Page 80 of Feel Me

“I’m calm,” I say. It’s true, on the fucking outside.

She glances toward the ballroom where that ball-less piece of shit weasel Trevor is standing. He grins, nodding in my direction. I return his smile with all the warmth of a frozen tundra.

“Behave as the consummate professional I know you are,” she insists.

“I’m behaving,” I point out, keeping my grin. “He still has all his teeth, doesn’t he?”

Curran nods. “He does. Not that he should,” he reminds me. “Asshole’s lucky you didn’t break his Goddamn jaw.”

“You’re not helping,” Tess sings.

“Babe, did you see him? He was all over her—nothing against Mel, Deck. She was trying to get away from him. You should have beat his ass then handed it back to him on a plate of hors d’oeuvres or some shit.”

“Curran,seriously?” Tess snaps at him.

He holds out his hands. “I’m just saying, if any guy was to touch you like that in front of me, they’d be hauling him out on a stretcher.”

She points to her bulging belly. “I think it’s safe to say you have nothing to worry about.”

I turn away when he pulls her to him, laughing as he nuzzles her neck. My feelings toward Melissa are fucking out of control. This jealousy crap is total bullshit. When Stone grabbedmywomanand tried to kiss her in front of me?and my entire family! ?I swear to Christ I could have ripped out his spine out and busted it over his skull.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to shake off the rage that all but blinded me when he touched her, stroked her?like he couldn’t wait to rip off her panties. But when he wouldn’t back off, even when she made it clear she didn’t want him, that’s when I snapped. If I was anyone else, and anywhere else, I would have made him bleed for it.

“Shit,” I mutter, trying to stay quiet. This is my night to shine, to remind all the high-ranking officials who I am, and why there’s no one better to lead this city. So why can’t I just let this thing go?

Oh, I know why. Shit for brains Trevor touched Melissa like he owned her. If he somehow manipulated her, used her, or God help him,hurt her,I will end him.

My back stiffens when Mel and Wren slip out of the bathroom. Her expression falls when she sees me. What the hell? How am I the bad guy here? I kept calm and protected her from his wandering hands.

I march toward her in slow and steady strides. “I need a moment with Melissa,” I tell Wren when I reach her.

Wren grins and pats my shoulder. “No problem. I’ll be at the table looking after your club and saving Evan from all the money grubbing politicians who figured out who he is.” Her face lights up when she sees him stepping out of the ballroom. “Hey, babe,” she yells, hurrying toward him.

Melissa moves off to the side for privacy. I think she’s ready to iron things out, but when she lifts her chin, I can tell she’s not happy.

Well, that makes two of us. “What the hell was that?” I ask her.

“Are you referring to your blatant and uncalled for display of possessiveness, the way you practically marked me as yours in front of Trevor, or what could have happened if the press caught sight of your interaction?” She narrows her eyes. “Grow up. You’re the District Attorney for the state of Pennsylvania not some jealous boyfriend.”

Yeah. Not the kick to the balls I need. But this isn’t about me and what I did. “What happened between you and Stone?”

If I didn’t think she could get angrier, I was wrong. “You’re seriously asking me this?”

“Yes. I am.” She looks around, as if debating whether to answer. “Just tell me,” I say.

She squares her stance. “I spent the night with him a few times,” she admits.

“Was it consensual?”

She seems taken aback by my question. But I need to know, because if it wasn’t?and he hurt her?I’m going to fuck up his world.

“Very,” she says.

“Very?” I ask.

“We weren’t intoxicated if that’s what you’re insinuating. We were both . . .” Her voice trails at the sight of my heating face. “We were both willing,” she adds quickly.

Every muscle in my body tightens hard enough to yank me back to the ballroom and nail Trevor across the jaw. It’s not that I’m not glad that he didn’t hurt her. I am. But like I said, this jealousy shit is a vicious bastard. “You have to befuckingkidding me.”

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