Page 85 of By His Rule

We might have only been together for a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things, but he feels so familiar, standing there.

Memories of our time together are still so vivid, the feelings he evoked within me still just within touching distance, although clouded with pain and anger.

I remember how easily he made me laugh. How electric his touch was. How he made me feel beautiful and sexy. He made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. What a fucking joke that was.

“I don’t care. We’re done.”

I try to close the door again, but he steps closer, putting his foot in the jam.

“Matt,” I warn, my heart pounding at a mile a minute as my head spins.

I don’t want him back. I refuse to spend my life with a man who is capable of lying to me like that. It wasn’t a little white lie to make himself look better, to impress me early in our relationship. This was huge.

“Please, Lori. Just let me explain properly.”

My breath catches as he reaches out like he’s going to touch me, but before he makes contact, another voice booms down the hallway.

“Get your fucking hands off her.”

All the air in my lungs comes out in a rush as Matt immediately takes a step back and turns to the man who is glaring pure death at him.

“Who the fuck are you?” Matt demands.

“The man who’s not going to let you get away with that bullshit you’re spewing. Lorelei asked you to leave, and yet you’re still fucking standing there. Why?” Kian spits.

Not once has he looked up at me, his attention purely focused on Matt.

Oh my god.

What the fuck is he doing? He should have driven away in his fancy-ass car by now and be safely locked inside his pretentious penthouse. He should not be here.

Matt shakes his head. “This has got nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, but you’re wrong,” Kian counters.

I cringe, dreading what’s about to come out of his mouth next. But despite needing to put an end to this car crash, I can’t force any words past my lips.

“I refuse to let anyone talk to my girl like you are now.”

The fuck?

If I weren’t so shocked myself then I might be able to appreciate the look of pure disbelief on Matt’s face.

Kian makes the most of Matt’s inability to do anything and slips past him into my apartment.

“Your presence is not welcome here. Goodnight,” Kian states before swinging the door closed.

I stand there frozen in place as the events of the previous few minutes repeat over and over in my head.

The only thing I can hear is the blood rushing past my ears as I stand there with my chest heaving and my head spinning.

“Lorelei?” Kian says after long seconds of silence. His intrigued stare burns into the top of my head, but I can’t drag my eyes from the floor to look at him.

I’ve no idea if I’m relieved that he’s here or pissed off beyond belief. Everything is just too…confusing.

He moves closer, his perfect shiny shoes appearing in my line of sight before he whispers, “Are you okay?” The second his warm breath rushes over my bare chest, my nipples pebble and I become very aware of the fact that I’m standing here in only a silk cami with an unpadded bra beneath.

Forcing down my shock, I stand tall and lift my eyes to his.

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