Chapter 34

“This is what you do. You manipulate me, coerce me, kiss me into submission and not let me be my own person and work in my own time. Stop trying to push me to march to your tune. I won’t ever trust you if you keep doing this, and it’s not helping your cause at all.” I snap at him and shove my palm against his chest to push his face back, keeping him at bay despite his superior strength.

Alexi’s expression sobers. He looks uneasy instantly, runs a hand across the back of his neck and looks out over the car park away from me. His grip on me loosens, and the space between us widens.

“Old habits die hard.” He mutters to himself or maybe me and brings that set of greys back to mine, looking a little unhappy and deflated.

“It’s hard not to want to kiss you. It’s not that I’m trying to mani…”

“Yes, you are. You want me to get in line and do what you want me to do. I’m not stupid. I know what you’re doing. I know you better than you think. You can’t force me to fall