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“No.”
“Go!”
“Not happening.”
“Damn it, Raid! Just go! I need you to leave. Let. Me. Go!”
He let her go, and she stood up, but he stayed where he was on her sofa. It was a ridiculous sofa. Feminine and delicate, and he looked wrong on it.
But he didn’t seem to care.
She clenched her hands into fists. Crap. She needed to find her calm. Needed to bring the ice queen back.
But it was so hard with him. He just seemed to push all of her buttons.
“And I told you I’m done giving you space, darlin’. That it was the wrong thing to do. Because leaving you on your own gave you the opportunity to hurt yourself. And I can’t allow that to happen.”
“I didn’t hurt myself.” That had never really occurred to her.
“You hurt yourself when you don’t take care of yourself. When you neglect your health to the point that you faint. And I’m not just talking about your physical health.”
“My health isn’t your business. I’m not your business. I don’t want to be your business.” She said it as nastily as she could. Because she needed him out of there.
“You can bullshit me all you like, baby. But I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Damn it! You’re the most stubborn man I’ve ever met!”
“Nice of you to notice.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“Urgh. You’re also infuriating.” She stomped her foot. Wow. Hannah didn’t think she’d ever stomped her foot before. She wasn’t the temper tantrum sort of person.
“So kind.”
“Raid Malone. I know you know that those aren’t compliments. Just like I’m pretty sure you know, you can’t just boss me around and expect me to obey. Or barge in here and try to take over my life. I’m a grown woman. Yes, I was once a sub. And I . . . I once had a crush on you. I once wanted a relationship, marriage, the picket fence, and kids. But I’m not that girl anymore. And you need to go. Because I no longer want you.”
9
Raid stared at her for a long moment.
She expected him to storm out of there. Raid wasn’t known for his even temper. He’d never harm her, but he might get grumpy. She had to prepare herself for that.
As if she hadn’t had enough stress today, this was just adding to it.
“Nice try, sweetness. But I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to do whatever you can to push me away. Do your worst. I’m not going anywhere.”
She winced. “Can you not call me that either?”
Surprise filled his face, followed by anger. This was Raid.
He won’t hurt me.
“Sweetness?” he asked.
She nodded woodenly.
“Is that what he called you? Sweetness? Good girl?”
“Sort of,” she whispered. She knew she was revealing too much. But honestly, the stubborn ass wasn’t leaving.
And she needed him to go.
Because the longer he was here, the more she worried she’d lose all of her shields. And she needed them.
“What did he do to you, Hannah?” he asked.
She shook her head. Part of her wanted to tell him. But she didn’t want him to look at her differently.
What if he doesn’t? What if he still wants you?
He deserves better than me.
“You need to go, Raid.”
“No, Hannah. You’re mine to take care of.”
“I’m not! I’m not your responsibility.”
“Like I told you, I’ve decided differently.”
“You’ve decided differently?” she said in a low, quiet voice.
“Yep. And you know once you say it, there are no takesies-backsies.”
“Takesies-backsies?”
“Yeah, you’ve heard of takesies-backsies, right? Well, this is the opposite. Now, I was serious. I really am hungry. Are you going to let me starve to death?”
She had to check the urge to immediately go and make him something to eat. She squelched that part of herself that wanted to take care of him.
“If you’re hungry, the diner isn’t far. Leave.”
“Hannah, baby, you’re just not getting this. I’m not leaving. I am here to stay until I’m sure that you’re all right. Maybe even beyond that. This is what is going to happen. I’m going to quickly make us both a sandwich. You’re going to get your handbag and whatever else you need for a trip to the hospital. And then, we’re heading off.”
She shook her head, then had to close her eyes for a moment as the world spun.
Shit.
She probably needed to eat. Or at least sit down. Coffee. Maybe she just needed coffee. But she worried that as soon as something hit her stomach, it would come back up.
When she opened her eyes, she let out a startled gasp as she saw that Raid was now standing in front of her.
“How do you move so quietly?” she snapped.
Then she felt bad.
Then she felt angry because she felt bad.
Honestly, it was a vicious freaking cycle.
“When you grow up with seven brothers, you learn how to sneak around quietly. Some of those assholes are freaking psychopaths.”
