Page 47 of Quinlan

Rome is scary and demanding. I’ve gotten lost in him more than once during our short time together. Yet he’s far from being the bad guy. A truly bad guy wouldn’t have wanted to sit here, of all places. Where my half-brother works. Where I could be saved.

He was being a gentleman.

So what if Rome is intense? If he’s danger and secrecy wrapped into one person?

I’m twenty-three. I’m entitled to fuck up. To cry over a guy. To let him touch me.

“It’s fine, Rex. I’m fine. I—” I get up from Rome’s lap.

More like, I forcefully pry his hand from my stomach and push myself up right before Rome locks my wrist in his grip. At least I’m standing on my own two feet.

“You.” I spin to Rome, angling my face up since he’s already standing. “You’re nice. But make no mistake, you don’t own me.” Quickly, I meet Rex’s glare. “Neither do you.”

Had Rex not been so short-tempered, I might’ve been more lenient with him. More graceful. Except he has been quick to react, and I’ve had it. I might even ghost him for a week just to get my point across. Show him how mad I am.

“Quinlan.” A vein throbs in Rex’s forehead, his voice hushed. He’s avoiding a scene. Either that, or he can tell I’m on the edge. “Please. Let’s go home. Just the two of us. We’ll discuss this at your place.”

“No.”

Rome’s hand comes to rest on my shoulder. I shrug him off and storm outside where the embarrassment wouldn’t sear my skin as badly.

I need air. I need to be alone.

And I’m not. Rome’s presence at my back is electrifying.

“I’m not sorry.” He catches my wrist once we’re out in the street. “But I can take you home. You’re upset because of me. It’s the least I can do.”

Please do. “No.”

“Yes, I would.” He lowers his head, dark blue eyes posing a threat. A million of them.

My heart hammers in my chest. My nipples are pulled tight. Rome’s nearness, after the week I had, is intoxicating.

His hand cups my cheek. The other one’s on my hips, yanking me toward him.

“No.”

“Maybe I haven’t made myself clear.” Rome is right there, in my face. “I will walk you home. And you’ll let me. Just like you’ll let me kiss you.”

His mouth crashes into mine. His lips are hot. His kiss is angry.

He’s sweeping me in his whirlwind. Kissing me where Rex can see. Where the world can see.

His aggressive assault on my lips is as powerful as everything else about him is. His teeth are as violent as the energy vibrating from him. He sinks them into my bottom lip. Groaning. Soothing my sore flesh with his tongue. Gripping my cheek harder.

Fuck. He sucks the air out of my lungs. Loops an arm around me and yanks me to his front. Pressing his hardness to my belly.

My hands fly up to his arms, holding on to him for dear fucking life. I’m dizzy with how much I want him. After the last few days, I’ve been needingthis.

“Quinlan,” he grunts. His lips trail lazily along my jaw. “You’ll let me walk you. Are we clear?”

“I’m willing to give you my number. That’s as far as I’m willing to go.”

“What is that?” My predator stares at me. One of his eyebrows is cocked. “Talking back?”

My first instinct is to sayno. That I consent to anything and everything he wants to do to me. That I’m eager to hand over to him the thing I haven’t wanted to give anyone else. My virginity.

But I didn’t just make a scene and force Rex to stay where he is to backtrack a minute later.

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