You really expect him to be celibate?
Nero’s gaze drops to my lips. “You saw another woman embrace me and you practically turned green.”
“How could you know what color I turned if you had your eyes glued to her?”
“She’s just a friend. She’s never been more than a friend. If she had been, I wouldn’t be standing here, because Rafe would have murdered me by now. He’s like me, Blake. He goes crazy when someone touches what’s his.”
I push past him and move to the kitchen.
I need a glass of water, an Advil, and a good night’s sleep. That should be enough to get these crazy thoughts out of my head so I can calm down.
Nero must sense I want to be alone, because he retreats to his own bedroom instead of following me. There’s a stupid ache in my chest, something that can’t possibly be disappointment. It’s not like I wanted him to follow me. It’s not like I need his reassurance.
But when he reappears a minute later, while I’m on my second glass of water, I feel a traitorous flutter—a flutter that shouldn’t be there, damn it.
He’s changed out of his suit, and now we’re in matching gray sweatpants.
Only he’s not wearing a shirt.
I can’t resist letting my gaze slide down his sculpted torso as he approaches. A pent-up breath escapes past my lips.
Why is he doing this?
He backs me against the kitchen counter, caging me in with his arms.
Heat fans through my body. I’m still attracted to him. I want to leave marks on him. I want to carve my name into his skin. It’s ridiculous, because I plan to run away from him, but possessiveness still burns deep inside my belly.
He leans his head down, getting to my eye level. “What do I have to do to make you stop being angry with me?”
“Didn’t we talk about it at dinner? I already said I’m done being angry with you. We’re good.”
He tilts his head. “You call this good? For the love of God, don’t bring up that friends bullshit again. I can’t stand it.”
“I don’t know what you want from me.”
“I want you to stop denying that there’s still something here. Something that’s worth fighting for. I was willing to die for you, Sunshine. Do you really think I’m just going to give up on us after I got a second chance to make you mine?”
A shiver rolls down my spine.
No, no.No. I can’t let him get under my skin.
“I’ll never be yours again, Nero. What we had before is gone.”
He shakes his head. “You’re wrong. I think you still want me, you just don’t want to admit it to yourself.”
Humiliation tears through me, because it’s true.
I don’t understand myself anymore. How can I want him after everything he’s done?
After all the lies and the hurt?
I twist in his arms, turning so that my back is to his front. So that I don’t have to stare into his eyes and feel as if he’s seeing straight into my soul.
He presses up against me, and he’s as hard as a rock.
“Don’t touch me.” My voice is weaker than it should be.
His breath grazes my neck, and his lips brush against my ear, sending shivers cascading over my skin. I bite down on my bottom lip to stifle the moan that threatens to spill out of me.
