Or maybe, it’s something else.
I poke him in the chest. “Leave.”
A small smirk quirks at the corner of his mouth.
“You are not in charge of me here. This is my house. Your name is not on the mortgage.”
That prods his smirk into a small smile. “Neither is yours. Should we call Samantha and ask what she thinks?”
Fire pours through me, and I poke him harder, using my entire body to be sure he feels it. “I am an adult. Not you nor my mother has a say in what I do, where I go, and who I do it with.”
Even though I know I sound like a sullen teenager, I can’t believe Trent has the gall to act this way.
I jab his chest again for good measure.
“You’ve got two choices, Harper. Pack a bag, or I’ll pack it for you.”
My lips part to argue, but he leans in just enough to make my nerves crackle, and I look at his mouth.
“And if I do it, I’m throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you out of here. Which do you prefer?” He’s not joking. I can see it in his dark eyes…but there’s a wicked gleam, too. Does he want me to keep fighting with him?
Is he getting off on it?
“Fine.”
That hint of a smile is back when I give in. Yup. He’s testing me. Pushing back against my brattiness. Against my independence. But it prods another part of me. A darker part that begs to give up control to someone who knows what to do with me.
I turn and stomp up the stairs. Trent follows me into my bedroom, calmly, like he’s casing the place. And if I didn’t know any better, he’s being nosy, too.
But more than anything, I can feel how tense he is, coiled and watching.
“Are you really going to force me?”
“If it keeps you breathing? Yeah, Harper. I’ll tie you to that bed and carry you out gagged and pissed off. But I’d rather not.” He steps close again. This time, I back into the dresser before I register that I’m doing it. Trent doesn’t let it deter him.
Something about that gagged part has my heart beating faster.
But he merely slides my hair off my shoulder and drops his mouth to my ear. His breath is hot enough to make me shiver.
“So don’t make me. Please.” He says it so softly, with genuine care and consideration.
It has my pulse racketing up so high that I swear he can hear it. It hits me harder than the threat did.
I shiver, hating how much I like it. Especially since his fingers brush my shoulder. I want more of his touch, but he backs away and gives me room to pack my bags.
So, I do it.
“How long am I going to be gone, and where are you taking me?”
“A while, and somewhere safe.”
I shove clothes in my travel case, only worrying about my work clothes and keeping them from wrinkling. Everything else can just be crammed into it.
“I thought this place was safe. Especially with how Oliver just upgraded the system.” I send him a pointed look and dump two pairs of shoes in my bag.
Pausing with my hands on my hips, I glare at Trent. He’s looking out my bedroom window, watching the street, checking the other houses?
“Still not safe enough.”