Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

That scene-the one that left her feeling breathless, scared, and cornered-kept looping in Susanna's mind.

Whether she liked it or not, whether she could accept it or not, Susanna knew it wasn't going away anytime soon.

Because her mother... was involved too.

Hull, Barnaby, Silas, and Enzo made their way down the hall toward the study. As they passed by Susanna's room, Hull paused, tilting his head ever so slightly. His presence was chilly, commanding-so much so that Enzo was the first to break the tension.

"Let's head to the study," he said quickly, shooting a look at the other two. Then he set off, the others trailing after him.

Barnaby, bringing up the rear, smirked to himself. Men with women in their lives really were a different breed.

But then again, he thought, Hull hadn't even bothered to tell Susanna where he was going earlier.

Once the others had gone, Hull turned back and gripped the doorknob to Susanna's room. It didn't budge. Locked-clearly Susanna had barricaded herself in again.

His stern features softened, and a hint of a mischievous, almost devilish smile crept onto his lips.

"Susie," he called, his voice low and gentle-something rare for him.

Inside, Susanna sat on the edge of her bed. Maybe she was just too worried about her mother, but when she'd seen Hull and his guys return with blood on their clothes, she hadn't felt the terror she expected. If anything, she was too caught up in her own head to even notice the odd warmth in Hull's voice.

She replied, barely above a whisper, "What do you want?"

Despair had replaced fear, and it showed-even her words sounded flat and careless.

Hull, standing outside, was a little taken aback by her lack of fear. He grinned wider.

"Open up."

"Nope," Susanna shot back.

Hull's eyebrows shot up. No trace of fear, and so quick to shut him down? Where was she getting this nerve from?

"You sure about that?" His tone dropped a little, just enough to make it clear he wasn't asking.

Susanna went quiet. The edge in his voice snapped her out of her daze-her thoughts, scattered just seconds ago, suddenly came crashing back.

"I...," she started, and this time, her voice trembled.

Hull raised an eyebrow, picking up on her sudden shift. "Open the door, Susie. Let me see you."

"I just... I just want to be alone for a bit," she managed, voice small.

Oh God, she really just wanted a moment to herself.

But that only made Hull more suspicious. He could hear in her voice that something was off.

"Open. The. Door," he said again, this time with an edge that brooked no argument.

Susanna nervously rubbed her hands together, remembering thất time he'd climbed in through the balcony. There was no hiding from this guy, no matter how many locks she used.

With a sigh, she finally opened the door. The first thing she saw was his broad chest-streaked with blood.

Without thinking, her hand shot out. "You're hurt again?"

She caught herself mid-reach, snatching her hand back. What was

O Star had told her not to

iMed, not to fuss, not to get

get involved, not to fuss, not to get too close.

She wasn't a nurse, after all. And as for taking care of people? Definitely not her specialty.

Hull caught every little movement,noveldrama

every flicker of emotion on her face,

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and a slow grin spread across his lips. What's this? Planning tostrip me down again?"

Susanna's jaw dropped.

“No, no, I swear, I wasn't—I didn't mean-honestly, last time was an accident!"

The more she tried to explain, the more flustered she got.

What the hell was he implying? Did he really think she'd done all that on purpose before?

"I didn't mean to," she mumbled, staring at the floor, cheeks burning. Hull's

teasing made it impossible to look him in the eye.

But even she had to admit, given how many times she'd accidentally undressed

him while patching him up, it was a little hard to believe herself.