Page 18 of His Juliet

I traced the edge of his jaw, his stubble rough against my fingertips. “I’m not an angel.” My words came out in a whispered confession.

“You are.” He pulled me closer, urging my legs to wrap around his waist. “And I’m the devil, so I would know.”

Our lips were a hairsbreadth apart, the very air around us electric. My heart pounded with excitement. He was going to kiss me, and I wanted him to.

And then Romeo’s phone went off.

“Shit,” he muttered. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and something dark crossed his face as he read whatever was on his screen. He typed out a quick response and looked back at me. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”

My heart sank, and I swallowed down my disappointment. He actually seemed sorry.

“That’s okay,” I said.

“It’s fucking not,” he muttered before holding out his phone to me. “Put in your number.”

I took the phone but didn’t type anything in. “Why?”

“Because I want to be able to get in touch.”

I huffed and gave his chest a little nudge, not that he moved. “Butwhy?” I wanted to know what this was between us. Why had he come today? What did he want from me?

He gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Do what you’re told.”

I scowled at his infuriatingly high-handed command, but for some reason, his words sent a burst of arousal through me.

I entered my phone number.

“Good girl.” He took his phone back. “How are you getting home?”

“I’m walking.”

His jaw clenched. “It’s dark outside.”

“I have walked at night before,” I teased. But Romeo’s expression darkened further.

“Get your jacket. I’m walking you home.”

“What? No, that’s not…”

“No arguing.”

His unwavering gaze met my scowl.

“I generally don’t let strangers know where I live.”

“That’s very smart. Good thing I’m not a stranger.” When I didn’t budge, he sighed. “Juliet, I could find your address in seconds if I wanted to. I’m not going to do anything to hurt you. But what I’m not about to do is let you walk home alone in a shitty part of the city in the dark.”

Wait, what? How could he find my address? Although, I guessed anyone with enough money could find things out online.

“This is not a shitty part of the city.” I crossed my arms. “Where doyoulive then?”

“Upper West Side.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do. Fine, you can walk me home. But just know, when they make a true crime podcast about my murder, this is when all the listeners will be shouting that I’m an idiot.”

He snorted. “You’ve got an active imagination there, sweetheart.” Then his hands were on my hips again as he helped me down off the desk, sliding my body slowly against his. I stayed there for a moment, pressed against him and breathing in his scent, before reluctantly pulling back.

I couldn’t explain my behavior, my willingness to let Romeo into my life, except that I’d been around a lot of abusive men, and Romeo didn’t remind me of them. There was an edge of danger to him… maybe more than just an edge, if I was honest, but no cruelty that I could sense.

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