“It’s necessary.” His voice is unapologetic. “And it’s a mutual arrangement.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, Brett and I both subscribe to thefriends close, enemies closer, family closestmentality.”
“You’re a loon,” I say matter-of-factly. “A caveman. All that testosterone has done something to chemically alter your brain.”
“Gemma, this isn’t a game.” He takes a step closer, and I immediately shuffle back, trying to maintain a safe distance between us. “He’s dangerous. He’s hurt people in the past, people I cared about, people I loved, just to prove a point. Just to prove that hecould.”
I’m so startled by this admission, I take another step away from him.
He closes the gap instantly, still speaking. “This is his favorite kind of game to play — cat and mouse, the ultimate challenge, even better that it might make my life hell. It doesn’t matter what either of us say — he’ll come after you, in any way he can. Before today, he was just curious, like everyone else, because of the kiss at the game. But now that he’s met you…” His eyes lock on mine. “He won’t stop.”
For the first time, I feel the markings of true anxiety stirring to life in my gut.
“Until what?” I breathe.
Chase shakes his head. “I don’t know. I wish I knew, but I don’t.”
Mind reeling, I take another step away from him. “This is your fault,” I whisper finally, when I’ve composed myself enough to formulate words.
His spine snaps straight, as though I’ve struck him.
My eyes lift to his perfect mouth. “You never should’ve kissed me at that game.”
“I know,” he mutters darkly. “I already apologized for that, Gemma.”
“And that makes it okay?” I laugh bitterly. “How could you have done that, knowing it would lead to this?” I gesture vaguely upwards, in the direction of Brett’s apartment. “Knowing he’d come after me?”
Chase takes another step toward me. “Gemma.”
“Don’tGemmame!” My eyes fly to his. “This is a goddamned mess! I don’t want this! I didn’t ask for any of this!”
“I know that!” he roars suddenly, his careful control finally snapping. “Don’t you think I know that? Why do you think I pushed you away after you came to my office? Why do you think I brushed you off with the press? I tried to keep you out of my life, away from this shit. Itried.”
“Not hard enough, apparently!” I yell angrily. “Because here we are!”
He’s breathing hard, his eyes burning into mine. “What do you want me to say? That I fucked up? I already know that. I wasn’t thinking, when I kissed you at the game. I looked at you, and I just… couldn’t stop myself.”
A sharp, stunned exhale escapes my lips. I don’t want to look too deeply at the feelings his words have stirred within me, so I wrap myself in anger instead, using it like a shield. “And after that? Why the hell would you drag me to your office? Why even attempt to see me again?”
“I had to warn you this wasn’t going anywhere. I thought I owed you that much.”
“You didn’t need to warn me away — I wouldn’t have pursued you like some teenage girl with a crush. But I suppose that possibility never entered your egotistical brain?”
His jaw ticks.
I step closer, so angry I forget to be afraid of him, until only a half-foot of space separates us. “And I suppose you couldn’t stop yourself from showing up here today and throwing fuel on the freaking fire, so that whatever slim possibility still existed that Brett might just move on and let me walk away was utterly and completely extinguished?”
“Gemma.” His voice holds a warning I don’t heed.
I laugh again, a brittle peal. “Because if he wasn’t going to come after me before, he sure as shit will now. Your caveman antics ensured that, Chase, so thank youverymuch for—”
I never get to finish my sentence, because his free arm shoots out and slips behind my back, hauling me forward before I can even think of protesting. I slam against him so hard, the breath is knocked from my lungs. His other hand, still holding mine, squeezes tighter and bends up behind his back, so my arm is forced to wrap around him.
“What are you doi—”
My words are swallowed up as his lips crash down on mine. It isn’t a soft kiss — it’s intense,furious,in a way I never knew a kiss could be, his lips hard and unforgiving against mine. It’s ashut-up-I-hate-youkiss. Ayou-drive-me-crazykiss. Anif-I-don’t-kiss-you-I’ll-kill-youkiss.