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Alex’s words are cut off as he’s ripped away from me, his muscular body thrown against the opposite wall. Relief fills me as I stare into Chase’s familiar eyes, fury burning from them before it changes to concern. His brows furrow as he evaluates my shaking form against the door. My breath stutters inside my chest as he raises his hand, his thumb and index finger cup my chin. “You okay, Kenz?” His thumb lightly strokes my skin, causing all the tension and fear to drain from my body.
I nod. “I am now.”
A smile plays on his lips before Alex howls from rage, drawing our attention to him. He’s on his feet, hands clenched at his sides. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Chase Landon playing the fucking hero again.” His dark eyes are wild with fury. “What is it with you two? Do you have some incestuous relationship going?—”
A loud growl reverberates through Chase’s chest before he flies to where Alex is standing, his fist connecting with Alex’s jaw. “I warned you about going near her,” he seethes.
Alex drops to the floor from the hit, but Chase is only getting started. An animalistic sound comes from his lips as he attacks, rage filling the space between us as he pummels Alex, landing blow after sickening blow. The crack of Chase’s fist against Alex’s face makes me wince. “Now you’re gonna pay, motherfucker. Youdon’ttouch Mackenzie.”
I spot Brady Hall, one of Alex’s friends, in the distance. The cup slips from my hand as I spring into action, afraid Brady will round up a group of guys to go after Chase.
“Chase, stop.” I squat beside him, my hand grabbing his left arm. He halts with his right fist in the air, his head slowly turning to meet my concerned eyes. “Brady is over there. I don’t want him and his friends ganging up on you,” I whisper.
Chase’s eyes soften as he gets to his feet, taking me with him. “It’s okay, Kenz. They’d be stupid to mess with me.” Grabbing my hand, he steers me away from Alex, who is still slumped on the floor, groaning.
He doesn’t even glance at Alex as his eyes pin me with his laser focus. Worried eyes trail over my face, looking for injuries, before slowly moving down my body. Chase stills when his gaze lands on my cleavage. I watch his jaw work even as his eyes return to mine. “Why the fuck are you wearing that shirt?”
His words heat my insides. The flames burning in his irises are heady, causing the blood to pump faster through my veins. “It’s no big deal, Chase. Let’s just?—”
“No big deal?” His laugh is brittle as he drinks me in from head to toe. “You have no fucking idea how gorgeous you are and the effect you have on men.”
Chase’s words are like a lightning bolt striking my body, tiny sparks radiating through me, every one of my nerves burning. I’m acutely aware of his hands on my face and how close his body is to mine. Gold flecks line his irises, reminding me of melted gold. The warmth and desire burning in them incinerate me, making me want to do things I shouldn’t.
Loud screams of laughter draw my attention to where Brady was standing. His back is to us as he jokes with some friends, not even noticing that Alex is lying on the floor.
When my gaze locks with Chase’s again, my body jolts. His eyes burn with rage and something that looks a lot like jealousy and possessiveness. “You snuck out of the house, your tits practically hanging out of your shirt, to fucking come here? Where Alex and his fucking creepy friends wouldn’t think twice about leering and pawing at you.”
Shock washes over me before the rage settles in. “Are you fucking kidding me?” My hands shake as I push against his chest, jerking away from his grip. “Are you insinuating that dressing like this is asking to be raped?” Rage and hurt battle for dominance before I whip around, stomping away from Chase.
I make it three steps before his musk and amber scent infiltrate my senses. His large hands clamp on my arms, spinning me around. His face is twisted from fury and something else as he snarls at me, “You fucking know better than that, Mackenzie Dawn Collins. I’dneversay that cause it would be a goddamn lie. And I’m not a liar. Especially not toyou.” His warm breaths land on my face from his closeness to me.
I swallow hard, watching his Adam’s Apple bob before my gaze returns to his. Electricity flows between us as we silently stare each other down, our chests heaving.
Chase blows out a long breath, breaking the silence. “I’d never say something like that to you. But that shirt, around someone like Alex…” Chase’s voice shakes from rage as he glances down the hallway at Alex, who sits up, holding his injured jaw.
When his attention returns to me, his eyes soften. His voice is low and husky, turning my insides to mush. “I couldn’t bear it if he hurt you, Kenz.” His jaw tightens before he leans closer. “If he took what wasn’t his to take, it would kill me that I didn’t protect you.” His arms tighten on me as his anguished voice shoots out a warning. “Don’teverdo this again.”
I’m mesmerized by the concern, pain, and anger I see in the depths of his beautiful irises, but the other thing I see brewing knocks the breath from my lungs. A possessiveness mixed with intense desire.
Chase hasn’t laid claim over me by proclaiming I’m his, he doesn’t have to. I see it in his eyes.
And damn if I don’t feel my control slipping.Don’t do it.It’s wrong.
Even though Chase and I aren’t related, he’s lived under the same roof with me for one year and three months. Although my parents haven’t officially adopted him, they treat him like my brother.
Chase glances at Alex, then back at me. “We’re getting out of here.” Before I can utter a word, Chase throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, striding down the hallway. I squirm and protest, my fists beating against his back, but he ignores me until he tosses me inside the vehicle and on to the passenger seat. When he pulls my seatbelt across my torso, I go limp, the fight draining out of me.
Our gazes lock and hold for several beats. The click of the seatbelt is loud, cutting through the silence hanging between us.
“Don’t try running, Mackenzie. I won’t let you get away.” He holds my gaze for a few beats before stepping back and slamming the door.
My legs are weak as he rounds the vehicle, the warning in his eyes clear as he stares at me through the windshield. My heart bangs inside my chest, racing a million miles an hour. My throat and mouth are dry from the heavy breaths coming from my lungs.
I’m caught in Chase’s spell, but I don’t want to escape.
3
CHASE
