Page 48 of Keep Me Safe

“I don’t trust them, especially after that asshole grabbed you like that.”

She looks up at me. Tilting her head, she moves a step closer.

“What if I wanted him to?”

Yeah, right.

“I know you didn’t. I know what you want, and it’s not him.” Her eyes widen at my statement.

“You have no idea what I want.”

“You sure about that?” I ask, and she eyes me.

On our way out, I stop by Keith and tell him Kira isn’t feeling well, so I’m taking her home. I can tell he knows there’s more to it, but he doesn’t push.

Kira doesn’t speak a word the entire drive. She’s pissed. I couldn’t let her go with them, not with the way that guy was touching her. It was for her safety. At least that’s what I tell myself, ignoring that seeing anyone else’s hands on her makes me want to bring her home and show her who she belongs to. But that’s just it. She isn’t mine, and she never will be.

When we pull into the driveway, she throws the door open before I can park the truck. She climbs out and heads to the front door, but I jump out and am on her heels before she can open it.

“Kira, stop.”

She spins around to face me, and her eyes harden.

“I’m sorry for stopping you from going with Jared, but I did it for your own good.”

She lets out a cynical laugh, “Honestly, Noah, I don’t care about that. I didn’t really want to go anyway.”

“Then why are you stomping off like a toddler?”

“Are you kidding me?” she starts, “You know what, it’s fine.”

I reach out and cup her jaw, making her look at me.

“What’s wrong?” She gazes up at me, anger in her eyes.

“Nothing, it’s stupid. It makes sense. She’s someone who you could andshouldbe with.”

What? Fuck, is she jealous? If only she knew that I was staring at her ass in that dress the entire night, not the woman that was sitting next to me.

“That’s what this is about?” I start. “Kira, I told her I wasn’t interested.”

“Why? She was beautiful, your age, and ready to climb you like a tree.”

I let out a sigh, my jaw tightening. She doesn’t get it.

“I don’t want her.”

chapter fourteen

kira

I don’t want her.

His words play over in my head as he looks at me. His eyes are heated, and his hand on my face makes it hard to think straight. He should be allowed to pick up women at bars. He’s a single man. I shouldn’t be jealous. But I’ll be damned if that statement didn’t just make my heart skip a beat.

I have no claim over him, but when I walked in and saw him with her, it felt like a betrayal. That’s the only reason I let Brennan touch me. I knew it would piss Noah off, and I was right.

He still hasn’t taken his hand off of me.

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