Page 12 of Sweet Possession
It led me to Remi.
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The next evening, I pull up to my angel’s apartment building. Stepping out of my vehicle, I grimace as I look up at the dull, run-down construction. I need to get her out of here. It’s not safe. A girl that looks like Remi should not be in a place like this without protection.
Striding with purpose to the doors, I pull them open, noticing that they are nearly falling off their hinges. Moving to the elevator bank, I spot a couple of guys in the corner that look to be dealing drugs. I scowl. The more I see of this place, the more I know my thoughts are warranted. This is no place for my angel.
Punching the button for her floor, I step right inside when the doors open, but not before shooting the men a disgusted look. They are probably not the kind of guys I should face off with, but, in this moment, I don’t care. The doors shut, enclosing me in the tin shaft that feels like it might break at any moment, and I’m surprised when I reach Remi’s floor only seconds later without interruption.
Stepping outside, I turn left and stride to my angel’s apartment. In a few steps I am standing outside and knocking on the flimsy door. I grit my teeth. I could kick it, and it would break. Anyone could get through with little force.
Footsteps sound, and I straighten, eager to see her. It’s only been around eighteen hours, but even that’s too long. The door is wrenched open, and I smile, my whole body relaxing when her beautiful, flawless face appears. She frowns, her brows bunching in confusion as her eyes land on me.
“Hey,” I break the silent stare off.
Her full lips part, and I don’t think I have ever wanted to kiss someone as much as I want to kiss her. “What are you doing here?” she blurts.
I smirk as I step forward. My thumb reaches up to caress her soft cheek. “I’m teaching you how to play poker. I thought I would come and pick you up, take you to my house, and we could get started.”
“What? No. I can’t go to your house. I don’t even know you.” Her voice rises, morphing into a whisper shriek.
“Yeah, you do. Now come on. Let’s go and make some money.” She shifts on her feet, and I can tell she’s nervous, but she doesn’t need to be. I won’t hurt her. I sigh. “Do you have a laptop?” She nods her head. “Good. Grab it, and let’s go.” I frown when she still doesn’t move, then sigh. “I won’t hurt you, Remi, I just want to help you.”
She snorts, fire shooting from those brown eyes. “Help me? If it wasn’t for you, I would still have a job.”
I pin her with a look. “That wasn’t a job. That was you doing something you didn’t want to do so you could afford to live.” Her mouth gapes, but I’m not finished. “You want to be an artist? I can help you with that by teaching you how to make money playing poker so you can do what you were meant to do. Paint. Now, I won’t ask again. Get dressed. Don’t make me come in there and do it for you.”
She huffs, rolls her eyes. “Fine. But you can wait there.”
I narrow my eyes on her. “If you’re not out in five minutes, I will kick this door in. It won’t take much for me to break it down. Trust me, a piece of wood will not stop me from getting to you.” She searches my face for any hint that I’m lying but only finds the truth. I may sound crazy, but I don’t care. I will break the damn thing if she doesn’t come back out. I know when she finds the truth in my words because she slams the door in my face.
I grin.
Guess I won that round too.
ChapterEight
REMI
I don’t know who this man thinks he is.
Thinking he can trample all over my life and take over, like he seems to be doing. I don’t know why it’s me that has caught his attention, but he doesn’t seem to want to go away, no matter what I say or do. I would like to say that he repulses me, but that would be a lie. Asher is hot. Even if he is crazy, I can’t deny that. I just don’t understand his fixation on me. It doesn’t make sense. He could have any woman he wanted, yet here he stands, outside the door of my shitty apartment, waiting for me.
Sighing, I pull on some jeans, a tank, and my trustee Converse and check myself in the mirror. I don’t look half bad, and it’s not something I should care about, but I find myself wanting to look good for him. Grabbing my mascara, I brush some on, making my eyes look bigger, and then put some gloss on my lips. He said that we’re going to his house. I should be scared and tell him no. But for some reason, I believe him when he says that he won’t hurt me. I could just be being naïve and stupid because of his pretty face, but I’m usually a good judge of character. I’ve dealt with enough bad people, and my gut tells me I’m in safe hands—no matter how irrational he has acted so far.
Padding out of my bedroom, I grab my keys off the counter and stride to the door, pulling it open in the next second. Asher leans against the wall, arms and legs crossed, looking like a Greek god. I swallow. Jesus, he is really hot. Too hot for someone like me. And then there’s the issue of… I shake the thought away. I’m not going to get so involved with this man that I need to tell him my secrets. I’m going to use this, and him, for what it is: making money. Asher owes me. It’s because of him that I lost my job.
“Come on then,” I huff like he is a major inconvenience. He is, but I find myself liking his attention, even if it is stifling at times.
His lips quirk into a sensual smirk as he pushes off the wall and closes the distance between us. I gasp when his mouth drops to my ear, his hot breath making me shiver. “Oh, you will be coming, as will I. But patience is a virtue, angel, and tonight’s about teaching you how to make money.”
He pulls back and winks as I stare at him in shock. Did he just insinuate that we will be having sex? I mean, I’m not a virgin, but I am also not experienced with men. My limited sexual experience was with my high school boyfriend, Jay, and the two times we fucked… well, let’s just say it was a disappointment. My stomach tightens as a pulse starts between my thighs. The thought of this man taking me to bed does things to me I don’t even want to dissect right now.
I straighten and remind myself that I can’t go down that road with him right now. I only have one goal, and I am going to achieve it no matter what. I snort, playing for nonchalance. “In your dreams, Asher. You won’t be going anywhere near me with your dick. This,” I jerk my finger between us, “is just aboutyoumaking it up to me for getting me fired.”
He grins arrogantly, my words not affecting him at all. “We’ll see about that, angel. Mark my words, my cock will definitely be going near you.”
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