“Too loud.”
My arm tightened around her ever so slightly.
“Too talkative.”
I tightened my grip even more.
“Too chaotic.”
My jaw clenched.
“Sometimes I think people just get tired of me,” she finished with a small shrug, her fingers idly toying with my necklace.
The ensuing silence no longer felt peaceful or languid. Something cold and sharp had settled in my chest. The idea of anyone looking at Addy —mywarm, bright, chaotic Addy — and deciding she was too much was so stupid it was borderline offensive.
Without realizing it, my arm pressed her to my side.
“You’renottoo much.” My voice was quiet yet insistent.
She huffed faintly. “That’s because you’re biased.”
“I definitely am,” I agreed.
She tilted her head to look at me again, surprise shining in her brown eyes. “You are?”
“Of course I am. You’re mine. How could I not be?”
Her eyebrows lifted. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how bias works.”
“It is now.”
Addy studied my face intently. “You’re very intense about this for someone who met me twelve hours ago.”
I scoffed. “Oh, please. We’ve known each other for months now, baby. Don’t belittle what we have like that.”
“So now you’re taking offense on my behalf?”
Addy blinked at me, as though I had said something completely incomprehensible. She would learn in time.
“Of course.” I bristled with indignation.
She laughed softly, but there was an emotional quality to it now.
“I know you’re used to being alone.” My hand rested on her lower back, hovering above her ass. “But you’re not anymore.”
Addy froze again, then looked up at me and stared for a long moment. “That is both sweet and mildly alarming given the circumstances.”
“When I said you belong to me, I meant it. In any way, shape or form you could possibly come up with.”
“Yes,” she deadpanned. “That’s the alarming part.”
I tickled her sides and she giggled and squirmed against me. Then I slid my hand further up her back, my fingers spreading against her spine.
“You will never be lonely again.”
“Sounded a little bit like a threat,” she teased.
I scoffed. “It was a promise.”