Page 57 of By His Vow

“I thought you were someone else,” I point out.

The air around us turns arctic, his eyes hardening and his fists curling at his sides.

He doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t need to.

I shiver, but it’s very different from the last one, which was full of desire.

“What’s wrong? Don’t like the concept that a woman doesn’t want you?”

“It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t want, Tatum. The only man you’re going to be touching over the coming year is me.”

“You wish,” I scoff.

“No, Tatum. I don’t wish. I know.”

Our eye contact holds, the air crackling between us, but neither of us says a word. Not until Lewis curses at the front.

“Sorry, sir. It looks like the city is in gridlock. Getting home is going to take a while.”

15

KINGSTON

Nothing but the sound of the car’s engine and our increased breathing can be heard as Tatum and I continue to stare at each other.

But while I sit straight up in my seat, she’s slumping lower and lower as her inebriation gets the better of her.

A borderline unbearable level of irritation continues to bubble just beneath my skin.

It’s bad enough that she was dancing with him, that when she told me she needed me, she meant she needed him. Hell, she probably would have said it to anyone who was paying her attention, especially if she knew I was watching.

It’s why she did it, a little voice pipes up in my head.

But it doesn’t matter.

The reason behind it is pointless. She fucking did it.

And what would she have done if I hadn’t stepped in?

Would she have gone home with him?

Day one and she’d have fucked everything up.

If that was her plan, why the hell did she waste our time yesterday by signing up to a year with me?

“Why?” I growl, unable to keep my curiosity to myself.

“Why what?” she slurs back, her eyes narrowing in annoyance.

She thinks I’m annoying? That’s fucking rich.

“You were going to fuck him.” It’s not a question. It doesn’t need to be.

She doesn’t respond. Her glare just hardens.

“Don’t ignore me, Tatum.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought that was a statement, not a question. If you’d like an answer, maybe consider rewording yourstatement.”