He took that opportunity to kiss my jawline. I let out a broken exhale.
“Please. You’re messing with my mind,” I confessed.
“Do you know why I am able to mess with your mind?”
I shook my head. I didn’t know anything at this point. I felt him smile against my skin.
“It’s because you’re still affected by me.”
I shook my head, trying to lie my way out of this.
He shot me a knowing look.
“Let go of me,” I said, pulling my wrists from his grasp. His arms moved around my middle and pulled me into him until our fronts were pressed up against each other.
“Say it like you mean it, and I will. And Lia? I’ll know if you lie.”
I bit my lip. “Let…”
His smile widened. I wanted to slap that smile off his face.
“I already told you it’s over.”
“And why is that?” he asked.
I let out a sigh in defeat. I didn’t have a good reason for him, at least not one I was willing to share.
“Please,” I begged, my lips trembling. This was what I had resorted to.
“Never,” he answered vehemently.
“Mael.”
“Lia.”
I let out a frustrated groan and slapped his chest. He pressed my hand down, holding it there until I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palm.
“Mael,” I said again, only this time, his name came out more like a whisper, the tinge of desperation feeling noticeable in that one syllable.
He didn’t give me the chance to say anything more.
He slammed his lips against mine roughly, so much so that it almost hurt.
I tried to fight him off. I tried to be the reasonable one out of the two of us, but the more he kissed me, the harder it was to hold on to that reason.
He nipped at my bottom lip, tugging on it with his teeth. “You’re running scared. And I’m not going to let you.”
“Even if it’s my choice?”
“Even then,” he said, his voice nothing more than a growl. “I’m not letting you go. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and that’s all there is to it.”
That’s all there is to it.
My stalker had said something similar, but with Mael, I didn’t feel scared. I should be, though, from his unhinged words.
I shook my head.
“Please.”