Sinful Heir (The Heirs #6) - Michelle Heard Page 0,4

voice sounds raspy, and I quickly clear my throat. “I did, thank you.” I try to duck to his right so I can go to the patio. “We should go eat.”

Tristan moves to block my way, and his fingers clamp around my wrist. He tilts his head, and the moment I look up, his breath fans over my lips.

My heart skips a beat before it begins to hammer in my chest. Somehow I manage to say, “I said no. My answer isn’t going to change.”

The corner of his mouth curves up into a panty-melting smirk. “Reconsider.”

I shake my head as I twist myself free from his grip on my wrist. “No, Tristan.” My eyes lock with his, and I drop my voice to a whisper in case one of my parents is nearby, “I’ve overheard my father’s calls.”

Tristan pulls back, and his eyes narrow slightly, making him look downright scary. His voice is deceptively low as he asks, “You have?” He tilts his head. “What have you heard?”

Refusing to cower in front of him, I force my chin up. “You almost beat a man to death.”

Again his mouth curves up as if he finds joy in the memory. “He deserved worse. I took it easy on him.”

Disbelief washes over me, and I can only shake my head. “Seriously? For dating your sister, you think he deserved worse?”

Ever so slowly, Tristan shakes his head. “For being an abusive asshole who dared to date my sister.”

Huh?

“He beat Danny?” I gasp.

Tristan lets out a dark sounding chuckle, and instead of it serving as a warning, it catches me off guard by making heat pool in my abdomen.

“Then he’d be dead.” He lifts a hand, and I stand frozen as his fingers lightly brush down my neck to my arm, making a wave of goosebumps rush to meet his touch. “The man is a narcissist. I was protecting my sister.” There’s a moment's silence in which I can hear my heart thundering in my chest. “Have dinner with me.”

This time when I move to the right, Tristan lets me pass. “The answer is still no.”

I walk to the door, but before I reach it, he chuckles, “Challenge accepted.”

His words make me stop dead in my tracks, and before I can think my actions through, I spin around and stalk back to him. “You think I’m a challenge because no one ever says no to you.” I come to a standstill right in front of him, and looking up, I say, “You’re dangerous. I can see it in your eyes. That’s why my answer won’t change.”

TRISTAN

Adrenaline begins to flow through my veins as Hana refuses me again.

I let out another chuckle, amused by how adamant she is to not have dinner with me. “I’d never hurt you.”

Hana shakes her head, the fire in her eyes dimming slightly. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know what you meant.” Lifting my hand, I once again can’t resist touching her. I wrap my fingers around the side of her neck and brush my thumb along the curve of her jaw. Hana’s eyes dilate at my caress and her lips part. “I’d never let anyone hurt you.”

She pulls away, a wavering look in her eyes catching my attention.

Hana will give in. Maybe not today. Or tomorrow. But she will give in.

“I haven’t seen you in years, Tristan,” Hana says. “We might move in the same circle, but that doesn’t mean I know you.”

“Then get to know me,” the words rush from me.

Hana stares at me for a moment, then she asks, “Why me?”

My lips instantly curve up. “Because I knew you’d say no.”

With a frustrated look, she shakes her head. “You’re not going to stop, are you?”

Slowly, I shake my head. “Give me one date. If you don’t want to see me again, I’ll accept defeat.”

She lets out a sigh, and walking away from me, she says, “Seven o’clock. If you’re one second late, don’t bother.”

Let the games begin.

“Seven it is,” I murmur as I follow after her. My eyes roam over her petite body, and once again, I’m filled with possessiveness.

I want every inch of Hana.

I will have her.

“There you are,” Mrs. Cutler says. “Come, the food will get cold.”

I wait for Hana to take a seat before I sit down beside her. She scoots her chair closer to her father, making me struggle to suppress a grin.

Mrs. Cutler begins to load food onto my plate, and knowing it’s her culture and a show of kindness and respect, I