Page 32 of His to Possess

“Why not?” I cut in, and Philip turns that ice blue glare at me.

“Because.”

I snort in disbelief. “Seriously? That’s your answer?”

He closes his eyes, frustration written in every line on his face. “Lilah. It’s not a good place for you.”

Something about his flat refusal has my temper flaring. “I thought we discussed this,” I say tightly. “Didn’t you say you were going to work on being less overbearing?”

Nate snorts loudly, turning the sound to a cough when Philip tosses a glare his way. “Less overbearing doesn’t mean letting you into a sex club,” Philip says tightly. “Jesus, Lilah.”

“Wemetin a sex club,” I point out, and he winces. I glance over at Harper and Nate, both of whom are watching us avidly, like spectators at a tennis match. “I take it Harper is allowed at Club Wyld?”

“Of course,” she says easily, meeting my gaze. “And you’re allowed, too, whatever Grumpy Pants McGee might say.”

“Damn it, Harper,” Philip barks out, and now it’s Nate’s turn to make a growly warning noise.

“Easy, man,” he mutters.

“How about you control your woman?” Philip snaps. “I don’t need her putting these ideas in Lilah’s head.”

I think Nate might be contemplating punching him, but Harper merely laughs. “Oh, give me a break. She’s a grown ass adult, Philip. If she wants to go sit in the front room of the club—where nothing even happens, by the way—and eat some dinner, that’s her right.”

I decide right then that Harper Cain is my new favorite person. Philip, apparently, doesn’t share my opinion. He’s still glaring at her, impervious to the way Nate is glaring athim.

I study the side of Philip’s angry face, my stomach dropping. He doesn’t want me at his club because he still sees me as a child he needs to protect. As his responsibility. He doesn’t want me in his club and he doesn’t want me to be a real part of his life.

I lower my eyes, pain and disappointment lancing through me. When he asked me to dinner tonight, I thought maybe we had turned a corner. But no. He was merely trying to assuage his guilt for saying an asshole thing. It wasn’t about connecting with me at all.

“Why don’t you just take me home,” I mutter, gaze locked on the floor. I feel embarrassed and hurt, like the annoying kid the adults don’t want around. “Then you can go to your meeting.”

“Fuck,” Philip mutters. “Give us a minute.” Nate’s glare must darken considerably because Philip adds a terse, “please.”

“Don’t screw this up, Philip,” I hear Harper hiss before their feet move away.

“Hey.” When I don’t look up, Philip bends his knees so he’s eye level. “Lilah.”

“It’s fine,” I tell him, trying to ignore how hot my eyes feel. “I know this meeting is important.”

“Hey.” He reaches out to cup my chin, making me look at him. “I’m not taking you home,” he says firmly. “I wanted you to have a nice time tonight.”

“Well, feeling like a silly child isn’t my definition of nice.”

He stares at me. “You still think I see you as a child?” he finally asks, incredulous. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

I shrug. “You’re clearly still trying to protect me.”

“Yes, I am,” he says flatly. “And don’t expect that to change anytime soon.”

I blow out a breath. “Is it settled then? Can I just get out of here?” I look down at my pretty dress and my stomach twists some more. So much for getting all primped and pampered.

“Damn it, will you look at me?”

Temper rising, I glare up at him only for the intensity in his gaze to halt my breath. “I don’t want you at the club because it will be too tempting,” he says.

“Tempting?”

He blows out a long breath, looking like he’s struggling to control himself. “Yes. Tempting.” He shakes his head, looking suddenly boyish. Confused. “I’m not supposed to want you like this, Lilah.”