Sophie opens the door and pushes in, not waiting for the dolt following her. Again she turns and gives him a wave, but he’s jogging toward her.
A low growl issues from my throat, like I’m a doberman pinscher guarding a bone.
She stops, fully faces him. Says something. He–fuck no–tries to kiss her.
I’m out of the car, walking swiftly to them without thinking. “Hands off,” I growl as Sophie twists away from her date, trying to avert her lips from his mouth.
“What? Who the fuck are you?” the guy demands.
“Oh no.” Sophie’s eyes round as she sees me coming. I know what she sees. A guy about to commit murder with his bare hands. I should really dial it back.
Right now.
Before I permanently fuck things up between us.
“Who is this guy?” her date demands.
“I’m the guy telling you to leave now.” I arrive at the bottom of the steps and force myself to stay there. To not put my hands on him yet. He gets one chance. “I’m only gonna tell you once,” I say in a low voice. “After that, you’re gonna be bleeding all over this sidewalk.”
“This is thesomeone newI told you about. So yeah, you should go.” Sophie’s voice sounds strangled.
I don’t take my gaze from thestronzoon the step with her. Even though I’m giving him room to walk down the stairs and leave here unscathed, I make sure he feels my threatening glare right down to his bones.
He moves. Skitters down the steps like a fucking cockroach, mumbling something to Sophie that I can’t hear above the roaring in my ears.
I’m only slightly mollified by her words.This is the someone new I told you about.
I was part of the conversation, at least.
I wait until the guy’s in his car and driving away before I stalk up the stairs.
Sophie folds her arms across her chest. “What are you doing here? You can’t just show up at my place and bark at the men who take me out.”
I reach past her and turn the handle then push the door open. “You said you were out with friends.”
“You can’t check up on me. I don’t owe you anything.” Her words are bold, but she backs into her place as I advance.
“You don’t owe me the truth? That you’re seeing someone else?”
I need my hands on her. I need my hands on her so badly. I settle them lightly on her waist, continuing to walk her backward, toward her bedroom.
“O-okay, maybe I owed you that. I’m sorry. I ended things with him tonight–not because of you,” she adds.
“Not because of me?” I slide one hand up the back of her shirt, needing to feel her skin. I’m gratified to note that she’s not wearing a sexy short skirt like she wore for me. She’s in jeans and a fitted shirt. Nothing sexy. No apparent effort put in.
“It was just a date,” she says. “I made it before we—before I met you. And I just wanted to tell him in person I couldn’t see him anymore. That’s all. I haven’t slept with—I mean been with anyone since we...”
Relief sweeps over me. No, more than relief—triumph. She answered as if she already considers herself mine. The pounding in my chest slows, but I press my advantage. “Did you kiss him?”
“No—I mean yes. Just a peck when he picked me up.”
I keep my expression serious. “No tongue?”
She shakes her head.
I get her into the bedroom and pull her shirt off over her head.
“Wh-what are you doing?”