You gasp when he tugs you behind him, becoming a makeshift barrier between you and Marcus as he innocently descends the stairs. But Marcus's eyes aren't on you; they're on Mickey, and they're having a stare-off so vicious they could silence the cicadas with it. Neither of them breaks eye contact. "I don't like him." His voice is devoid of any softness, something you’ve only heard seconds before he goes in for the attack. "If he touches you, say the word, and he's fucking dead. You got it?" he scowls. "I told you to keep your windows closed." Roman trains his attention back on you. "Do you put the chair under the door handle like I told you to?" "I mean, sometimes?" His eyes darken. "The alternative is leaving the phone on the entire night so I can hear if that fucker comes in. Don't say I don't give you options." you shouldn't get all gooey when he goes into protective mode, but you do. "I'lI make sure I don't forget," you say, just to ease him. "You leave your window open at night. Nothing will stop me from checking to see whether you've been a good girl/boy and done as you've been told." If his voice alone could kill, you’d be dead ten times over. "You better make sure you do it." You bite the corner of your lip. "Or what?" You realise right away you shouldn't have said that. you wait with bated breath as the darkness in his eyes changes from murder to mayhem, and his lips morph into the grin that has every girl around dropping their panties. "I have a question." He prowls forward until your chests touch, and his scent consumes your every thought. Your throat bobs as I stare at his lips. "How much punishment do you think you can take?"