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I begin my march across the room towards the only available exit, but Anthony’s too quick. As I open the door, he reaches his hand above my head and slams it shut. “Don’t you dare run away.”

His body crowds the right side of mine, but I can’t look at him. I stare ahead, out of the glass panes towards the car park, focusing on breathing out of my nostrils.

“I made that because I wanted to do something for you,” Anthony says, his voice steady. “You need something for the waiting area and I’m good with my hands. It’s not a big deal.”

I turn to face him, my chin tilted up. “How many people have you made pieces for?”

Anthony’s jaw tics. “You’re the test run. I haven’t been crafting for that long and needed the practice.”

I fold my arms and they brush against his torso. “Really? So, this has nothing to do with your feelings towards me? Nothing to do with you breaking the rules?”

Anthony’s mouth curls into a lazy smile, a sneer even, as he towers above me. “Get over yourself and your stupid fucking rules.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Get out of my studio.”

He leans down, so our mouths are inches apart. “What are you so afraid of?”

My breath catches at his words. I try to tear my eyes away from his, the way his search mine for answers. But I’m glued to the spot.

Hazel’s words about me liking Anthony force their way into my mind. Mocking me. Shouting at me. Doing their best to take over all sense of logic and force me to succumb to them. To succumb to the idea that I do in fact have feelings for this man. So much so it terrifies me.

I see the moment Anthony recognises something in my panicked expression. He reaches back and curls his hand into the hair at the nape of my neck, tugging downwards so my chin tilts up. The sensation borders on the edge of pleasure and pain and a gasp escapes my lips.

“I hate you,” I insist.

“Liar.” His hand closes around my throat in a vice-like grip as his mouth devours me, his tongue plunging into my soul as if to claim it. To claimme.

There’s nothing gentle about the way we attack each other. Teeth and nails and shoves and pulls while we try to close the distance between us. His taste is intoxicating, as if every kiss is breathing new life into me.

Anthony lifts me, his hands curving underneath me and my legs lock around his waist. With purpose, he strides out of the studio and into the frigid night air. We reach his truck and I hear the groan of the tray-door as he lowers it, our kiss never breaking. It’s thrilling how Anthony moves my body with such ease, how he could throw me around if he wanted to.

He lowers me onto something comfortable.

“You put a mattress in your truck,” I murmur against his lips. “Like a serial killer.”

“I planned on taking you stargazing tonight, but you had to ruin everything, as usual.” Anthony manoeuvres me so I’m lying on the makeshift bed, complete with comfortable bedding and pillows. “I wanted to fuck you in a field under the stars so nobody would hear you scream, but this’ll have to do.”

A thrill runs through my veins as he lowers his body on top of mine, his breathing ragged as he encases my head with his forearms. The idea that I drive him as crazy as he drives me turns me on even more.

He kisses me again, his mouth prying mine open hungrily. His hardness presses against me and I grind up against him, desperate for friction to ease some of my frustration. We tear each other’s clothes off with ease and my skin breaks out in goosebumps at the exposure to the winter air.

The burn of the cold is momentary. Every touch from Anthony sends heat racing through me like wildfire. He pauses only for a beat to put on a condom, and then slides into me, the two of us groaning into the night air.

Who knows how many people in the vicinity hear my screams.

I don’t care.

31

KALI

“You were goingto take me stargazing?”

“Yep.” Anthony grazes my arm under the warmth of the thick blanket, the stars doing their best to twinkle against the haze of the city lights. “This isn’t a bad back-up plan though. Think your neighbours minded?”

He chuckles to himself and plants a kiss on my forehead, staring up at the sky as my gaze bores into the side of his face. I relish the banter between us. The sex is incredible. But lying up against his warm, naked flesh,snuggling, not having anywhere to be … this is what fills me the most.

A wave of unfamiliar emotion washes over me, and I take in an audible breath, loud enough for Anthony to turn his attention towards me. “Cold?”