"Chloe Grace!" Blaine Jackson growled in frustration, his voice laced with exasperation. Yet, despite his irritation, he couldn't bring himself to be truly angry with her. Taking two quick strides forward, he caught up just as she was about to leave the lounge. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his embrace. "Can you not be so stubborn? What you just said—are you upset because I didn't bring you back home with me? If that's the case, just tell me clearly. We can talk about it. It's not like I'm unwilling to discuss it with you."
"Talk about it?" Chloe tilted her head up, her eyes brimming with grievance as she glared at him. "The fact that you didn't even consider taking me back already says everything. What's left to discuss?"
"Says everything? What do you mean?"
"If you truly love someone, wouldn't you want to be with them every possible moment? That's how I feel. But you? Not only did you not think about bringing me back, but you also decided to stay there for an entire month? A whole month! Do you think that's just a day or a week?"
"The reason I'm staying for a month is because I have things to take care of. It's not what you think. Now, be good and stop moving. Listen to me." He sighed, lifting her off her feet and carrying her over to the couch. His long limbs easily restrained her, preventing any further struggle.
"Blaine Jackson, let me go! Using your strength to overpower me—what kind of man does that make you?" Chloe was furious, lashing out with words meant to wound. More than anything, she just wanted to get away from him, away from this heart-wrenching situation.
"Are you seriously questioning my masculinity?" Blaine narrowed his sharp eyes at her, a dangerous glint flashing in his gaze. And within that gaze, she caught something she was all too familiar with—desire. Her breath hitched as she felt a very distinct change in his body pressing against hers.
"Pervert! That's not what I meant!" Her face burned red with embarrassment as she shot him a furious glare.
"Calling me a pervert now?" Blaine arched a brow before smirking. "Funny, considering who it was that practically devoured me the first time we met. You wanted to eat me alive, bones and all."
"You still have the audacity to bring that up?!" she shouted, then without thinking, she bit down on his earlobe.
His body went rigid. His thick brows furrowed deeply, but not from pain. No, the sharp jolt that coursed through him was something else entirely—an electrifying sensation that sent his pulse racing.
Noticing his silence, Chloe hesitated and glanced back at him. But what she saw made her heart pound violently in her chest. The heat in his gaze was intense, an unmistakable storm of longing.
Men truly were creatures driven by their lower halves, weren't they? If he didn't love her, how could he react this way?
"Get off me!" The thought alone made her eyes sting. The idea that he desired her physically but not emotionally was unbearable. She pushed against his chest with all her might, her legs kicking in an attempt to push him away.
"Chloe Grace, if you keep moving like that, I won't hesitate to take you right here and now, in this lounge, with the door still open." Blaine's voice was hoarse, filled with warning. His usually sharp and handsome face was marred by the effort it took to restrain himself.
"You!" She gasped, her face burning even hotter. And he claimed he wasn't a pervert?
"Answer me now. If I take you back home with me, will you stop being mad? Will you stay and not run off to Korea to meet that bastard Evan Lee?"
"What do you mean 'if you take me back'?" Her brows furrowed deeper. "Like I'm forcing you to? If I have to coerce you into bringing me along, then forget it. I don't want to go!"
"Chloe, what exactly are you upset about? Isn't it me that you want?"
"You're wrong!" Chloe shot back without hesitation.
"I'm wrong?" His expression darkened. "From the very beginning, weren't you the one clinging to me? Weren't you the one chasing after me? And now you're saying I'm wrong? If it's not me you want, then why are you even here? Just for fun? To mess with me?"
"What I want is your love! Your heart! Not just your body, do you understand?" Did he think she was just some lust-driven woman who only cared about the physical aspect of their relationship?
"I've already given myself to you. And you're still hung up on this?" Hadn't he already confessed to her that night in the car? Hadn't he said the three words she longed to hear?
"You still don't understand. If that's the case, then we're better off apart." Tears welled in her eyes, one escaping before she could stop it. She quickly turned her face away, unwilling to let him see how vulnerable she was.
"Is crying the only way you know how to make me feel guilty?" Blaine forced her to face him, his lips brushing away the stray tear on her cheek.
"If I annoy you so much, then just let me go."
"Not a chance!" His gaze locked onto hers, unwavering and defiant. "What do you take me for? When you said you loved me, you clung to me. Now that you want to leave, you're saying I don't love you? If I didn't love you, I never would've gotten together with you. I wouldn't have let everyone know about us. Do you understand?"
"Then tell me this—why didn't you ever think about taking me back home with you? You planned to be away for a whole month and never even considered how that would affect me?"
"I… Fine, I admit I was wrong. But if you were upset, you should've just talked to me about it! Did you really have to fly off to another country over this?"
"Well, since you're not in Japan, isn't it awkward for me to stay here alone?" She pouted, turning her face away again.
"Alright. I'm taking you with me now. Satisfied?" Women were impossible to appease sometimes. Did she think he was going home just for fun? He had work to handle.
"You still sound reluctant." She wasn't letting him off that easily.
"Not reluctant at all. I'm completely willing, absolutely delighted! Happy now?"
"But the plane has already taken off."
"That's fine. We'll leave tomorrow." Having finally calmed her down, he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a searing kiss. His hands roamed freely, indulging in the warmth of her body.
"Wait, the door—" She murmured between kisses, a weak protest against the growing heat between them.
"I locked it ages ago." His smirk was wicked. "I wasn't about to let anyone overhear our argument."
"Then—"
Before she could finish, his lips silenced her, claiming her completely.