Page 58 of My Ruthless Neighbor

I stalk from the darkened hallway as fast as I can. Turning a corner, I push the door to the exit and stumble outside.

I shiver as a gust of cold air meets me.

Except for one streetlight at the far end, the alley is covered in darkness.

I lean against the brick wall and try to catch my breath.

I’ve turned into a ball of nerves because he caught me watching him.

I am not the type to run away. This is insane. I shouldn’t let him get to me like this.

My entire body stills when the door opens. It’s him. Archer. He followed me outside.

He left his date alone. Why?

My pulse races as he moves toward me. My breathing quickens when I feel him getting closer and closer.

I don’t dare to look up as his shadow falls over me.

When his hand brushes mine, my head jerks up. A chill runs through me and I feel the hair rising on my arms.

The close proximity shouldn’t faze me this much.

When I swallow hard, his eyes slide down to my throat.

At this point, my breathing is out of control. I want to run. But my feet aren’t moving.

I hope and pray to God that he can’t see my body’s reaction to him. Because if he did, then there’s no way I’ll be able to face him again.

He curls my fingers around what feels like a water bottle.

My mouth falls open. Did he come here to bring me a bottle of water? He saw me choking and came to me. I am not sure what to make of this.

I am so confused that I keep staring at him. Hypnotized.

He studies me intently. When I don’t move, he touches me again.

My heart starts pounding in my chest when he uncaps the bottle and using my hand, he lifts it to my lips.

“Drink.”

Still holding my gaze, he pushes the tip of the bottle to my lips, commanding them to open. When I part them, satisfaction burns in his eyes. His hand that’s still covering mine, tips the bottle and cool liquid floods my mouth.

That’s when the dryness of my throat registers. He watches me as I down the water. I didn’t realize how parched I was until the first drop of water hit my tongue.

When the bottle is empty, he lowers it. “Good girl.”

I go still. Those two words sent heat racing to my lower body. The surge of desire within me shocks me. It also pisses me off.

I step to the side.

“Thank you for the water. You can go back to your date.”

“Jealous?”

Heat rises from my neck and over my face. I scoff even when my heartbeats are accelerating. “You are too full of yourself.”

He crosses the distance I created between us. “I was right.”

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