Page 56 of Watched

“What?”

“Act like you don’t want me around, but talk to me no problem through text? You can keep concocting excuses in your mind, but if you truly wanted nothing to do with me, you wouldn’t reply.”

My lips part as I pull the bloodstained cloth away. He arches a brow, waiting for a reply or an excuse I can’t seem to conjure. A text from anyone else doesn’t have my heart jumping. Even if I was still seeing Connor, I doubt contact from Rain would elicit any less of a reaction. Half of my brain is screaming to make him leave, to stop him from interfering in my life. The other half is overflowing with curiosity about who he is, what he does, the true nature of his family. I’m sure they’re questions I don’t want the answers to, though.

I was getting through the days, doing what I needed to. I was existing just fine before I caught his attention. Wasn’t I?

Fingers caress my waist, sending goosebumps across my skin. I inhale sharply, refocusing, and realise my thumb is stroking his bottom lip. Clearing my throat, I force myself to back away. His fingers dig into my skin, yanking me forward as he lays back. I shoot my elbow beside his head on the mattress to stop myself from crashing on top of him.

He smiles again, a little blood pooling in the corner of his lip. I press the cloth to the cut to stop any further bleeding. “I told you to stop smiling.”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

“I…I don’t know.”

“That’s not an answer, Rome.”

“It’s all I can give you.”

He releases a frustrated groan, gripping my ass tightly. “You have a nice ass.”

My breaths quicken at the feel of his dick pressed against mine.

He’s so…annoying, attractive, repulsive. He’s…fucking infuriating.

I pull the cloth away and push back when his fingers begin lightly stroking my ass. He groans like a goddamn child and stalks past me to flick on my wardrobe light.

“Wh—” I cut myself off and follow.

He reaches up to pull down the empty box that held my trophies when I moved. Dropping it to the floor, he places the lid aside and removes white boxers.

“You’ve put clothes here? In a box?” I snap.

“I didn’t want to take up shelf space.”

“Rain!”

Chapter twenty-three

RAIN

Sliding the box back on the top shelf, I throw my towel over my shoulder and step toward the door. Rome’s arms spread wide to the door frame, a wildfire starting in those beautiful eyes. “When did you put those there?”

“The day I cleaned your house.” I step closer, reaching for him, but his arms drop, and he steps back.

I know I make him uncomfortable, but I simply don’t give a fuck. Since I met him, I’ve longed day and night to share a bed.

He continues retreating. “What is going through your head when I tell you to leave, but you refuse?”

I advance a step. “That I don’t give a fuck. I’ve been told I hyper focus on certain things. I was intrigued when I first saw you. Now, I’m fucking obsessed. I want to know everything about you—every detail of your happiest memories, your darkest days, fucking everything.”

His Adam’s apple bobs, and my eyes snag on the depth of his swallow. “And if I don’t want to share that?” he whispers.

I advance another step. “You keep acting as though you have a choice. You don’t.”

The cloth balls in his fist. “I-I’m not someone you want, Rain.”

I want him to punch me again if it means he’ll clean me up. “I do want you.” Another step. “Nothing you say or do can change my mind.”