CHAPTER 2: PATHETIC

​"Have a good night, Harper?"

​The deep, mocking tone of his voice snapped me out of my shock. Pure, hot anger flooded my chest. I violently yanked my arm out of his grip, taking a step back.

​"Don't touch me," I spat, glaring daggers at him.

​Vance didn't even flinch. He just took a slow sip of his water, his dark eyes looking me up and down with that same infuriating smirk.

​"I asked you a question," he said quietly.

​"And it's none of your business," I shot back, keeping my voice low but venomous. "What are you doing sitting in the dark anyway? Mom finally realize how boring you are and kick you out of bed?"

​I expected him to get angry. I wanted him to get angry. If he yelled, I could yell back. But Vance just chuckled, a low, rough sound that vibrated in the quiet kitchen.

​"Your mother is working a double shift at the hospital. Which you would know, if you actually cared about anyone but yourself." He set the glass down on the granite counter. The soft clink sounded like a gunshot. "But clearly, you had more important things to do. Though, judging by the look on your face, it wasn't exactly worth sneaking out for."

​My face burned hot. I hated how easily he could read me. I hated that he was right.

​"Screw you, Vance," I snapped, turning on my heel toward the stairs. "I don't have to explain anything to you. You're not my dad. You're just the guy sleeping with my mom."

​I didn't even make it two steps.

​Vance moved faster than a man his size should be able to. Before I could reach the hallway, he was suddenly stepping right into my path, completely cutting off my exit. I slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting his chest, my heart immediately jumping into my throat.

​"Move," I demanded, lifting my chin to glare right into his eyes. I wasn't going to back down. I refused to let him intimidate me.

​He didn't move an inch. He just stepped closer, forcing me to take a step back until the edge of the kitchen counter bit into my lower back. I was trapped.

​"You're right," Vance murmured, his voice dropping an octave, losing every trace of that stepdad act. "I'm not your dad, Harper. So stop acting like a spoiled teenager trying to get grounded."

​"Then stop acting like you own me!" I shoved both hands hard against his chest.

​It was like pushing a brick wall. He didn't even budge. Instead, his hand shot out, catching my wrist in a grip that was entirely too firm, completely overpowering my struggle in a second.

​"Let go of me," I breathed, my chest heaving, the fight still burning in my eyes.

​"You're so loud," he whispered, stepping directly into my space. The heat radiating off his body was suffocating. I could smell his mint toothpaste and the faint, masculine scent of his body wash. "You bark and bite, trying to prove how tough you are. But look at you."

​He slowly let go of my wrist. Before I could push him away again, he lifted his hand and brushed the back of his knuckles against my neck, right over the sensitive, irritated skin where Brody had been kissing me.

​A violent shiver ripped through my entire body. I froze. I hated it, but my breath hitched, betraying me.

​Vance’s dark eyes locked onto mine, dropping to my lips for a split second before meeting my gaze again. The smirk was gone. Now, he just looked predatory.

​"You sneak out to let some little boy put his hands on you in a cheap car, and you come home looking like this," he said, his thumb lightly pressing against my pulse point, feeling exactly how fast my heart was racing. "Frustrated. Angry. Unsatisfied."

​"Shut up," I whispered, but my voice trembled.

​Vance leaned down, his mouth brushing just a fraction of an inch from my ear.

​"Next time you want to act out," he murmured, his voice rough and sending a dangerous heat straight to my core, "make sure the man you choose actually knows how to finish the job. Because this? This is just pathetic."

​He pulled back, his eyes completely unreadable, and stepped away from me.

​Without another word, he picked up his glass of water and walked out of the kitchen, leaving me pinned against the counter, my legs shaking and my blood entirely on fire.