Page 227 of Stay Scared

He turns us until my back meets the concrete wall with enough force to tell me exactly what he wants without hurting me. His mouth leaves mine and catches the side of my neck.

I breathe his name.

Movement behind him breaks the moment.

Cade lifts his head, and I look past his shoulder.

Owen stands several yards away, face uncovered and hands empty. He is looking at Cade’s hand around my waist, then my mouth, then me.

That old, unbearable focus hasn’t softened. If anything, six weeks without access made it worse.

Cade keeps me against the wall.

Owen leaves him there.

“You’ve been standing there long?” I ask.

“Long enough.”

Cade’s thumb presses into my side. “You could announce yourself like a normal stalker.”

Owen looks at him. “I stopped being normal before I became a stalker.”

I snort despite myself.

Cade glances down at me. “There. I missed that.”

“Do not get sentimental while you have me pinned to a wall.”

His grip tightens. “That was not sentiment.”

Owen comes closer. “You cut your hair.”

My hand rises automatically. “Three weeks ago.”

“I noticed.”

“From what?”

The mistake reaches him before I have to point it out.

He guessed.

Owen looks irritated with himself. “I assumed.”

I almost smile. “That must be painful.”

“Yes, it is.”

He stops within reach while Cade remains pressed against me.

Owen looks at the hand around my waist. “Are you going to move?”

Cade’s mouth twists. “Are you asking her or me?”

“You.”

“No, I’m not.”