“How do you know?” I asked, pumping liquid soap in my hands, and then running them under the sink. Thankfully, I only had minor scratches.

Lexy gave me a sly smile and handed the towel to me. “Jimmy got caught once.”

“Really?” I said, laughing as I hung the towel back on the rack. Our laughter was cut short when we went to the living room and saw Seth and Elijah walk through the door. Elijah was still huffing mad. His jaw muscles were tight and his lips were pressed in a thin line.

“Out!” Elijah was short and to the point. He made everyone jolt.

Thinking he meant me as well, I started heading to my room. I didn’t want to be around him either.

“Alex, where are you going?” he said softly, confusing me.

I stopped when he called my name. Without answering, I went to the kitchen instead and waited for him. I heard harsh whispers as if they were arguing and didn’t want me to hear, but it didn’t last long.

“Good night, Alex. See you tomorrow at work,” Lexy said.

“Good night, Alex,” Seth said next. “Go easy on her.” I heard him say to Elijah. Why would he say that?

“Bye,” I said loudly without a thought to walk them out the door.

Feeling restless, my heart hammered faster as I took out the milk carton and a bag of chocolate chip cookies. It was late at night, but I just felt like having something. After pouring milk into the cup, I took out a cookie as I watched Elijah walk in.

Though his shoulders were relaxed compared to a minute ago, I could see the worried look in his eyes, but not for long. “What are you doing?” he chuckled lightly, apparently finding humor in what he saw.

“Dunking my cookie in my milk. Haven’t you ever done that before?”

“No.”

“Then you’re missing out. Want some?” As I wondered if he would maintain his calmness, I took a bite.

“No, thanks. Not right now. I’m not a big fan of milk.” He paused for a second, dragged his hair back with his fingers, and released a short, sharp sigh. “Look. I’m sorry I got angry earlier. It wasn’t toward you. It was toward the situation and Lexy. She shouldn’t have brought you there.”

After I swallowed, I retorted, “Why not? Have you seen the crowd? Why can’t I be there?”

“I can’t believe you’re asking me that question.” His face tilted, angling his brows at me as if I should have known better. “Have I seen the crowd? Have you seen the crowd?” He blinked rapidly, rattling off his words, but his piercing, beautiful brown eyes and long lashes were distracting me. “There are gang members, gamblers, drug addicts, not to mention the cops.”

“I didn’t know about the cops, and who put you in charge of me anyway?” I challenged.

“I did.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me because I’m Jimmy’s cousin. I wish everyone would stop doing that.” My tone went up a notch.

“That’s not the reason.”

“Then what is? And I didn’t see any gang members or drug addicts. Although I wouldn’t know what they look like.” I dunked the cookie again and took another bite.

“Exactly. And have you ever been in a jail before?”

“No.” Biting my cookie helped me deal with how he continued to distract me. Something about the way he was being so protective and how he was staring at my mouth, he oozed sex appeal.

“Exactly.”

“Stop saying ‘exactly.’ Have you?”

He didn’t answer. I’d guessed that was a yes. Before he could walk away from me, I pointed at him with the half-eaten cookie in my hand as I asked another question. “How about the other students and your friends? They were all there, too. Am I not good enough to be there?” I don’t know why, but anger boiled inside me.

“No, you’re not!” he stammered, startling me. When he took a step toward me, I backed away and bumped into the cabinet.

His words were like a dagger to my heart. Did he really say that to me, making me feel worthless? How dare he!

With his hands planted on either side of the cabinet just inches away from my face, his body was way too close to mine. I couldn’t help but stare at the tattoo that curved as his muscles flexed. His broad shoulders and his hard, defined chest were too much for me to handle, especially recalling how he looked without a shirt on.

Blistering, heated energy ignited in the space between us. I was drowning into his smell…into him…into that cage he created around us, and I wanted to dive into his arms. Lowering his head and brushing his lips against my ear, accentuating one word at a time, he murmured. “You. Are. Better.” Then he paused. No movement…completely still.

I don’t know how long we stood like that. A second seemed like an eternity. I had no control over what I was feeling just then. After a soft intake of breath, he continued. “I don’t know what I would have done if something were to happen to you.”

His words quickly soothed me, making me melt in awe. I tried not to choke on the cookie still in my mouth. When I felt the warmth of his breath against my neck, I wanted so badly for him to devour me right there. The heated feeling got worse when I saw his lips heading toward mine with a slow hesitation. My heart went into overdrive as the room spun around me. We were now face-to-face as he stared into my eyes with want and need.

Never taking his eyes off me, he rested his hand on my shoulder, and then gingerly slid down my arm, giving me pleasurable tingles…EVERYWHERE. Afraid to move the tiniest of my muscles, I felt locked in place. I was enjoying him far too much. I didn’t want it to end. When he finally reached my hand, he pulled it up to his mouth and made the most pleasurable groan I’ve ever heard.