Page 97 of Beautifully Wounded

The thought makes it hard to swallow the carrot, and before I know it, I’m quickly slipping off his lap, scooping up the plate of grilled veggies, and dashing off to hide in his room.

As I go to close the door behind me and shut the courtyard out, a large hand slaps against the timber, pushing it open to reveal Ringo, his expression now a glare as he once again follows me in.

22

The last twenty-four hours have been a lot, and I probably shouldn’t be behaving the way I am after what Abbey admitted to last night, but fuck if I can’t ignore the way she looks at me.

She doesn’t even fucking realise the way her eyes roam over me like I’m something she wants to taste, and I’ll be fucked if I can ignore that.

“What are you doing?” she squeaks as I lock the door behind me once again, hiding us away from the rest of my club.

They’ll just think we’ve come in here to fuck, and as much as I’d like that, a fucking feeling I haven’t had in years, it’s not the reason I followed her in.

“What areyoudoing?” I ask her instead of answering her question, watching how the plate trembles a little in her hands as she stares up at me.

“I…” She glances around, frowning. “I wanted to eat alone.”

Ouch.

“Too fucking bad. I don’t much feel like leaving you alone.”

She huffs, rolling her eyes, and I can’t fucking hide my smirk.

These moments, with the eye rolling and the huffing or scoffing, feel like the real girl hiding behind the wall of steel she’s erected.

“Why do you feel like being alone? I thought we were having a nice meal together.”

She frowns at my words, her gaze dropping to the plate in her hand.

“I’m just not used to being around people.”

“Bullshit,” I snap, gaining her glare, which just makes me smirk again. “While I’m sure you don’t like being around many people, that’s not the reason you ran off.”

She just continues to glare, so I take a step forward, which seems to snap her to attention, her spine stiffening before she takes a step back.

“What’s the real reason, Angel?” I close the distance before she can get much further, taking the plate in my hands and setting it aside on the table. “What did I say to make you run?”

“N-nothing,” she stutters, and fuck, there’s that flush again, and I watch as her lips part and her chest rises and falls a little faster.

Fuck, I wish she’d take my damn hoodie off so I can see her.

“Was it what I said after I fed you the zucchini and you moaned?” I ask before repeating what I’d said. “Fuck, that’s hot.”

Her entire face turns red now as she shakes her head. “N-no.”

I smirk. She’s right. That’s not what made her flee.

“Then what was it?”

She shakes her head,refusing to tell me, so I use my dominance to force it out of her.

“Tell me, Angel. Now.”

“I don’t understand why I do as you demand.” She rushes out before her face contorts in annoyance. “Dammit. I did it again.” She stomps her foot. “Why do I do that?”

Now we’re getting somewhere.

I didn’t know she was aware she was doing it, but I don’t hate that she’s picked up on it.

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