The heat of it startled him startled her too. She pulled away just as quickly and stood, her voice almost too casual:
"I made sandwiches."
From the kitchen, she could feel his eyes on her. Her hands trembled slightly as she sliced the crust off the bread. Then she felt him behind her, his body close enough that her skin prickled. His hand braced against the counter, caging her in.
"What was that?" His whisper grazed her ear, low and dangerous.
She shivered, her pulse stumbling. She turned, offering him a piece of sandwich like it was a shield. His eyes didn't leave hers. After what felt like an eternity, he took a bite.
"I'm not changing anything about my life," she said firmly, watching his mouth, then dragging her eyes back to his. "And no expensive…."
He kissed her again, harder this time, silencing her.
"Don't tell me what to do," he murmured against her lips before pulling back.
Her breath hitched.
"The only rule here is if I see any man close to you, I'll snap his neck."
Susan laughed, breaking the tension, though her heart was still thundering. "Okay. I wonder what you'd look like in orange."
"Everything looks good on me."
He sat back down, watching her again always watching her. She tried to focus on her sandwich but couldn't ignore the weight of his gaze.
Her chest tightened. She was scared of what she was feeling, scared of how much she wanted this. "Don't hurt me," she whispered before she could stop herself, biting her lip.
He studied her for a long beat. Then, with a sharp exhale, he stood. "I have a meeting in five minutes. Then I'll come get you for a date."
He didn't wait for her reply. He simply left, his exit as commanding as his presence.
What he didn't see was the glare she threw at his retreating back.
Susan rebelled that very evening. She slipped out, knowing he had no way to reach her, and went to a café near Sweets. She sat by the window with a milkshake, waiting, watching. When Chris walked into Sweets, she smirked and went straight to his car.
He stepped out when he saw her.
"I thought…."
"If you want a date with me, ask properly." Her arms crossed, her chin tilting stubbornly.
His lips curved. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. "You're making me do unlikely things again" he murmured.
"You do know you're popular? People will see this," she warned, but her voice wavered when his smirk deepened.
"Good for them." He kissed her, slow and deliberate. When he pulled back, his eyes glinted. "Now… will you go on a date with me?"
She grinned despite herself. "Should I?"
He squeezed her waist. "Yeah. Reward is our thing, right?"
She laughed, the sound bubbling out before she could stop it. His eyes lingered on her, softening as he caught sight of her perfectly aligned little teeth.
"You have a beautiful set of teeth," he murmured, almost reverently.
She blushed, breaking his gaze. "How about I make this the best date you've ever been on… and you give me a better reward after?" Her words were hushed, suggestive.
"It's a deal."
"Wear something casual."
He nodded, letting her go, and helped her into the car.
Susan already knew where she wanted their date to be: the fair a few towns over. Colour, laughter, music, rides, contests it was everything fun and wild. She'd bought the tickets days ago, as if part of her had known this would happen.
But before she could leave for it, the same woman from before appeared at her door.
"What do you want now?" Susan asked, exasperated.
"I came to warn you," the aunt sneered. "If you don't stay away from him, I'll make you vanish quicker than you can blink."
Susan was stunned, but the woman had already walked away.
Moments later, Chris showed up. He was in jeans and an oversized shirt casual, relaxed, but still commanding.
"What is it?" he asked, instantly sensing her mood.
Her eyes watered before she could stop them. She stormed inside, but he caught her arm, pulling her back.
"What?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing.
"Will I get bullied every time for you?" she asked, her voice cracking as she wiped an angry tear away.
"Who?" His tone sharpened.
She looked away, but his fingers caught her chin, forcing her to meet his blazing stare.
"Who?" he demanded again.
"Your aunt." the sooner she let out, the faster he had dragged her to the car.
Moments later, she realized where he was driving her. Her stomach dropped as the car slowed to a stop in front of the massive gates.
"Welcome to the Lopez estate."
Her heart skipped. "What are you doing?" she whispered, fear creeping in.
But Chris dragged her through the doors, into a grand hall where every gaze turned to them.
"Hi, Chris," a woman greeted him lightly.
"You're upset," she added, her eyes flicking curiously to Susan.
Susan stayed half behind him as Chris's voice thundered through the room. He declared her Susan the woman he was with, a waitress and bartender, and warned that anyone with a problem should either disown him now or stay silent forever.
"And tell Aunt May she just crossed a line I won't forgive," he finished with lethal finality.
"She's always causing trouble," the woman muttered as the room scattered.
Chris turned back to Susan. "Nobody has an opinion about my life except me. You don't have to stand there and be bullied. Or are you only brave enough to be rude to me?"
"I'm not insulting an old woman," Susan snapped.
"Her opinion means nothing." His voice was firm, final.
Susan's glare softened into confusion. "Does she like you that much?"
"No. She likes my ex that much."
"Oh."
"Hey." He touched her chin again, gentler this time. "It means nothing."
She nodded, but her sigh gave her away. "We can't go on our date now," she mumbled.
"Who said we can't?" His smirk returned.
"It's out of town. The fair might…."
"The Hood Festival?"
Her eyes widened. "You know it?"
"Yeah. We can still make it. I want to reward you."
His smirk deepened.
And despite herself, Susan chuckled.