“Close the door,” Silas snaps.
He grits his teeth and runs a hand through his hair as he walks around the desk. The anger in his eyes has me taking a step back, until I’m backed against the door.
“Explain to me why the fuck Ryan just asked to be transferred to the Ψ division.”
He walks right up to me and rests his forearm against the door, caging me in. Silas leans into me and looks into my eyes, a mere inch separating his body from mine. The scent of his cologne washes over me, the familiar smell sending a rush of desire through me. My heart starts to race, memories of the two of us dancing through my mind.
“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly.
Silas smiles humorlessly and lifts his free hand to my face, cupping my cheek tenderly despite the fury in his eyes.
“You don’t know, huh?” He murmurs. His thumb brushes over my lip, and my breathing accelerates. I can’t think straight when he’s this close. “He told me you two had an argument, and he wants a chance to make it up to you. Ryan all but begged me to let him join the Ψ division. He doesn’t seem to be under the impression that you two are over.”
Silas’s fingers slowly trail from my cheek to my ear before he tangles them through my hair. He tightens his grip and tilts my face toward his, making my body arch toward him until my breasts brush against his chest. “You saw the text I sent him,” I remind him. “I broke up with him before you took me home. I swear.” There isn’t just anger in his eyes, there’s pain, too. I can deal with his anger, but I can’t stand the thought of hurting him. It’s irrational, and it’s crazy, but my heart aches when he looks at me that way.
Silas takes a step toward me, pressing his body against mine so I’m fully trapped between him and the door behind me. “I did see that text, but I have no idea what you’ve said to him since.”
I look into his eyes, trying to decipher his expression. “Why do you care?” I ask, my voice soft. “Even if I get back together with Ryan, why do you care?”
“You won’t.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What makes you so sure? He and I have history together.”
“History,” he repeats mockingly, his tone low and angry. “You want to know why I’m so sure, baby?”
I nod against better judgement, and Silas smiles. He untangles his hand from my hair and smirks as his fingers trail over my neck, down to my collarbone, until he’s brushing over my nipples. I bite down on my lip, resisting the urge to arch my back in a silent plea for more. “It’s because he can’t fuck you like I can. After being with me, you won’t go back to him.” I feel him harden against me, and my pussy clenches at the memory of him inside me. “Your body won’t let you. You’re standing here in my office, your pussy soaking wet for me when I’ve barely even touched you. You pretend you want to forget about that night, but you can’t. It replays in your mind, over and over again, just like it does in mine. That’s why you won’t go back to him. The question is… have you made that clear to him?”
I laugh nervously and try my hardest to control my breathing. He’s right. I haven’t been able to look at him without wanting him, and I’m not even remotely thinking of getting back with Ryan. Even worse, I’m not even heartbroken when I should be. Silas consumes all of my thoughts, making the pain fade away. “You’re so full of yourself. I haven’t thought about you once since that night, and no, Silas, I’mnotwet for you. If anything, I’m just embarrassed on your behalf.”
He chuckles, some of his earlier anger replaced by lust. He leans into me, his lips brushing over my ear. “Your nipples are so hard, I can feel them straight through your bra,” he whispers. “The next time you want to pretend you don’t want me, make sure your body isn’t betraying you.”
He pulls away, looking far too pleased with himself, and I cross my arms, hiding my goddamned traitorous nipples from him. Silas smiles at me, and there’s something about that smile that hits me right in the chest. His earlier worries seem gone, and I shouldn’t care about that, but I do. Something about our interaction just now set him at ease, and I really shouldn’t encourage this, but I’m just relieved he’s no longer angry.
“Come on,” he says. “You’re attending a meeting with me. After that, I’ll brief you on your first project.”
He smirks as he walks back to his desk to grab his briefcase, and I stare at his back. Silas Sinclair… he’ll be the death of me, and I’m scared I’ll go willingly.
ChapterThirty-Seven
Alanna
I frown when I notice the pile of clothes at the entrance of my building. This… this is allmine. Why the hell are my clothes on the street? I bend down to pick up as much as I can, only to freeze in shock when my landlord walks out of the building carrying a box filled with my belongings. “Mr. Smith?” I ask, confused. “What is going on?”
He smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry, kiddo. I’m going to have to evict you.”
“What?” I stare at him, struggling to comprehend what he’s telling me. “Why? I’ve never missed a rent payment. You haven’t even given me any notice or warnings.”
He shrugs and drops the box he’s holding to the floor, sending some of my books flying out of it. “You’re subletting, kid. I don’t have to give you shit. I want you and your things out of here.Now.”
I start to tremble and tears gather in my eyes. It took me weeks to find this place, and it’ll be impossible to find something this cheap quickly. Even if I do, it might not be safe, and I can’t afford anything more expensive until I get my first paycheck. “Where am I supposed to go?”
I see a hint of sympathy in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can utter another word. “Not my problem,” he says, shrugging. “I’ve already had the locks changed, so don’t bother trying to get into the studio.” I watch as he walks back into the building, the door slamming closed behind him.
I sink down to the floor, surrounded by every single thing I’ve ever owned, all of it scattered over the floor. A hint of something I can’t quite place flickers through my mind, filling me with pure agony. Memories of a hall filled with bunk beds and dim lights, a man’s voice calling my name… just as I think the memory will solidify, it’s gone, leaving me feeling empty.
I have nowhere to go, no one to turn to. There are a few people I know from college, but I’m not close enough to anyone to ask for help. The only person I’ve ever dared to rely on was Ryan, but I can’t call him. I won’t.
I gather my things together as I try to think of a solution. There’s one place I can go to right now. If nothing else, that’ll give me a few hours to figure out what my options are. I bite down on my lip as I open up the ridesharing app on my phone and order a taxi to Sinclair Security.