“Don’t be angry,” he pleaded quietly, his gaze earnest.

“Are you even sorry?” I half growled, crossing my arms over my chest as I stood there glaring up at him. It wasn’t so much that I was pissed he’d been basically stalking me, but jealous that he’d gotten to watch me and I hadn’t gotten to watch him.

And that was ridiculous.

Right?

“I’m sorry you’re upset with me,” he muttered, sounding almost petulant and not sorry at all. “But no, I’m not sorry about the cameras.”

“Wrong answer,” Garret said in a low voice as he passed us. “Mom, your baby boy is home!”

Behind me, I heard the front door open, and Mom walked out onto the porch. “Hi, sweetheart. How was your flight?”

“Long.” I heard my brother tell her. “Let’s go in the house so Nova can murder Ryan on the lawn in private.”

“Why is she going to murder him?” Mom asked curiously, and I didn’t have to turn around to know she was frowning.

“I’m not going to murder him,” I called over my shoulder, still glaring up at my boyfriend. “I’m just going to stay here until the end of the summer.”

All the color drained out of Ryan’s face, and I instantly regretted the threat. It had been empty anyway. I never would have followed through with it, not when I missed him every minute of the day. But the look on his face told me that didn’t matter. Gulping, I took a hesitant step back, and he followed, towering over me with eyes that had gone feral.

“Ah, shit.” My brother’s voice was full of the trepidation I suddenly felt. “Mom, I don’t think we should witness what’s about to happen.”

“Ryan won’t hurt her.” Mom’s voice was full of confidence.

“Hurting her is the last thing I expect him to do,” Garret agreed. “But there are some things we really don’t want in our heads. I have a feeling this is one of them.”

“Do not run from me,” Ryan gritted out, taking another step toward me, closing the distance between us.

“I-I wasn’t going to,” I stuttered out, my heart pounding against my ribs so hard, my chest shook. Not from fear. Never fear of Ryan. But in excitement, anticipation. I knew—my body knew—what was about to happen, and I was already trembling for it. “Ryan…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“No?”

I shook my head, my gaze dropping to his mouth. The next thing I saw was the back of his T-shirt as he slung me over his shoulder and sprinted for the limo. I heard Ciana and Samara giggle as they rushed to get out of his way.

The coolness of the limo’s air conditioning brushed over my bare arms and legs as my back hit the bench seat. The door slammed shut behind us, and then he was commanding the driver to go. Within seconds, the car was moving forward, the tires squealing at the sudden acceleration.