CHAPTER 22–The Lines He Draws Around Her
Eva wasn't sure when the night shifted.
Maybe it was the moment she stepped back into the gala hall, still shaken from the mysterious noise in the corridor. Maybe it was when Derek's hand pressed gently—but firmly—against the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd like he owned the right to touch her that way.
Or maybe it was simply the way everyone looked at him.
At them.
People noticed. Whispered. Glanced between her and Derek like trying to solve a puzzle.
She didn't blame them. Their dynamic was… hard to ignore.
Derek Hale was a man carved for attention—tall, elegant, dangerous in a way only power could make a person. And now he stood beside her as though she belonged exactly there.
Right next to him.
A part of her warmed at the thought.
A part of her panicked.
As they passed a couple of Derek's associates, one of the men—a charming-looking investment partner with a too-polished smile—tilted his head at Eva.
"New assistant?" he asked lightly.
Derek's hand tightened instantly at her back.
"No," he said, voice cool, cutting. "She's with me."
Eva's breath hitched.
Not my assistant.
Not my employee.
With me.
The man blinked, thrown off by Derek's tone. "Ah. I see."
But Derek wasn't done. He stepped closer to Eva, fingers brushing her hip—subtle, barely visible to others, but unmistakable. Claiming.
Eva's pulse fluttered.
The associate cleared his throat, offering a too-wide smile. "Well, Derek, she's lovely. You two look—"
"We're leaving," Derek interrupted, steering Eva away before the man could finish.
Eva stumbled slightly at the sudden movement. "Derek—what was that?"
"What?" he asked with almost innocent confusion.
"That." She gestured vaguely behind them. "You didn't have to snap at him."
"I didn't snap," he said.
"You were… borderline rude."
"He was staring at you too long."
She blinked. "People stare, Derek. It's a gala."
"They stare at jewels too," he muttered, "but I don't like anyone handling what's mine."
Her breath caught.
"Yours?"
He slowed, just enough to look down at her.
"Did I say something unclear?"
Eva's words tangled. Heat surged up her neck. "Derek… you can't just say things like that."
"Why not?"
"Because I—I don't know what it means."
His gaze softened, but only slightly. "It means I'm not going to stand there and let other men look at you like they could approach."
"Approach?" she echoed. "To say hello?"
"To try something," Derek corrected.
She opened her mouth to protest—but stopped.
When she replayed the investment partner's smile in her mind… she realized Derek wasn't entirely wrong.
Still—
"You don't own me."
His jaw tensed, but his voice remained calm. "I never said I did."
"You implied it."
He studied her, eyes narrowing slightly like trying to solve a puzzle.
"Eva," he said quietly, bending his head closer so only she could hear, "if I ever claim you, you'll know. I won't need subtlety."
God.
Heat shot straight through her.
Her fingers trembled, and he noticed—of course he did.
He didn't touch her this time. He didn't need to.
"Relax," he murmured. "I'm not dragging you away. I'm not controlling you. I'm watching out for you."
"But why?" she whispered.
The question hung between them—heavy, dangerous, real.
Before he could answer, someone approached.
This time, a woman. Tall. Confident. Beautiful in a polished way that screamed old money. Her hair was sleek, her emerald dress silky and expensive. She smiled warmly at Derek, though the warmth did not reach her eyes.
"There you are," she purred. "I've been looking for you."
Derek stiffened.
Eva's stomach dropped.
Ex-lover? Rival? Someone important?
The woman barely glanced at Eva before dismissing her entirely.
"Derek, come dance with me." She reached for him without permission. "You owe me at least one."
"I don't," Derek said flatly.
"Oh, Derek," she laughed, brushing her fingers against his forearm, "you never change."
Eva hated how familiar it looked.
Hated how right the woman sounded.
Hated the tiny sting of jealousy blooming in her chest.
The woman finally turned to Eva, eyes gliding over her like she was a smudge on glass. "And you are…?"
Before Eva could speak, Derek answered.
"She's not your concern."
Not your concern.
Not irrelevant.
Protected.
The woman's smile tightened. "How interesting."
Then she leaned closer to Derek, voice dipping into something intimate. "You're getting reckless. Everyone can see it."
Eva stiffened.
The woman smirked at her reaction, clearly enjoying it.
Derek's voice went cold. "Walk away, Laila."
"So she does matter," Laila said softly.
That hit Eva like a punch.
Derek shifted slightly, shielding Eva with his body without making it obvious. His hand hovered near her back again—close, protective, proprietary.
Laila's smile widened. "Be careful, darling. Attachments make you weak."
Derek's jaw flexed in a way Eva had never seen.
"Good night, Laila," he said.
This time, the command in his voice left no room for argument. Laila swept away, though not without a final triumphant glance at Eva.
Eva exhaled shakily. "Who was that?"
"No one," Derek said.
"That wasn't 'no one,'" she countered. "She knows something about you."
He didn't answer.
"Derek."
"Drop it," he said quietly.
She folded her arms. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Pulling away when things get too close."
He paused—then gave a small, tired sigh.
"I'm not pulling away."
She answered softly, "Then what are you doing?"
He hesitated.
Then he reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. The touch was gentle. Too gentle for a man like him.
"I'm trying," he murmured. "Trying not to hurt you. Trying not to lose control. Trying not to be selfish."
"Selfish?" she echoed.
"Yes." His thumb brushed her cheek, slow and warm. "Because I want things I shouldn't. And I don't know how to want you only a little."
The room seemed to tilt.
Her pulse stuttered.
Her lips parted. "Derek…"
He stepped closer, body almost touching hers, but not quite. "And I know I shouldn't let it show. My possessiveness. My jealousy. But when someone looks at you—when someone touches you—that instinct gets… hard to control."
"Instinct," she whispered.
He nodded once. "Strong."
She swallowed, torn between fear and desire. "And what am I supposed to do with that?"
His answer was simple, devastating:
"Whatever you want."
Silence pulsed between them.
Warm. Heavy. Electric.
Eva breathed unevenly. "Derek… I don't know how to feel about all this."
"I know." His hand slid down, brushing her arm. "You're not ready to choose. That's fine."
But then his voice dropped lower—dangerously soft.
"But I am."
Her heart jumped. "Choose what?"
He leaned down, lips brushing the shell of her ear.
"You."
Her knees almost gave out.
Before she could speak—before she could think—a loud crash echoed from the corner of the hall. People gasped. Security rushed forward.
Derek's hand instantly closed around her wrist.
Tight. Protective.
Possessive.
"Stay with me," he ordered.
And Eva didn't know whether he meant physically right now…
…or in the bigger, terrifying, irresistible way that would change everything.