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I nodded; aware he was right. I didn’t know who he dealt with. I knewnothing. I dropped my head down as he lifted it back up to meet his eyes.

“Third, I don’t want you to need saving. I want you to live your life. But you look like that,” his eyes flickered down as he stepped back, admiring me, “and you are stupidly fucking interesting, intelligent—not to mention addictive. Who wouldn’t want that? I am territorial, and I’m aware it’s my flaw.”

I grabbed the back of his head then, kissing him roughly as he raised my legs around his waist, returning the kiss deeply.

“Baby, I mean it. Live with me,” he rested his forehead against mine, the intimate gesture made me grin, chewing my lip as I pretended to give it some thought. He gently tugged my hair as his lips found my throat, as he murmured into my ear, “Will you say yes already so I can show you my bedroom?”

I didn’t need any more convincing.

I nodded as he held his hand out toward the stairs.

“Straight up and any fucking room you wish.”

Yes, sir.

Part Two: Chapter Seven

GRETCHEN

It had been an uneventful couple of months.

I settled into living with Cal as easily as I had expected I would, and we became even closer.

He did little things like cooking my favorite meal when I had been at college late, reading whilst I worked, the distraction of the pages that moved between his fingers as he laid on our bed, his eyes filled with concentration, his bare torso demanding my attention as I groaned he needed to throw a shirt on.

We showered together; we slept in each other’s arms night after night. I knew little about relationships, this being my second one ever—but I knew that it shouldn’t feel this good for so long.

College was okay—I had kept up with the demand so far, but I had to admit I wasn’t seeing my friends as much.

I just didn’t feel we were on the same page anymore.

It wasn’t like I didn’t have time either—Cal was out of the house most evenings, and the less said about that, the better.

This evening was no different.

After binging on my favorite shows, I rinsed my coffee mug in the sink, turning it upside down in the drying rack as I trudged upstairs, tired from the day.

Cal had texted me goodnight earlier, telling me he wouldn’t be long, so it surprised me to hear a dull knock at the front door, as he had a key.

I frowned, wondering who would knock on the door at this hour.

I stood on the stairs as I tried not to breathe.

Cal had told me no one ever came to the house, and if they did to call him straight away.

I lifted my phone from my robe pocket and dialed his number.

He answered on the first ring.

“Someone is at the door,” I whispered, my voice low.

He cursed as he ordered me not to answer it. “Ask who it is,” he barked, the worry clear in his tone.

I hated that this was how we had to live, as I leaned against the solid door.

“Who is it?” I croaked out, my heart pounding so strongly in my ears I didn’t think I could have heard a response if there was one, which there wasn’t.

“Gretchen? What’s happening?” I heard someone from Cal’s background call out the name Leo, and I bristled as he snapped back to give him a minute.