I want You

Eva's POV

Luke glared at Gavin, his fingers firm around his collar. “If you know what is good for you, you will stay away from Eva,” he snapped, his expression tight. 

Gavin’s exotic lips curled in a mocking grin, and despite Luke’s fingers tightening around his collar, he just chuckled, as if this was all some joke. 

Even with Gavin's amused response, the tension remained tight between them. 

I stood rigid, a quiver seizing the pit of my stomach as I watched. This was soon to descend into an exchange of fists if I did nothing. 

“Let him go, Luke,” I snapped at Luke. But he pretended he didn't hear, my words seeming to phase past his ears. 

Luke’s grip on Gavin's collar tightened. “We might not be officially together anymore, but that doesn't mean you can step in. Eva is mine. She is my woman." 

Eva is mine. She is my woman. Barely a week ago, those words were enough to send my stomach fluttering with butterflies and send my heart racing with so much love for him. 

Now. 

Now, I had no idea what they made me feel. Rage that those words were no longer true, or hurt that some part of me still hungered for them to be. 

Gavin slid his eyes to me. The deep blue orbs of his narrowed on me. “There is only one way to resolve this, Eva.” He said, not a dent to his calmness. His lips held onto his grin, his pride. “And that is with your answer. Are you still his or not? Yes or no," his lips pressed dramatically to enunciate the option. His gaze lingered, demanding my answer. 

Luke’s eyes also found me. I flushed, reeled back by their demanding gazes. 

I realized he was right. Only my answer could stop this. Only I could stop this. I looked up to Luke, steeling my resolve. Since he’d chosen Lucy, I see no reason to choose him. 

“No,” I answered, my voice low, defying me. “I am not his woman. I am nobody's woman," I added, steeling my voice with more resolve. 

Luke's grip on Gavin's collar slackened. He stared at me, his eyes vacant. 

“The lady has denied your claim, Luke. She isn't yours. So she is up for take.” Gavin mocked Luke.

“I am not,” I shot back at Gavin. 

“Oh, you are,” he said, sure of himself as usual. He jerked his collar from Luke's fingers. Striding towards me. 

“How could you choose him over me, Eva?” Luke asked, his voice echoing the pain in his heart. His stare still vacant.

“I didn't choose anyone, Luke. You were the one that made the choice. You were the one who chose Lucy over me," I told him, each word hurting me as much as it did him. 

Gavin strode to me. His arm claimed my waist. Once again, the dangerous charm emanating from him stifled me. My body submitted to him, even though my mind warned not to. 

“Don’t hold her like that,” Luke growled at Gavin, eyeing his hand on my waist. 

Gavin just chuckled, his eyes lit with amusement. “Remember, Luke. She is no longer your woman. Lucy is. You should be directing those feelings to her and not wasting them on Eva.” He taunted Luke further. Then he turned me for the block. 

My feet dragged on the concrete stairs at first. The raw pain I witnessed in Luke's eyes held me to the spot. Guilt preying on my mind. 

But why should I feel guilty? I wasn't the one that sacrificed our love for some inheritance. Then I picked up my feet, letting Gavin lead me into the block. 

“Goodbye, Luke,” Gavin taunted him once more. 

My ears were keen for footsteps behind us. I seemed to hope Luke would run to me and assure me he would choose me over his inheritance. But other than the noise of running TVs and playing kids from other apartments in the block, there was nothing. 

I slipped from Gavin's arm. Planting myself before my door. “I guess we can call it a night already,” I said. 

He grinned again, the same grin that seemed harmless, yet unnerves me every time. He trailed his thumb on his lips. His state measured. “Isn't it common courtesy to offer to let me in and offer me some coffee or something?” 

If it would just end at coffee, then I would gladly let him in. But I feared it wouldn't. I didn't trust him, and for some reason, I didn't trust myself around him either. 

“I am sorry, but I have run out of coffee. Perhaps another time,” I forced a grin. Then I turned to use the key on the door. 

But he didn't leave. His eyes and breath remained hot on my back. 

My fingers trembled on the keys, his presence jarring my nerves. I grunted, turning sharply. “Are you usually this persistent?”

“Yes,” he answered, emphatic. He met my hard stare, grinning again. He took a step forward and planted his big, powerful, and gorgeous self a breath before me. His hot breath fanning my face.

If his presence was stifling before, now it was intimidating. 

“Yes. I am persistent, Eva. When I want something. I make sure I get it. And I want you," he said. His eyes softening. 

For that moment, his grin was lost behind an expression I couldn't place a name to. I felt his hand around my waist again. He jerked me forcefully to himself. 

He leaned low. His lips coming slowly for mine. I swallowed, my throat running dry, my heart hammering against my chest. Every part of me aching for those exotic lips of his on mine. 

I guess at the last moment, my senses reeled in. Because I pushed him away and spun fast on my feet. I struggled with the door, desperate to get away from him.