Page 51 of Because of Her

Toppling over as I get myself upright, I reach out to grab Noah’s arm to steady myself. But it’s not Noah’s arm. Noah had a shirt on and this arm is bare. And I’ve never reallyfeltNoah’s arm before, but I don’t think I expected it to be so firm.

I flinch my hand back when I worry I’m feeling up my cousin’s arm, but it’s not until I hear a low grunt that I register it’s not my cousin at all.

“Rogue, are you okay?” Callum’s grouchy voice somehow feels like honey in my ears. Soft and sweet and warm.

Although I had removed my hand from his arm, Callum’s now holding the small of my back. He stepped somehow between me and Noah and is staring down at my cousin. I’d be scared if that look was directed at me.

“She’s all good, mate.” Noah reaches a hand out towards me. My door is now open and I can hear my couch calling my name. My feet hurt and I just want to sit down.

I step toward Noah and my apartment, but Callum moves in front of me to block my path.

“I’m Noah—” my cousin starts, but Callum interrupts, apparently not caring who the man in front of my apartment is.

“I don’t care, it’s time for you to leave. I’ll take it from here.”

“I’m not anit,” I protest, but I also melt into the arm Callum holds behind his back to me.

The man is acting like a jealous, overprotective boyfriend. It’s frustrating and annoying but, I think I kind of like it, even though I definitely shouldn’t.

“What are you doing?” Callumgrunts.

“Uh, this is Noah,” I say, not sure if he was talking to me or Noah, “and Noah this is Callum. My neighbour.”

“He can go home now,” Callum says as he turns to face me.

His eyes are dark, but he stares into mine like he sees my soul.

“No,” I start to protest, feeling the need to explain the situation.

But instead of helping me, Noah backs down.

“Actually that’s a great idea,” he rebuts, with a sly smile.

Callum’s eyes don’t leave mine, so he doesn’t see Noah mime that he’ll call me. Or, thankfully, the dry humping gestures he makes as he walks backwards down the hall.

Static electricity fills the air as tension builds between us. The line between Callum’s brows disappears once we hear the heavy door to the stairwell slam shut. I’m not sure who he thinks he is getting possessive, and I don’t know how to handle the way it makes my core throb.

Callum’s chest is heaving underneath his signature black t-shirt, and his hair is messier than usual. It takes all the willpower I have not to glance down at his grey sweats. I will not give in. I’m infuriated, and no amount of attractive possessiveness or sexy clothing will change that.

“What the fuck was that?” I demand taking a step closer.

Cal takes a step back into his doorway. His arms are still folded, but he leans to the side, resting a shoulder on the open door. My eyes linger on the way his shirt stretches against his muscles, taking in the intricate dragon tattoo. It’s so familiar, but I still can’t place it.

I step forward again, “Well?”

His gaze drops to the floor, body vibrating.

“I don’t know,” he admits.

I can’t hold on to the physical aspects of my anger—the stomping, the scowl, the crossed arms—when he isn’t matching the mood. I relax my shoulders and tuck my hands into the pockets of my jacket instead.

“Noah is my cousin.”

Callum’s eyes dart up to mine, and back down to the floor before he rakes them up my body. I feel his gaze lingering all over me.

“So what was it?” I ask again. I’m still angry, but the energy now is weird.

“I don’t know,” he repeats. His mouth opens and shuts a few times, like he wants to say something but doesn’t have the words.

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