Page 62 of Discord
Brandon chuckled at my bewildered look. My heart started beating wildly at the sound.
“Trust me. You. Are. Savage,” he enunciated each word. “If I were to fear anyone in this house, it’d be you. You have all the information in that brain of yours.” He reached out and tapped an index finger against my temple. “When you strike using that information, it’s lethal.”
“Then how come you always call me a bunny, never a leopard?”
“Because something dangerous can only hide in plain sight under a less threatening disguise.” Brandon playfully punched me under the chin. “One that people find adorable.”
It sounded like consolation. “I don’t like it when you say things just to appease me.” It was a new word I’d learned. Appease.
“Have I ever said things to protect your feelings?”
Not unless I was sad. “You don’t mean to say that I am lethal.”
“I meant every word.”
I had no idea what made me say it, but I boldly declared, “Then prove it.”
I thought he’d brush me off. Instead, he chuckled. “See? Leopard. You just bated me into a dangerous act under that bunny camouflage.”
Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, I looked away. When I noticed Brandon eyeing the tattooed man again, this time more thoughtfully, alarms went off in my brain.
Brandon took note of my bewildered expression. “Don’t worry, Bunny. I was thinking about getting a tattoo, but no one’s dumb enough to get one from that sketch ball.” The guy threw us another dirty look, prompting Brandon to add, “No offense.”
We didn’t speak again as we watched Milo kick the sketchy dude out of the house. It hadn’t even been the full thirty minutes.
I had asked Brandon so many times what that tattoo meant. He never explained, only alluded to it. How I had missed the unmistakable bunny ears on the leopard was beyond me. Guess I also forgot some things about him while he waited for me to remember.
I took out my phone and texted my stalker.
Mia
I thrummedmy fingers over my thighs, trying to focus on Chris as he took multiple jabs at my lack of comprehension over Brandon’s feelings. I texted Brandon about meeting at his apartment after work. While I waited, I grabbed coffee with Chris. There happened to be a café in Brandon’s apartment lobby, and I needed moral support before our talk. There was too much that had remained unsaid between us.
As it neared five p.m., Chris bid me good luck and headed out.I gathered my items right as Brandon’s large frame came into view.
“Hi.” I sprang to my feet when he walked into the main lobby.
Brandon lifted his head, sporting a slight stubble that looked unbelievably sexy. My first thought was to run into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist, but his demeanor gave me pause. He was far from inviting, nor was he interested in closing the gap between us.
I nervously fiddled a short distance away, feeling anxious. My heart careened. Had he changed his mind? Perhaps he realized he couldn’t trust me after all.
“Why?” he asked in a threateningly quiet voice.
I frowned.
“Why did you do it?”
“Umm—”
“Playing dumb doesn’t suit you,” he gritted out.
Flabbergasted, I was shocked when Brandon grabbed my arm to drag me closer. The grip was hard enough to make me cringe.
Anger burnt in his eyes. I followed Brandon’s gaze out the large windows of the lobby as Chris rounded the corner. “Why would you meet with that prick?”
God, I forgot how much of an impossible ass Brandon could be!
Whatever. I merely needed to calm Brandon down and explain that the meeting was innocent. “You’re insane,” I spat.
