He immediately pursed his lips and, after two seconds, disregarded Arabella Vanderbilt's resistance and forcibly pulled her into his arms.
"Let me go!"
Of course, that wasn't going to happen.
Joel Russo didn't speak, letting her struggle as the strength of his long arms slowly tightened.
After the woman struggled a few times and finally settled quietly in his embrace, feeling the real warmth of jade in his arms, Joel Russo secretly let out a sigh of relief.
His voice carried a faint, husky gentleness, which was pleasing to the ear.
"I'm sorry."
His hand rested on the back of her head, Arabella Vanderbilt's face buried in his chest, her whole body lightly panting from her recent struggling.
She couldn't see his brows and eyes, couldn't see his expression at the moment.
Yet she still discerned a hint of restraint and caution from his low and gentle voice.
