His gaze sharpened. His tone dropped further. “Amelia.”
She stiffened.
He stepped closer, eyes darkening. “Should I pull the mall’s security footage to see what really happened? Or do you want to tell me now?”
Her body froze. Her pulse stuttered. Even though Lucas had always leaned toward her side, she knew she couldn’t risk him watching the playback of her behavior.
“I-I didn’t… I mean…” She faltered, then dropped her gaze with a pout. “I just got worried, that’s all. You told her not to meet that man, and she still did. I thought you’d be angry again. I was just trying to warn her... That’s all.”
Lucas’s expression turned colder with every word. “You don’t get to ‘warn’ her. You don’t get to meddle in my relationship.”
His voice was sharp, final. “Whatever happens between me and Emily is none of your damn business. Don’t get involved again. Understood?”
She flinched. Under his glare, she gave a meek nod.
Without another word, Lucas turned on his heel and stormed out of the mall.
***
“Bye,” Emily waved at Jeremy as she stepped out of his car.
Jeremy returned a quick salute, popped a candy in his mouth, and turned up his music before pulling away.
Emily turned back toward Lucas’s house and let herself inside.
Upstairs, Lucas stood by the railing, watching it all.
From her arriving with Jeremy to her walking in like nothing happened. His blood was boiling. By the time Emily stepped inside and headed toward the bedroom, he was already waiting by the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, eyes cold.
“I told you not to meet Jeremy,” he said, his voice low and hard. “Have you completely stopped listening to me? Or do my words mean nothing to you anymore?”
Emily didn’t even flinch. She walked right past him, heading to the closet to grab a change of clothes.
That just pissed him off even more.
Not only had she ignored his warning about Jeremy, she’d also come home hours late after that public fight with Amelia—and acted like he didn’t even exist. She didn’t text, didn’t call, didn’t bother explaining anything.
And now, she was acting like nothing happened.
Lucas’s jaw ticked. Every inch of him burned with jealousy and frustration.
Emily pulled out a night suit from the closet, turned, and started toward the bathroom. Just as her fingers wrapped around the doorknob, she felt his hand grip her wrist.
The next second, she was spun around and shoved onto the bed.
Before she could react, Lucas yanked her back and flipped her around, pushing her onto the bed. Her clothes fell from her hands as her back hit the mattress with a soft thud.
He climbed over her, dark desire burning in his eyes. With a rough, possessive grip, he seized both her wrists and pinned them above her head, his weight pressing her down. His face dipped low, lips crashing onto hers with fierce hunger. A kiss full of frustration, longing, and raw possessiveness.
Emily gasped, chest tightening from the sudden intensity. Her body tensed beneath him, lips trembling as she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t relent. His kiss was demanding, angry.
“Mmhph…” she tried to protest, to push him off, but his hand clenched her jaw, holding her captive, forcing her to meet his fierce gaze, to feel the storm inside him. Then his lips trailed down her neck, teeth sinking into her skin with a harsh bite that sent shivers racing through her.
“Let go of me, Lucas,” she breathed, struggling beneath him, voice ragged with need and frustration.
‘Why is he acting like this over Jeremy? Didn’t he want to break up with me? So why the hell is he acting like this now?’
She shifted beneath him, desperate to break free, but he only pressed harder, locking her in place, claiming her completely. His hand moved lower, fumbling roughly with buttons, pushing aside her bra, while his mouth left scorching marks on her throat, each bite demanding more.