Page 42 of Arranged Control

Maybe my good mood is why I let out a bloodcurdling scream when I step into my apartment and find him waiting for me in the kitchen.

My heart slams against my chest. It feels like my cheeks and feet go completely numb. Seamus’s eyebrows just raise in surprise as he sips liquor from a glass while I struggle to maintain my composure.

“You scared the crap out of me!” I throw my keys down on the table and slam the door shut behind me. “What are you doing here? And how did you get in?”

“This was a demonstration.” He finishes his drink and places it down. “Your security is bad. Your doorman wasn’t paying attention. I snuck past him and got on the elevator. I picked the locks on your door, which I’ll admit were actually halfway decent. They took me five whole minutes. That left me with some time to spare, so I poured myself this nice scotch. Thank you, by the way.”

I seethe as I gather myself. What is wrong with this man? We’ve been talking about a murderer coming to hurt me, and now he’s breaking into my apartment and giving me a heart attack like it’s some kind of PBS life lesson.

“I thought you were staying at your place tonight.”

“You did?” His eyebrows raise in mock surprise. “I don’t know why. We never discussed it.”

“This is another example of you not communicating with me.”

“Actually, this is an example of how fun and exciting life with me can be.” He finishes his drink and gets up with a sigh. He stretches languidly, but I’m too pissed to enjoy his physique.

“Right, I get it, you made your point.” I’m talking through my teeth. I’ve never been this frustrated in my life. “My security is bad. You can go now.”

“But your security is bad,” he says, pretending to sound innocent. “How could I possibly leave my darling wife behind in a death trap like this?”

“Seamus, I swear to God?—”

“Don’t bring him into this.”

“I just want ten minutes of peace without you in my own home. Is that too much to ask?”

“Right now, yes, it is.” He casually strolls over to me. The man glides like a predator. He’s graceful and strong. “I have to be here to protect you.”

“It’s always protecting with you.” I rub my forehead. “What if I’m not actually in danger? What if the killings have nothing to do with me?”

“Better safe than sorry.”

“I’m sorry right now.”

“That doesn’t count.” He stops next to me. I’m shaking slightly as he brushes a thumb across my cheek, moving a stray hair from my face. “Come on. We should get some rest.”

“You can get rest down here.”

“I can’t keep an eye on you from the couch.”

“I’m not sleeping on the couch in my own house, and there’s no way we’re sharing a bed. Not after this bizarre little display.”

“Sounds like we have a problem.” He smirks at me and puts a hand on my hip. I try not to tremble, but whenever he gets close, I’m always inches from losing myself. He’s like a weight on my chest, driving me down and down into stupid mindless lust. “Come to bed with me, Alina.”

I’m tempted. He doesn’t even have to try hard. Just touch me a little and throw out one tiny command.Come to bed with me. I want to do it because I know how he can make me feel. The things this man can do to my body.

But I have too much pride.

“You’re staying on your side.” I brush his hand away. It’s not easy. “And you’re keeping your hands to yourself.”

“Whatever my wife wants, she gets.”

“We both know that isn’t true.”

“It could be.” The way he stares at me is like a question.Just ask. I’ll give it to you. It’s a promise of something dark and good. It’s physical, and I want it more than I’ve wanted anything in my life.

But if I keep tangling myself with him, I’m going to start making more compromises until one day I’ll wake up and I won’t recognize anything about my life. It’ll all be him, and I don’t want that.