Chapter 4 ~ To Flee

• Leah
• His eyes dragged down my body as though he was stripping away every piece of clothing with his eyes.
• And when our eyes locked again, the hunger in them was unmistakable.
• "I almost missed you." He grinned.
• "Are you stalking me?" My voice tried for tough, but my grip on my purse strap betrayed the tremor in my hands.
• He stepped forward. "Maybe."
• I took a step backwards, my back hitting the wall of the elevator, trapped where he wanted me, between the wall and his body.
• "I could be one for you, doll."
• "You're insane."
• I pressed myself harder against the wall as though it was going to save me from him.
• "I am," he muttered more to himself than to me.
• Then he reached out to touch my face, but I caught his hand, stopping him.
• "That's a bad habit. Touching me without permission."
• He smirked, his eyes drifting to my lips. "Like I said, it is hard to resist when something beautiful catches my eye."
• "Again, I'm not a thing." I squeezed his wrist harder.
• "No. You are not," he agreed.
• His fingers caressed my cheek, despite my small hand trying to stop his.
• "I want it."
• "My cheek?"
• He chuckled. "No, silly. Your hair tie."
• I blinked, wondering what type of creep would ask a woman he had just met for her hair tie. "Why?"
• "To tie my hair."
• Is he for real?
• I pushed against his chest. "Fuck off."
• But he tugged the hair tie free, letting my hair tumble down my shoulders.
• "The hell!" I yelled, brushing the strands that fell on my face aside.
• He twirled the hair tie around his finger. "Thank you."
• "Give it back!" I reached up to snatch it back, but he raised his hand higher.
• Standing on my tiptoe, I tried to reach it, when suddenly, he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine.
• My mind went blank for a second while his hand moved to the back of my head, deepening the kiss.
• The kiss became rougher, stealing the air from my lungs. My fists pounded weakly against his chest, but he didn't stop until I tasted blood.
• My knees buckled, and I clung to his coat, growing weaker with every second.
• He pulled away, I gasped for air, my lips stinging.
• A smirk played on his lips as his fingers traced along my swollen lips, clearly pleased with himself.
• Without a second thought, I raised my hand, ready to slap off that stupid smirk off his face, but he gripped my wrist before I could make contact.
• The playful smirk vanished, his eyes turned cold, and stared down at me with an unsettling emptiness.
• Then he brought my hand to his lips, kissing my palm tenderly while holding my gaze. My skin crawled as his kisses trailed slowly up my arm.
• "Do you know what happened to the last person who slapped me?" He asked, and without waiting for an answer, I didn't have he continued, "He lost both his arms."
• A shudder ran through me, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. I tried to pull back, but his grip tightened.
• Then he chuckled, the darkest I had heard from him. "Are you scared of me?"
• I didn't reply. I couldn't even if I wanted to.
• Who asks someone that after they threaten to cut their arms off?
• "You shouldn't be, doll. I wouldn't dare harm a single part of your beautiful body."
• If he was trying to convince me that I was safe with him, then he failed. If anything, his words sounded like a threat I should take seriously.
• The elevator doors finally opened and he stepped away, tying his hair up in a bun, his eyes still on me.
• I stumbled out, my legs shaking, hand catching the wall to steady myself.
• "Do you need help?" He teased.
• I straightened quickly, forcing my legs to move and putting as much distance as possible between myself and the crazy man behind me.
• "Mrs. Walsh," the CEO called down the hallway.
• "Good morning, Mr. Martinez," I greeted, with a forced smile.
• His brows pulled together. "Are you alright?"
• "Yeah," I lied.
• He didn't seem convinced as he opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of approaching footsteps made him glance past me.
• "Mr. Kingston," he said quickly, putting on his professional smile as he added sarcastically, "you made it today."
• "Yeah," he replied with a chuckle.
• "You should have called. The chairman waited for you yesterday."
• "My bad." His voice carried lazy amusement before his gaze dragged down my back and rested on my ass. "I didn't think you were hiding such a beauty in your company, though."
• An awkward silence followed before Mr. Martinez broke it. "We shouldn't keep the chairman waiting, Mr. Kingston."
• My body tensed as he passed beside me, his fingers brushing my arm and causing goosebumps to spread across it.
• This was the second time I had run into him, and deep down, I knew a third time would ruin me.
• As if hearing my thoughts, he glanced back over his shoulder while walking, then winked.
• God, I think I'm in trouble.
• *****************
• The week flew by, and before I knew it, it was Friday.
• "Did we come for a family dinner or to watch those two flirt?" Ivy muttered, eyeing our parents.
• I followed her gaze. Across the table, my mother giggled at something my father said, her hand resting on his arm.
• I smiled and turned back to my sister, who wore a look of pure disgust. "Let them be, Ivy. They barely see each other."
• She raised her eyebrow, folding her arms. "Barely? Is that what you think?"
• "What do you mean?"
• "I came home last month to a scene that will traumatise me for life... right in the living room! Buck naked. Both of them!"
• "I can't unsee it, Leah."
• "The fuck." My eyes widened in shock.
• "Yeah, these two old geezers are fucking each other behind our backs!"
• I glared across the table. "Dad!"
• They jerked like they had been caught doing something they shouldn't. I narrowed my eyes at my father, feeling betrayed. He was hooking up with his ex-wife behind my back while acting like he needed help. I thought we were a team.
• Un-fucking-believable
• "What's the problem, sweetheart?" He asked.
• "Don't," Ivy whispered. "He got me my new car to keep it a secret."
• "You..."
• She placed her hand on my thigh and squeezed it hard. "They are adults, Leah. They don't need their kids telling 'em what to do."
• It's more like I should help you keep your new car.
• The waiter arrived, serving the food just in time. I kept my eyes on my father, my glare unwavering, even as my plate was placed in front of me. He cleared his throat awkwardly, picking up his cutlery to eat.
• "Eat your food, Leah," my mother said, coming to her man's defence.
• "Sure, Mrs. Carter." I turned my glare at her.
• "What is wrong with your sister?" She asked Ivy, who merely shrugged.
• I was lifting a forkful of pasta to my lips when I felt a finger graze my bare arm, the scent of his cologne announcing his arrival before he spoke.
• "Good evening, Mr. Carter," he greeted.
• The colour quickly drained from my face.
• "Aiden Kingston," my father said, his voice tinged with barely concealed anger.