Chapter 0273

Kent looks at me curiously as he hands me the coffee before shaking his head and looking away. “I don’t even want to know,

Fay,” he says, fighting the smile I bring to his face.

“Probably not,” I quip, taking a sip and making a pleased little noise. As I lower the tiny cup to its tiny saucer, Kent puts an arm

around my waist and pulls me close, making me tilt my face up to look into his.

“I'll see you tonight?” he murmurs, his voice soft and dark with promise in a way that makes my stomach twist in anticipation.

“Okay,” I whisper, pleased. “Are you going to be mean to me all day before then?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

“If you deserve it,” he growls, narrowing his eyes at me a little, daring me to try. I can’t help but grin, which makes him laugh. “I

can’t even scare you into good behavior anymore,” he sighs.

I shrug. “It’s not my fault if I like you a little scary. Very scowly and dark. Just my type, apparently.”

“Really?” Kent asks, lifting a brow as he studies me and leaning back a little, though he keeps the arm around my waist. “I

thought you were into blondes these days.”

214

I blush a little, looking down at my cup, but I can’t help but smile a little at the hint of jealousy in his voice. “Terrifying doesn’t have

a default hair color,” I say lightly, trying to be funny. But I raise my eyes again to Kent in surprise when he takes his hand from my

waist and crosses his arms over his chest.

“I don’t want you to see him anymore, Fay,” Kent declares, looking down at me sternly.

“What?” I ask, shocked.

“I'm serious,” Kent replies, shrugging and pretending a casualness I know he doesn’t feel. “It’s getting too dangerous and you’ve

already got the information from him that we need

“Kent,” I cut in, glaring. “You know this isn’t about danger, or information.”

“Fine,” he snaps, his expression matching mine. “I don’t want his hands on you anymore, Fay. I don’t like it.”

“Oh?” I say, moving to cross my arms and nearly spiling my coffee everywhere. Kent curses and catches the cup before I knock

it over, taking it from me and giving me an exhausted look. I grimace in apology but then continue.

“Seriously, Kent?” I ask, more perturbed by him making this demand than by the actual result of it. I may not have admitted it to

myself in words yet — not completely — but I’m very aware

of the fact that Kent has my attention now, romantically. lvan and I have a connection but —

I sigh a little bit, dismissing the thought from my mind and making myself concentrate on the situation at hand.

“Seriously, Fay,” Kent replies, re—crossing his arms while holding the coffee in a way that I could not. “End it with him.”

“And what about you?” I ask, a little impulsive as well as angry. “Are you going to be exclusive with me?”

Kent blinks at me in surprise but doesn’t answer. Instead, he just glares down into my face, not giving anything away. I let a few

heartbeats pass and then laugh a little as I realize that he has no intention of answering my question, let alone promising fidelity.

“Whatever, Kent,” I say, a little pissed

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