys are bunking with us,” Hannah said gleefully, as if this were a slumber party instead of a precautionary measure to keep any of the many people who were interested in kidnapping me at bay.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward a short hallway on the other side of the living room that led to their guest bedroom. I already knew where it was because I’d stayed in it before, but Hannah was clearly relishing acting like a host, so I let her.
She opened the door to the spacious room and extended her arm like she was a model at a boat show. “Here’s the guest room. There’s a private bathroom through the door,” she said gesturing toward the bathroom door. “There’s toothbrushes and everything in there.”
I gave her an indulgent smile. “You know I’ve stayed here before, right?”
She threw her arms around me and gave me a quick hug. “I know, I’m just extra grateful to have you here considering everything going on.” She shot me a sly look. “And your boyfriend has never been here.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, sis. I think we’re good.” I was eager to get rid of her. The tension radiating off Ivan was starting to make the back of my knees sweat. It was annoying because I was the one who was angry with him, yet my instincts were urging me to put him at ease.
His gorgeous face looked like it was carved in stone. Sometimes I couldn’t believe how beautiful he was, even when he was looking as austere as a funeral director. I wasn’t sure what to say. I wasn’t used to being angry at someone, and if I ever was, I definitely wasn’t the confrontational type.
As soon as Hannah closed the door, I crossed my arms and gave him an expectant look. “Well? What did you want to talk to me about?”
I admit, I had a bit of an attitude.
Ivan cocked his head, as if trying to figure out the best way to approach me or more specifically, de-escalate me.
“You weren’t this mad when I left the bar.” There was a faint tone of accusation in his voice. As if he felt betrayed at how my emotions had evolved since he left. If ever there was a moment that exposed Ivan’s limited interaction with emotions. And women. His comment also put my mind on what happened before he left the bar. My body pulsed with heat as I remembered the way his strong hands gripped my ass as his mouth dominated mine.
I shook my head to release my erotic thoughts and rolled my eyes. “I’m entitled to be angry, you know.”
He blew out an annoyed breath and backed up slightly. “I know. I just don’t like it. If you're mad at me, yell at me, tell me. Don’t pull away, don’t distance yourself, don’t hide out at your sister’s.”
“Maybe I wanted some space to think.”
He walked toward me and backed me into the wall, caging his arms around me. “You can think all you want with me next to you.”
Jesus, it was hard to focus, let alone stay angry with him this close to me. “You make me…It’s hard to…” I stuttered.
“It’s hard to what, baby?” he murmured, his breath teasing my ear as his hand slid under my skirt to grip my hip. A small groan left my mouth, and I was tilting my head to give him further access to my neck when I snapped out of it.
