Page 11 of Red Velvet

She closes in on me, much to my surprise. But when she raises her hand to touch me, I retreat, turning with cautious looks around us.

"Not here," I hiss at her. "And not now."

The expression on her face changes, replacing the defiant yet shy smile with a frown. She's swaying as she stands before me, her hand frozen midair.

That guy on the balcony may have been a drunken outlier, but just in case he was merely giving voice to thoughts that a lot of people share about her in here, I need to get her out of this room, away from hundreds of judging eyes before she harms her reputation. Her intoxication is bad enough to keep me at bay for tonight, but that doesn’t mean I can’t leave an impression on her, protect her, give to her—and take from her.

I need to make sure I’ll see her again.

One night would never be enough for a girl like her.

Chapter 7

Kade

"You need a glass of water."

She narrows her eyes and glares at me like an unruly child who just got scolded.

"I'm fine," she insists, adding a pout to her defiant attitude.

"I'm sure you are," I agree. "But you're going to drink a glass of water."

"Why?"

"Because I'm telling you to."

She scoffs and crosses her arms in front of her chest. "You've got to be kidding me."

Her attitude enrages me as much as it intrigues me. I wonder how long she'd be able to keep this up if we were alone and I told her to kneel in front of me, naked, a collar around her pretty neck. It would suit her.

"Come," I say, pointing to the bar. "Let's get you some water."

Her lower lip drops as another huff escapes her. She casts me an indignant look, slowly shaking her head as if she can’t believe her ears. Nevertheless, she follows my gesture and moves where I’m telling her to.

I follow closely behind her, catching a pair of eyes as I survey our surroundings. The bride, her sister, is watching us from afar, her worried expression resting on Lila first before she turns to me. A slight frown casts a shadow over her face when she realizes I'm following her sister. I'm a stranger to them, and I can't blame her for justified suspicions regarding my intentions.

Still, I give her a reassuring nod, if only to make her feel safe—and to make sure she'll leave us the fuck alone. She should have other things on her mind on her wedding day.

"A glass of water, please," Lila tells the server behind the bar, enunciating every syllable and casting me a look from the side afterward.

"And a bourbon for me, neat," I add.

Her eyebrows arch. "Oh, soyouget to have another drink but I don't?"

"I'm not the one who can barely stand straight."

She purses her lips instead of objecting. Good for her.

As soon as we receive our drinks, I turn around and walk away from her with slow but deliberate steps. Even without looking I can tell she hesitates for a moment before following me like an obedient puppy. We meander through the room, moving casually but never stopping. I want to be alone with her, but since the balcony is no longer an option, I'll have to find another spot to hide from unwanted observers.

The first step was to get out of her sister's sight by moving to a smaller room next to the banquet hall. There are fewer people in here, but still too many for comfort. I can feel her presence closely behind my back as I aim for a door at the far end of the room. I walk with purpose, giving the impression that I know my way around this place, even though I have no idea where I'm going.

The door opens with ease and, much to my surprise, there's a completely deserted room hidden behind it.

Lila follows me inside, throwing a cautious look over her shoulder. She's the one who shuts the door behind us, and I'm the one who finds the lock and closes it with an audible click that causes her to jerk up.

I can feel her anxious eyes on me when I turn away to inspect the room we just sought refuge in. It's very similar to the one we just passed through, bright and airy, but a lot smaller and with fewer seating accommodations. It's obvious that it wasn't intended for use tonight, as it appears neglected and empty, sporting nothing but a few forgotten chairs gathered around two small tables.

---