CHAPTER <b>0029 </b>


    Meadow’s POV:


    <b>“</b><b>I</b>–I was just…” I trailed off, feeling an intense heat creep up my neck and cheeks.


    ric’s eyes dragged over me slowly, and I shifted from one foot to the other. His gaze lingered on the


    lower part of my body for a second before his eyes came up to meet mine again. And back down.


    I risked a nce at what I was wearing–a red tank top that rode up a bit so a sliver of my stomach was


    exposed, and a pair of ck shorts. This was myfort outfit, but right now, ric stared <b>at </b>the shorts


    like they had offended him somehow.


    “Snooping around in my room?” he finished, walking into the room with a calmness that made <b>my </b>heart still. I didn’t move from my spot in front of the secret door. He tossed something onto his bed, and I turned just in time to see his phone bounce for a second and then stop. “That’s bad manners, Meadow.”


    “I wasn’t snooping.” My voice came out breathy, like a whisper. <b>“</b>I was just…”


    I stopped talking before I could expose myself. I wasn’t sure I wanted ric to know that I was trying to find something connected to Juniper. I didn’t know what he’d do if he found out since he’d already said


    <b>no </b>before.


    Plus, I wanted to do this myself. Not sure what I would aplish on my own, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.


    ric arched a brow like he was waiting for me to continue.


    “I was…” My voice cracked, heartbeat pounding against my chest as he finally came to a stop in front of <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    He was close. Way too close for me to concentrate on speaking.


    ric shoved his hands into his pockets and it was all I could do not to follow the movement. I forced my <b>eyes </b>to <b>stay </b>on him<b>–</b>Not his eyes, just his neck, jaw…


    Anywhere else but those ink–blue orbs.


    <b>“</b><b>You </b><b>were </b>what, Meadow?<b><i>” </i></b>He took his hand out of his pocket and reached for my jaw, forcing me to look up at him. “I hate <b>it </b>when <b>you </b>avoid my eyes. I value honesty.” His mouth twitched, the corner of his eyes narrowing.


    “Eye contact helps.”


    I froze.


    ric’s hand left my jaw, moving up my cheek. He seemed calm and controlled as always, meanwhile, I was a panting mess<b>. </b>I could hear my own loud breathing. And I knew he could hear it too.


    <b>I </b>couldn’t exin the kind of energy he carried. It was like, whenever he was near me, <b>I </b>just… lost <b>my </b>entire thought process and turned into a horny little thing. And even without touching me, he still had


    control over me.


    He flicked the frames that were perched on the bridge of my nose and I flinched.


    <b>“</b><b>I </b>didn’t know you used sses,” he muttered.


    I leaned back against the door<b>, </b>eyes nearly fluttering at the sound of his voice, the warm breath from his


    mouth.


    I stared <b>at </b>him pointedly, forcing my voice to sound firm, but it only came out as a whisper. <b>“</b>Then I guess


    you missed one tiny detail about me, Mr. Stalker.”


    The sses only protected my eyes from screens because I couldn’t stare at a bright screen for too long without ck spots in my vision. So I didn’t have it on all the time.


    Amusement flickered in ric’s eyes and he let out an amused breath which had no damn business


    causing my core to pulsate.


    <b>“</b>You should wear them more often,” he said casually. “They make you look<b>… </b>innocent.”


    I swallowed hard, unsure whether it was meant to be apliment or a warning. Maybe both.


    I could feel the heat pooling between my legs from the moment <b>I </b>saw him standing at the door, but now<b>? </b>


    God.


    He leaned in slightly as his hand moved from my cheek down to the back of my neck.


    Oh god, what was he doing?


    He gently squeezed the nape of my neck, and this time, my eyelids did flutter, my mouth parting slightly. ric’s eyes remained on mine, like he was searching them as the space between us got smaller.


    A part of me wanted to close the remainder of the space and just kiss him. I hated the fact that he’d made me <b>cum </b>twice and our lips hadn’t even touched. Not once.


    And neither had I seen him cum.


    “ric…” I only realized that I was speaking when his name left my lips.


    Something shed in his eyes.


    Lust.


    His other hand reached for the exposed skin of my stomach, my waist<b>, </b>and a quiet gasp escaped me. And then his mouth twitched.


    “Innocent’s not a bad look on you, Meadow. But you’re not very good at faking it.”


    Heat licked up my spine.


    It took a few seconds for my brain to start working. To remember that we were actually having a conversation before I started to have sexual thoughts about him.


    I was pretty sure that if I touched myself through my panties, my fingers woulde out soaking wet. God, I wish he would just-


    “What’s behind this door<b>?</b><b>” </b>I asked loudly, refusing to let myself finish that thought.


    ric’s eyes shifted to the door I was leaning against, and back <i>to </i>me, but he ignored my question, letting out a dark chuckle instead.


    And then his voice lowered, and he asked again: “What were you doing in my room, Meadow<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Oh, fuck.


    I wanted to fight it, I swear, but something inside me–the part that would fall off a cliff if he asked me to- was forcing me to confess.


    “Snooping,” I answered, breathless. “<b>I </b>just… wanted to see where <b>you </b>slept. And then I saw the door.”


    A lie. But not entirely<b>. </b><b>I </b>only omitted the part about looking for something concerning where my sister was being held.


    <b>Now</b>, I had no idea whether ric believed me or he still thought I was hiding something, but his teeth scraped his bottom lip gently, and he seemed to nod in approval.


    He stepped back, turning away from me as he began to pop the buttons of his shirt open.


    <b>I </b><b>wanted </b>to do that for him.


    I cleared my throat. “Where does it go? The door, I mean.”


    ric’s <b>back </b>was still facing me, and my tongue dried up as I watched him take his shirt off, unable to take my eyes off his tattoo. And his muscled, beautiful back.


    <b>His </b>reply was t. “You don’t need to know that.”


    “But I want to,” I pushed.


    I’d never been more curious about anything like I was at that door. It was so… mysterious. And the fact that he had a keypad beside it told me that it wasn’t just something minor.


    My skin tingled with anticipation. With the need to know.


    ric spun around slowly to face me, his gazezy as it swept over me. “You can’t have everything you


    +15 <b>BONUS </b>


    want, Meadow.<i>” </i>


    <b>“</b>Yeah, you’ve said that. Multiple times.” I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms in front of my chest.


    And maybe it was just my curiosity speaking, or maybe I wanted to tease him… But I wasn’t in control of the next words that flew out of my mouth.


    I swear.


    “But you still end up giving me what I want. Always.”


    A muscle in his jaw ticked, his eyes shing, and in two long strides, ric was in front of me.


    I let out a gasp, not knowing what to expect.


    ric gripped the back of my neck again, pulling me flush against his bare chest. <b>“</b><b>You’re </b>a spoiled little brat, aren’t you?” he rasped, voice low and deep.


    I barely had time to respond, let alone breathe, before-


    CRASH! 1