Page 55 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3
"I'm not going with you‚" I added firmly.My chest was heaving‚ my voice shaking but steady enough to cut through."Liam is my date‚ and I'm not leaving him dateless because you think you can just show up and take over my life whenever you feel like it."
Ryan's jaw tightened even more‚ his eyes locked on mine‚ but before he could argue‚ Liam's voice came in‚ surprisingly soft."It's okay‚ Anna.I'll find another partner.You can go with Prince Ryan."
"What?"I blinked at him‚ caught off guard.My stomach twisted.
Liam didn't explain further.He just gave me one last look‚ then turned‚ slipped back into the car with Caleb‚ and a still-silent Sasha followed without another word.The car pulled away‚ leaving me standing there with Ryan‚ my entire body shaking with fury.
"Unbelievable‚" I hissed‚ finally wrenching myself free from his hold."You really think you can just walk in and own me like this?You can go to hell‚ Ryan.I mean it.Go back to Sophie‚ or whoever the hell she is‚ because I'm so done with you.I'm so done."
I was still talking‚ words tumbling out sharp and angry‚ when suddenly Ryan's hands were on me again.Before I could fight back‚ he pulled me hard against him and slammed his lips onto mine.
My eyes went wide.My body froze.I wasn't a fan of PDA‚ not even close‚ and yet here he was‚ kissing me so deeply in the open‚ in front of anyone who could've been watching.His mouth moved against mine with a kind of desperate hunger that felt as if he had been starving for me.
"God‚ Anna‚" he groaned against my lips‚ his voice breaking with raw emotion."I fucking miss you so much."
CHAPTER 153
Anna's POV
"Ryan‚ stop it!Stop it‚ Ryan!"I shoved at his chest‚ my hands pressing hard‚ but he only pulled me closer‚ his grip like iron‚ holding me as if letting go wasn't an option.
"I miss you so much‚ my love‚" he whispered quickly‚ almost desperately‚ his lips brushing over my cheek‚ trailing frantic kisses down my face‚ over my neck‚ like if he kissed me enough I'd forget‚ like all the hurt would just vanish.
"Don't‚ Ryan!Stop it‚ I mean it‚ get off me!"My voice cracked with anger‚ my body stiff‚ every nerve screaming.I shoved again‚ but his arms only tightened more.
He pressed his forehead against mine‚ breath ragged‚ refusing to budge."Please‚ Anna‚ please… I just can't stay away from you."His voice was low‚ trembling‚ broken in a way that made my chest twist even as my anger boiled hotter.
Then he pulled back‚ his jaw tight‚ his eyes dark‚ his tone sharp enough to make me freeze."Get in the car‚" he ordered.
"What?"I stared at him like he had lost his mind."Are you crazy?No‚ Ryan.I said no.Leave me alone!"
His grip on me tightened.His eyes burned into mine‚ and his voice dropped lower‚ firmer‚ carrying a warning I knew he meant."Anna‚ get in the damn car.Or I swear to God‚ I'll take you right here.I don't care who sees.I've missed you too damn much."
Something in his tone made me stop.It wasn't a threat to hurt me‚ it was a desperate promise‚ a dangerous edge that told me he wasn't bluffing.He meant every word.My chest rose and fell too fast‚ my mind screaming at me to walk away‚ but my legs betrayed me.I slid into the seat‚ my arms crossed tight‚ lips pressed together so hard they hurt.
Ryan closed the door and went around to the driver's side.My body was rigid‚ my silence loud‚ but I could feel his silence louder.The air was heavy‚ tense‚ charged with everything unsaid.
He gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.For a long moment he said nothing‚ then finally‚ his voice broke the silence‚ softer than before."Anna‚ I really did miss you.Every damn day.I couldn't sleep‚ I couldn't even breathe right without you.I thought I was losing my mind."
I turned my face away‚ staring out the window‚ bitterness clawing at my throat."Stop lying‚ Ryan.Just stop.You're so damn annoying!"
His eyes snapped to me‚ shocked‚ his lips parting like I'd just slapped him.For once‚ he didn't answer.He just clenched the wheel tighter‚ his jaw locked‚ the muscle ticking as if he was holding himself back from exploding.
?
The moment we reached‚ Ryan turned off the engine and looked at me for a moment before he quietly said‚ "Wait‚ I'll get the door for you."He didn't even give me a chance to argue before stepping out‚ and I stayed seated only because I knew it would annoy him less if I just waited‚ but the second he was halfway around the car I pushed my own door open and got out‚ not even sparing him a glance.His frown was immediate‚ I saw it out of the corner of my eye‚ the way his jaw tightened as if he was about to scold me‚ but before he could take a single step closer‚ voices rose all around him.
"Ryan Wolfe!Prince Ryan!"people were shouting‚ and within seconds he was surrounded‚ like they had been waiting for this exact moment to pounce on him.I froze for a second‚ watching as the crowd closed in‚ and then my eyes caught someone familiar in the chaos.Sasha.She was standing at a distance‚ looking around nervously like she was searching for someone‚ and when her eyes landed on me she looked like she could finally breathe.
"Sasha!"I called out‚ and the relief on her face doubled as she ran to me and I ran to meet her halfway.We hugged briefly before she pulled back‚ grabbing my shoulders‚ her eyes scanning my face like she was checking if I was really okay.
"Anna‚ are you okay?Please tell me you're okay‚" she rushed out‚ her words tumbling over each other.
"Of course I am‚" I said quickly‚ though my voice was still shaky."I'm fine‚ Sasha."
She exhaled deeply‚ pressing her hand to her chest like she'd been holding her breath."Phew‚ thank God.Anna‚ I swear‚ that guy is really scary.I don't usually fear people but the kind of vibe he gives‚ it's terrifying.He's hot as hell‚ yes‚ damn handsome too‚ but Anna… I can't explain it‚ it's like standing next to a fire you know can burn you alive."
Her words stung‚ because I knew exactly what she meant‚ and I hated that she was right.I just nodded‚ trying to hide the war in my chest‚ when I noticed Caleb beside her."Where's Liam?"I asked‚ surprised not to see him with them.