32

“Oh, I don’t cook,” I corrected with a small laugh. “That’s Vincent ’s department.”

Vincent ’s hand came to rest on my shoulder, grounding me in the moment. His gaze was steady as he turned to Anthony . “Anthony will be your bodyguard from now on, Jennifer . With everything happening, we can’t take any risks.”

“I don’t need a bodyguard,” I said, frowning.

Vincent ’s expression hardened, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This isn’t up for debate, baby girl. Anthony stays with you. If something goes wrong, you’ll listen to him and do exactly what he says. Do you understand?”

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow, my voice sharp with defiance. “Or what?”

He wouldn’t dare threaten to discipline me in front of Anthony .

Would he?

I should’ve known better.

“Or I’ll take you upstairs, bend you over my bed, and leave your pretty ass marked with my belt,” he said with that same calm authority.

My cheeks burned as my gaze darted to Anthony , who seemed unbothered, then back to Vincent . My throat tightened, and I found myself at a loss for words.

“Vincent ,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “You wouldn’t.”

His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within them. My stomach churned with nervous energy as I realized he absolutely would.

“I would, and you know it,” he said. “I’ll even have Anthony stand by the door to make sure no one disturbs us.”

Heat flooded my cheeks, and to my frustration, something deeper stirred within me at his overbearing tone. My legs felt unsteady beneath me, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of backing down completely.

“Maybe we can talk about this?” I said, my voice softer now as I stepped closer. My hand brushed his chest, fingers trailing lightly over the fabric of his white button-down. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against him.

His free hand came up to cup my cheek, and I saw the raw intensity in his eyes—the same look that always made my heart race and my resolve falter. Memories of his touch, of him inside me, rushed to the surface, and my entire body responded in kind.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself, but the way he stared down at me made my knees weak.

“This isn’t up for negotiation, baby girl,” he murmured.

He leaned in and kissed me deeply, his lips firm and demanding against mine. By the time he pulled away, my breath came in uneven gasps, and my body felt like it was on fire. But then, reality crept back in—I remembered Anthony standing there, witnessing this entire interaction.

I glanced between the two men, my embarrassment mounting. To his credit, Anthony ’s expression remained impassive, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that his eyes held a faint trace of amusement.

Vincent pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head, his arm tightening around me protectively. “You don’t have to worry about Anthony , sweetheart.”

I nodded, the heat in my face refusing to fade. Taking a steadying breath, I tried to compose myself, though my mind was still reeling.

He’d just threatened to spank me in front of someone else. What even were we? Was this a relationship? Something casual? Or just a fling that would fizzle out? The thought made my stomach twist uncomfortably, but I didn’t dare ask.

Vincent must’ve noticed something in my expression because his grip shifted, his fingers gently tipping my chin upward until our eyes locked.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked, his tone sharp but not unkind.

I hesitated, the words sticking in my throat. His eyes darkened as he studied me, his hold on my chin tightening just enough to make my heart race.

“Jennifer ,” he said, his voice dropping to a warning tone. My body instinctively tensed.

“I… I made plans with the girls,” I stammered, not sure how he’d react. I didn’t want him to think I was growing too attached to him or putting my life on hold because of him. What if this was nothing more than a short-term fling?

His gaze searched mine, and I felt my pulse quicken. I hated how much I cared about his reaction.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice low and measured.

“Just heading to a friend’s place,” I replied, keeping my tone as casual as possible. “We’re just going to hang out, have a few drinks, and catch up. Nothing crazy.”

“Who’s going to be there?” Vincent pressed, his sharp gaze fixed on me.

“Some people from school. You know, the usual crowd. It’s really not a big deal,” I explained, hoping he’d let it go.

But his jaw tightened, and I could tell he was struggling with something. His protective instincts were battling with his desire to trust me.

“You can’t keep me locked up in this house forever,” I said softly, taking a step closer to him. “I need to see my friends, Vincent . I need some normalcy.”

He sighed, his hand raking through his hair in frustration. “It’s not about keeping you locked away,” he said, his voice tight. “It’s about keeping you safe. There are dangers out there—things you don’t understand. If anything happened to you…”

“I get it,” I interrupted gently, placing my hand on his arm. “I know you’re worried, but I’ll be careful. I promise.”

He let out a long exhale, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Fine,” he said after a moment. “You can go. But Anthony is going with you.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Anthony ? Seriously?”

“No arguments, Jennifer ,” he said firmly, cutting me off before I could protest further. “Either you take Anthony with you, or you’re not going. End of discussion.”

The tension in his tone reminded me of the earlier threat, and the memory of his belt made my stomach twist. I knew he wasn’t bluffing, and I definitely didn’t want to test him—not with Anthony around to witness it all.

Reluctantly, I nodded. “Alright. Anthony can come.”

Vincent ’s expression softened slightly as he reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face. “I just want to make sure you’re safe,” he said, his voice low and warm. That gentle tone made my irritation fade, replaced by a warmth that spread through my chest.

“I know,” I replied, offering him a small smile. “And… thank you for letting me go.”

He pulled me into a firm embrace, his arms wrapping protectively around me. “Just promise me you’ll be careful,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple.

“I promise,” I whispered, leaning into his hold.

His next words sent a shiver down my spine. “If you break that promise, little girl, there will be consequences. Whether you enjoy them or not, I will.”

My breath hitched at his warning, heat creeping up my neck. Did he mean his belt again? Or something else entirely? My mind raced with possibilities, each one leaving me more flustered than the last.

“I’ll behave,” I said quietly, my voice barely audible. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as Vincent ’s lips curled into a knowing smile.

“Good girl,” he said, his tone laced with satisfaction.