31. alessia

31

ALESSIA

I want to tick him off even more, I whip around fast, my hair whirls around to my other shoulder, as I head for the exit.

"I'm going to finish my date with Zeke."

"Alessia," He growls as I throw the door open, "Don't." He finishes his stark warning from behind me, and I take off running.

I hear a feral groan over his indignant steps, like I'm being chased by a monster.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

I zip out of the building as fast as my feet let me. I run into the night's dry air, passing the fire pit. I sneak a glance at everyone surrounding it, and Zeke looks confused as he sits next to Doom, texting vigorously on his phone. He's oblivious to what's going on behind him.

"To your room, Valentine." Daegan barks out from behind me.

A vast shadow is catching up to me, and I smirk, taunting my bodyguard further.

Where I go, he has to follow.

"No," I murmur.

His eyes darken under the moonlight, and his head tilts to the side. "You want me to chase you?"

I walk backward, biting my lip until I taste iron.

He keeps stalking toward me as his ice-grey eyes light up. His scars tweak with madness.

"You want me to break you?"

I take another step back, inhaling sharply.

"You want me to lose control and take you?"

My cheeks are on fire, and my panties are soaked.

"You want me to tear off my dog tags right now, and wrap them around your throat for disobeying my orders?"

I don't answer. I hope my silence grants him the permission he seeks because, my lord, I want all of those things and more.

I turn around before he can grab my hand. His skin grazes mine for a split second. I'm running in between buildings. The music and movie from the firepit die down the further I get away, and I end up running into a hangar.

I turn inside the dark, off-limits space. Pushing the doors open, surprised that it isn't locked. No one is allowed in here, especially if there isn't work to be done. It's pretty much empty, and everyone is either at the firepit or sleeping.

Two Black Hawks are parked here. The government machinery is most likely here for maintenance since it's not out on the field, ready to fly with the others.

My chest rises and falls chaotically. The thrill of him after me is breaking my morals. It's even a little bit toxic. Seeing him so angry and out of touch with the calm and composed Daegan I once knew is shocking.

I look left and right before he can enter the hangar. I try to find another exit but fail miserably as the seconds tick by loudly like a clock in my head, mimicking my fear. The sound of a door slamming open jumps my bones, and I look at the black hawk.

It's open, so I jolt forward just as I hear the door close again, and I jump in. I want him, and I hope he wants me to. Even though deep down, I have a feeling this is the start of a journey that shouldn't have begun in the first place. I should go back to my room or give Zeke a chance. Either way…Daegan is only giving me one choice tonight, and I need him to make his.