Page 45 of Stolen

Standing in front of me now was Keith, a look of pure rage on his face as he stared back at me from the hall.

“What?” I unintentionally yawned after hearing his demand. “Sorry? Did you need something from me? Or?”

“I just told you to back off. Officially.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening right now.” I shook my head. “Are you trying to call dibs on Leo? You do realize that he’s your ex-boyfriend, right?”

“And you realize that I could completely ruin you, if I felt like it, right?” He beamed. “I’ve been playing nice with you, Jacob Bronson.”

“Congrats on learning my last name.”

“I don’t think you get it.” Keith took a step closer toward me. “I’m willing to pay however much money it takes to find out dirt on you. I’m willing to expose you, completely. Whatever you think you have with Leo is going to be done by the time I’m through with you.”

“What’s your deal, anyway?” I asked, genuinely curious. “You cheat on him throughout your entire relationship and now you want him back? Why? Just so you can hurt him again?”

“I want him back because he’s mine.” Keith scoffed. “I want him back because we belong together. Or did you not see the pictures from the photoshoot today?”

“The ones you planted in the press? Yeah, I saw them.” I tried to sound as dismissive as possible. “Pretty low trying to trick people into believing you’re back together.”

“What’syourdeal, Jacob?” Keith looked like he was puffing out his chest, ready for a fight. “Why are you so obsessed with Leo? If he doesn’t want me, he sure as hell doesn’t want you. You have to know that you’re a downgrade?—”

“Goodnight, Keith—” I started to close the door on him.

“I’ll fucking destroy you!” Keith yelled, as he stuck his foot in the door, keeping it from closing completely. “You don’t get to take what’s mine! You don’t get to have Leo! Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“I’m Jacob Bronson. Remember?” I waved goodbye, before knocking Keith back just enough so that his foot slipped out of the doorway. When it was completely out of sight, I finally slammed the door, a surge of adrenaline running through my veins.

That could’ve been worse.

I was glad that the situation didn’t devolve into a fight, but I was pissed off that Keith thought he had the right to talk to me like that.

To talk to anyone like that.

It pissed me off even more to think of how Keith used to talk to Leo when he was upset, making him feel so small and unwanted. No wonder he could barely believe that he was perfect, barely believe that he deserved something better than someone half-assing their way through a relationship?—

Fuck.I needed to find a way to calm down.

After a few seconds of brainstorming, I hastily made my way to the gym for a late-night workout, pushing my body to the brink as I pushed away thoughts of Keith’s bullshit.

I tried to push away thoughts of Leo, too, trying my best to not think about him for the rest of the night.

13

LEO

“Morning.” Jacob smiled from where he stood on the other side of my bedroom door. He was holding a cup of coffee in his hand, his rugged charm as present as always.

“Morning,” I mumbled back, my cheeks going red despite my best intentions. I felt like Jacob was able to read my mind, like he could somehow tell that I’d spent all last night thinking about him, even though we hadn’t been together.

Like he could tell that I’d broken one of his rules last night, too.

You don’t get to touch yourself anymore. If you want to come, you come to me.

Jacob’s words had been playing in the back of my mind on repeat, even as I’d slid a hand down my stomach while in the shower, even as I stroked myself to completion while thinking about him inside me. I’d been so stressed out last night trying to come up with ideas for the photoshoot this morning, that I just needed a moment to relax. Besides, it was already after midnight by the time I’d made it to the shower, and it didn’t feel right potentially waking Jacob up just to fuck me.

I was sure he had better things to do, like get a good night’s sleep.

“Are you okay?” Jacob stepped further into my bedroom, as he offered me the coffee. “Did you stay up too late last night?”

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