Suddenly, the front door swings open, slamming against the wall with a force that sends a ripple through the trailer and both our attentions dart toward it.
Wrath stands in the doorway, his crimson eyes locking onto me the second he sees me again. My fingers dig into the wooden counter, nails pressing deep enough to leave indents, but I refuse to react. Instead, I turn my head to the side, forcing myself to look away.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Hell shifting, his gaze flicking between the two of us before he leans back in his chair, placing his phone onto the table. Settling in and observing.
Wrath finally moves, his footsteps slow, careful, each one sending a fresh wave of strain through my chest, a knot coiling in my stomach, winding tighter with every step closer.
His focus never wavers, it’s fixed, and just when I think he’s going to pass me, he stops dead in front of me.
I inhale sharply, my lungs suddenly too small. His towering presence blocks out what little light remains in the already dim kitchen, casting a shadow over me, swallowing up the space between us. I refuse to look at him, my eyes fix on some meaningless spot to my right, forcing my body to stay still.
But I feel him. I feel every ounce of him all over me without him even touching me.
He’s trying to intimidate me, to rattle me, and if I’m being honest, he fucking is.
But how bold can a man be? I’m not stupid. I can sense it from a mile away when a guy’s interested. Still, I can’t shrink beneath his scrutiny. Not here. Not in front of Hell. I want Noir to enjoy her time away with him, and I won’t be the reason she has to worry.
So, with daring confidence, I drag my gaze away from the empty spot I’ve been locked on and let it sweep up his body, taking my time.
When I finally tilt my head back far enough to meet his eyes, the movement strains my neck, he’s that damn tall. The moment our eyes collide, his jaw clenches, the muscle there flexing.
I arch a brow in defiance as his gaze roves over my face, his expression cold but tinged with fascination.
Then, I hear Noir’s footsteps descending the stairs, and when she reaches the bottom, she stops, taking in the strange, electric scene unfolding between me and Wrath.
Suddenly he steps forward, his firm body pressing against mine. My breath hitches as an unexpected, unwanted heat sparks where we touch. My body goes rigid on instinct, every muscle locking up, but all I can feel is something dark and dangerous curling under my skin.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Noir’s reaction. She panic’s and moves, taking a hurried step toward me, but before she can reach me, Hell stands and steps in front of her, blocking her path.
“You know the rules, pretty girl,” Hell murmurs, his voice smooth but firm. “You wanted her to stay here.”
“But nothim.” Noir’s voice is edged with something I don’t quite understand. Fear. Real, tangible fear. “He’s—”
She cuts herself off, but it’s enough to send a pang of unease through me.
What the fuck does she mean?
I stay still and silent, but I can hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
As Wrath’s gaze holds mine, swirling red spirals that seem to pull me under, drowning out the rest of the room, Hell and Noir’s voices blur into background noise. And then, slowly, so carefully it makes my skin break out in chills, he lowers his face to the side of my neck. I feel the warmth of his breath ghost over my skin, and my eyes flutter shut.
Oh god. Is he… Is he fucking smelling me?
If I weren’t new here, I’d possibly tell him to fuck off. Maybe even drive my knee straight into his balls for having the audacity to touch me and be this close in my personal space.
But I don’t.
Not because I’m scared, no, that’s not it. But because I’m stuck in this situationfor Noir’s sake, and I need to show her I’m not going to be scared off by this fucking guy while she’s away.
Then, without warning, Wrath shifts.
Fast. Too fast.
Before I can do anything to stop it, he dips, one arm snatching around my waist, the other gripping my arm. And in a single, effortless motion, he throws me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing more than a lightly packed bag.
The sudden movement knocks the breath from my lungs and my vision tilts, stars bursting at the edges like scattered fireflies from the lack of energy inside me.
I barely get a second to process what the fuck is happening before he starts walking, attempting to carrying me out of the kitchen. Attempting to fucking kidnap me.