Page 55 of Menace in Vegas

19

ALLISON

Irefuse to sleep, knowing if I do, I’ll dream about Connor Byrns like he’s my white knight.

The problem is, like a broken record, I keep replaying what happened earlier.

The way his entire demeanor shifted in an instant.

The way he moved. It was fast, predatory, and lethal.

The way he grabbed that guy like he was nothing.

Worst of all is the way he looked at me after.

And once again, those words rolled out of his mouth, shaking me to my core.“You’re mine.”

My body tightens.

No. No. No. We arenotspiraling over that!

I flip onto my stomach, burying my face in my pillow. It doesn’t help.

He’s still in the same room, existing in his infuriatingly sexy, Connor-like way.

With a sigh, I peek over at him.

He’s lounging against the pillows, one arm behind his head, shirt off, eyes closed like he could sleep through the end of the world.

Like he didn’t just threaten to break a man’s bones.

I scowl. "How are you sleeping right now?" I hiss.

Without opening his eyes, his lips curve into a smirk. “I sleep better knowing my wife is safe."

I implode.

Launching a pillow at his chest, I scream,"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"

He cracks one eye open, his smirk deepening. "Why?" he drawls.

"Because we’renotmarried!"

He shrugs. "Yet."

He says it so casually like he just ordered bacon for breakfast.

I grab the pillow and bury my face in it, muffling a scream.

Eventually, I flip onto my side, facing away from him.

I’ll just ignore him.

I’ll fall asleep and pretend this day never happened.

He doesn’t bother me. Doesn’t get under my skin.

But then, the bed shifts.

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