Page 100 of Arran's Obsession

He didn’t answer, folding his arms as a barrier between us. I lifted them and slipped underneath so he was holding me. Arran’s lips remained in a pout, but he let me rearrange him.

Then I pushed up on my toes and kissed his cheek, speaking to his soul. “I want to keep my job because it’s mine and I’m a human being with my own thoughts, feelings, and independence. Nothing to do with you supporting me. This is my second week of being with you, and in that time I haven’t been home once or done anything I usually would. In another two, you could throw me out. If I don’t have my job, I’ve got nothing to go back to. Understand? I’ll lose the flat because of whatever the hell my dad’s done. Mouldy walls, shitty small-minded neighbours and all—it’s my only home. I’ve got four hours of delivering food lined up in exchange for some semblance of security, so yes, I can do it, and no, it doesn’t mean I’m leaving you.”

Those strong arms tightened around me. His grey eyes scrutinised mine. “Security,” he repeated, almost to himself. Then, more assuredly, “Let me drive you.”

I adapted my plan of being on a scooter in the pouring rain to being chauffeur driven around the city. Not a bad compromise. “Okay.”

He kissed me, an almost desperate claiming that I had to break or I’d miss logging in on time.

Together, we left his apartment.

“I’m still giving you the money you’re owed,” he griped. “Can’t wait to see what you bid on with it this time.”

On the way out, Arran thumped on the door opposite his in the hall. There was nothing else up here other than steel framing the brick exterior walls, the stairs entrance, and the lift.

In just his boxer shorts, Shade answered, his black hair messy and in his eyes. Dark-ink tattoos crawled from his muscular thigh and across his chest to climb up his throat.

Last night, he’d held my breasts while Arran toyed with me. Looked like we were just going to breeze right on past that.

I adjusted my gaze away.

“In future, put some fucking clothes on when you answer the door,” Arran intoned.

“In my defence, it’s never anyone but ye. You’re lucky I had shorts on.”

“Gen lives here now so adjust.”

Gen, he’d called me. Only people I cared about used that.

“Aye, sorry, Genevieve. Hang on.” Shade disappeared, reappearing with a black shirt shrugged over his body.

Arran lifted his chin. “We’re going to be out in the city for the next few hours. Are you good to hold the fort?”

“Nae bother. It won’t be busy until later, so I can come along for the ride if ye need backup?”

“It’s nothing wild. Gen has her delivery job.”

Shade jumped his gaze to me, wrinkling his nose in an expression of disbelief. “Really?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I still have a job.”

“In the rain. Going about on your scooter from restaurants to lazy people’s houses.”

“Don’t you start, too.”

A laugh returned. “All right. Are ye leaving now?” At my agreement, he stepped back. “Give me two and I’ll come. Don’t like the thought of the pair of ye roaming the streets unprotected.” Then he called into the depths of his apartment. “Leesh? I’m going out.”

He shut the door, and Arran called the lift.

“Is ‘Leesh’ Alisha?” I asked.

Arran inclined his head.

I frowned, a thought occurring that hadn’t last night. “Another ‘A’ name. She isn’t…?”

“Related to my mother? No. Alisha isn’t her real name.”

Of course not. No one around here used their real identity apart from Arran. “Are they a couple? Shade and Alisha?”

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