Page 129 of Defiant Beta

“I don’t belong to anyone,” I blurt out and order myself to calm the fuck down, project a calm I absolutely donotfeel, and stop shouting in his face. “So, you don’t have to worry about stepping on any toes or anything.”

He nods, smiling slightly. “Good.”

“That’sit?” My eyebrows fly up. “That’s all you're going to say? Or do?”

“Was there something you were expecting me to say?” His eyes dart to my mouth. “Or do?”

He’s asking if he can kiss me.

I stare at him, my heart racing, as I have another tongue-tied Della moment. Everleigh would be rushing me to the nearest hospital, convinced I had a head injury with the frequency it keeps happening.

He waits.

And… I’m not sure. I want to. I like him. Probably more than I should like a guy who humiliated me with a terrifying math equation in class. But a serious guy like Vincent doesn’t go around kissing girls, and the way he’s looking at me makes me think this will change things in a more monumental way than when he asked me if I was single.

He doesn’t just want a kiss.

He’s asking about commitment.

Belonging.

I see all those things in his eyes, even if I’m not sure I believe he means it.

My stomach grumbles. Mortifying me.

His eyes crinkle with a smile.

I cover my face, humiliated. “As if the couple going at each other like rabbits wasn’t embarrassing enough.”

“Sounds like they were having a good time.” His voice is soft with amusement, but when I pull my hands away from my face, I find no trace of a smile.

My eyes narrow. “How much time do you spend secretly laughing at me?”

“More than I should.”

I poke him again, just because. Then I hesitate, suddenly shy. “Ask me again. Not… not now. Later.”

After a searching look, he nods.

I’m not sure I’m ready for commitment, and a kiss from him would signal the start of something more permanent than I can agree to now.

But later.

“Okay, Miss Jackson.” As always, he says my name with a soft growl, and I press my thighs together.

“I told you to stop calling me that,” I mutter, staring at his ass when he walks around the kitchen island to make me breakfast.

“Because you like it and you don’t want me to know how much?” He turns suddenly, catches me staring, and his tiny smile tells me he doesn’t mind it one bit.

This man is too damn perceptive. It isn’t even funny.

Chapter 39

Della

Vincent sipshis coffee as Levi and Xavier enter the kitchen.

Levi is in sweats and a tank top, his hair slightly damp and muscles glistening, as if he just finished a workout.

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