Running from His Claim (Beauty and the Beast #2)

Chapter 35

The car ride was silent. Warren was on his phone the entire time, and his presence somehow calmed me down. By the time I pulled up I didn't feel so embarrassed or angry or even annoyed.

Since he didn't give me his destination, I drove straight home. When I pulled up I looked at him expectantly. He blatantly ignored me.

"Um, we're here," I said.

He nodded, eyes still glued to his screen.

Scratch that - I was still annoyed. Very annoyed.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Silence.

I rolled my eyes and exited the car. I reached into the back for my bag as he stepped out of the car, then I turned and walked towards my door.

He rounded the car.

I glanced at him in surprise. He kept his eyes on his phone, one hand in his pocket as he followed me to the door. I stepped in and he slipped past me into the house, grabbing my bag on the way. I stood frowning in the hallway. "Um, come right in?"

He leaned against the kitchen doorway, facing the stairs, still glued to his phone. I sighed in annoyance. Why was he here? Didn't he know what his presence did to me? I crossed my arms, seriously ticked off, but I didn't dare say a word. Because then he'd leave... Instead, seeing him near the kitchen reminded me that I needed to eat. I stepped into the kitchen, then froze. Wait, had he noticed that...?

No. No way.

There was no way he'd paid that much attention to me. I shook the thought away. I wasn't in the mood to cook, but a sandwich would do. Or maybe two...

"Hey, you hungry? I'm making a sandwich."

Instead of answering, he started up the stairs. I don't speak arrogant jerk, I groaned as I started working on my sandwich. When I finished, I rolled my eyes and made a second plate, making sure to double the sandwiches. The last thing I needed was for this entitled royal to steal my lunch. I got us some juice and a couple of waters, then balanced everything on a tray and went up the stairs.

I stepped into my room and stopped short. My laptop was open on the bed with my headset attached. Warren had moved my chair next to the bed and sat with his arms crossed and his eyes closed, the chair tilted back dangerously.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. It'd been so long since he was in my room (the other morning didn't count), sitting in that very chair and tilting it like that as he waited for me... Oh, what's going on? I despaired. This was way too dangerous for me.

And yet, deep down, I knew I craved this, craved having him here, even if only for a few minutes. So instead of throwing him out like I should have, I closed my door and cleared my throat. "I don't care if you're hungry or not, you're eating anyway."

He opened his eyes and assessed me, then slowly smirked. "If you insist."

I rolled my eyes. He'd just barged in and made himself at home, but sure, I was the one insisting. I set the tray on the desk and grabbed my food, climbing onto the bed. I turned to the computer screen curiously and found a movie already cued. I frowned again. "Um, how long are you staying exactly?"

He shrugged and pulled the tray closer. I slipped my headphones on and played the movie, taking a bite of my sandwich. I sighed in bliss then remembered my manners. I paused the movie and pulled my phones off. "Did you wanna watch this with me?"

He shook his head, waving me off as he stared at his phone again. Seriously, what did he do on that thing? I made a face at his tilted head with that glorious mane of silky hair...