His arms did not loosen around me. If anything then his hold grew stronger as he moved me so that my back was leaning against his chest.

His voice, his scent and his warmth were messing with my senses. It took everything in my being not to relax into him.

From the other side of the table, Lana was grinning our way. I interpreted her expression as You want him and he is going to win this wager. Stop fighting it

"Do not look at me like that." I told her while crossing my arms "My belly button is not facing him."

Stone leaned closer until I could feel warmth tickling my neck as he spoke "I think you being here on my lap contradicts your theory."

I tilted my head upwards until I could see his smug face as I questioned "How do you know about the belly button theory?"

"Your blog."

I narrowed my eyes "That it is. I am going to kill you. I do not care how good you can fight, I will destroy you"

Brennan chuckled "You two are something else."

Attempting to get up and getting nowhere, I finally resulted to asking Brennan "Help me."

"No way." Brennan held up his hands and took a glance at Stone "What even brought on this kidnapping?"

"I did nothing." I replied.

"You were speaking to Chase." Stone gritted out.

With a frustrated moan, I argued "I can speak to whoever I want. Again there is nothing you can do about it."

"Oh no." Brennan exaggerated a shocked face as he asked "Little Ella, do you want to be responsible for the end of the male race?"

"No. I just want to end Stone."

Stone pulled me tighter towards him until his warmth surrounded my body like a blanket. He buried his head into the crook of my neck, nuzzling himself into my skin and breathing me in.

For a few seconds, I let him stay there because I wanted to revel in the moment. It was like nothing had changed. We playfully bickered and then I ended up in his arms.

I tried to pull away as I voiced "We are not meant to be—"

A deep humourless chuckle cut me off.

"Do not pretend that we have not been together since the second we met and do not pretend we are not together now." Stone said tyrannically.

His hand instantly moved up my back to just under my ribs. Chills travelled through my body until they covered every inch of me.

I looked back at him until my gaze ran down his attractive face to his lips.

"Reason." He quietly grumbled, "Give me a reason why I should not kiss you right now."

I still did not want to elaborate on the core reason so I lamely replied with the first thing that came to mind "The height difference."

"What about it?"