Chasing the storm

Chapter 40: No Escape from Me

(Rowan's POV )

---

The storm was still raging.

But in this room?

Something worse was brewing.

Ava and Oliver were still arguing in the background, their voices sharp, cutting through the tense silence.

Mia and Caleb were near the supplies, checking what we had left.

But me?

I was sitting too close to Sienna.

And she was too aware of it.

---

She Thought She Could Ignore Me?

Cute.

I tilted my head, watching her fidget, her fingers tightening around the blanket covering her leg.

"You're quiet," I muttered.

She still didn't look at me. "You're observant."

I smirked. "I'm also annoying. You forgot that part."

Finally, she turned to me, exhaling like I was exhausting her. "I didn't forget."

I chuckled, my eyes dropping to her leg. Still bleeding.

Still making me itch to fix it.

"Let me see it," I said.

She tensed. "I already let Caleb wrap it."

"Yeah? Maybe he did a shit job."

Her eyes narrowed. "You just want to be difficult."

I grinned. "That too."

But I wasn't joking.

I wanted to be the one to take care of her.

Not Caleb.

Not anyone else.

Just me.

---

I reached forward, my fingers brushing against her knee.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

But she didn't stop me.

Didn't pull away.

Didn't fight me.

And that?

That was dangerous.

Because if she wasn't pushing me away?

Then maybe—just maybe—she wanted this too.

But before I could test that theory—

Caleb sat down next to her.

Right. Fucking. There.

I clenched my jaw.

Because of course he did.

Because of course he had to ruin it.

---

"How's your leg?" Caleb asked, his voice softer now.

Softer than it was with anyone else.

I hated that.

Sienna gave him a small smile. "Hurts, but I'll live."

Something sharp twisted in my chest.

That smile?

It wasn't for me.

It was for him.

And I hated that even more.

---

"Good to know you'll live, Sunshine," I muttered, my voice casual—too casual.

Sienna's head snapped toward me, eyes flashing.

"Could you not?" she said.

I smirked. "Not what?"

Caleb sighed. "Rowan—"

"Stay out of it, golden boy."

Caleb's jaw ticked. "She's not a damn game."

I leaned back, stretching out. "Never said she was."

Sienna glared at me. Furious.

But beneath that?

Something else.

Something she wouldn't say out loud.

Something that looked a hell of a lot like wanting me.

And that?

That was enough to make me grin.