Page 56 of Rose
“Look, if you’re gonna steal something—”
Her voice was steady, but her pulse wasn’t.
He cut her off smoothly, that mug he wore now full of offense.
“Do I look like the type of nigga that needs to steal anything?”
His tone was calm, clipped—and that made it worse.
“What the fuck do you want, Savior?” she asked, voice low as her eyes flicked up the stairs again.
Kiyan had to be asleep by now. No way he was still in the shower.
“Oh, so you know who I am,” Savior said, hand resting against his chest dramatically. “And you think I’m a thieving ass nigga. Damn. I’m hurt,Gorgeous.”
She crossed her arms, stepping back into herself.
“At this point, you’restalkingme. I won’t hesitate to file a restraining order.”
“Put a restraining order on yourman?”
That stopped her.
“What?” she snapped, her mug now confused and bold.
“Yeah. Your man.”
He took a step toward her, and she instinctively took one back.
“Your failed attempt at buying me with roses and a bottomless meal tab at your sister’s restaurant doesn’t make you my man,” she spat. “I don’t know what fantasy you’re living in.”
In two strides, he was right in front of her. Close enough to steal the breath from her chest. Her back hit the wall. Hard. There was nowhere else to go.
She turned her head toward the stairs, mouth opening to scream—
But his hand was already over her lips.
“Don’t,” he warned.
His voice was low. Ice-cold. Lethal.
“If that basketball nigga comes running down these stairs thinking he’s Superman, I’ll blow both his knees out. He won’t play again. Andyou…” his eyes narrowed, “…don’t want to be the reason someone’s dreams get ended. Do you?”
The question hung in the air like a blade.
“Do you, Gorgeous?”
He was staring into her like she was both his salvation and his next mistake.
She shook her head slowly, eyes wide. He pulled his hand away from her mouth. Ahzii inhaled sharply, finally breathing again. But his eyes didn’t leave hers.
They lingered on her lips, then her neck, then right back up.
And for a moment, he didn’t blink. He was fighting something behind those eyes—desire, rage, restraint—and losing. Because even as he loomed over her, dangerous and unpredictable, something about her pulled at him like gravity.
And that shook him more than anything else.
“I just came to talk,” he said, his voice low and measured.
