Chapter 10

She frowned slightly and said, "I've got stuff to do this afternoon, so I'm leaving first." Just as she turned to go, her arm was yanked back—hard. The grip was tight, no way she could shake it off. Anna felt like her bones were about to snap. A gasp of pain slipped out before she could help it. "Ethan, let go of me!" "Anna, who the hell was that guy? I haven't even kissed you yet, and you let someone else do it?!" Ethan glared at her, still yanking her arm, totally ignoring her wince of pain. His eyes were burning with jealousy, looking every bit like a husband who walked in on his wife cheating. Kiss? That word hit her like a switch, lighting up every inch of her nerves. That kiss... fresh with mint, warm and soft, like feathers brushing against her lips... Anna's forehead broke out in cold sweat from the pain. Her left arm had gone numb, but somehow her mind still wandered back to that guy. Snapping back, she shook her head, then forced a smile despite the ache. Her hair slipped over her shoulders, catching the light in gentle waves. Her eyes shimmered—not with tears, exactly, but with something close. Something that made his chest tighten before he knew what it was. She looked like she was trying not to fall apart. The harshness in his grip faded fast, and most of his rage went down with it. He loosened his hold, like he was suddenly unsure of what to do. He thought: Forget it, maybe I'll chill for now, give her time. When she realizes her mistake and comes crawling back in tears, begging for forgiveness, I'll just act gracious and take her back. Too bad he didn't even get the chance. Anna leaned in and whispered by his ear, voice soft but every word like a slap: "Ethan, so it's okay for you to mess around with women, but I can't hire an escort?" Even she felt a little guilty saying that. The guy from this morning didn't exactly seem like someone you messed with. Calling him an escort might actually be asking for trouble... But whatever, Ethan didn't know. Consider it interest on that kiss earlier. Her thoughts lined up fast and sharp—she just planted the "escort" label right on that guy. Ethan, still clueless, went stiff the second those words hit. "You'd rather go hire some random guy than come to me? You think that little of me?" His voice shook with anger. Anna's face was the picture of innocence. "Well... if that's how you see it, what can I say?" "......" Ethan stared at her lip—red and a little swollen—and a wave of frustration hit him hard. Next second, he threw caution out the window, ignoring whether this counted as forcing her or not. He grabbed her chin and leaned in fast. Anna didn't even have time to react. She saw his face coming closer, step by step. She tried to lean back, but behind her, another hand had already wrapped around her waist. Blocked in front and behind, nowhere to run. She panicked. Her face scrunched up, already bracing for this unwanted kiss. Suddenly, the overpowering scent of that scumbag's cologne hit her—like a trigger to her already churning stomach after the reckless car ride, and the nausea surged up uncontrollably."Ugh..." Right as Ethan was about to kiss her, Anna turned her head and hurled like there was no tomorrow.