Page 10 of Fearless

And yet here we are.

My hand slides around her neck for the second—third?—time tonight and I feel her pulse under my fingers. I hold her there for a minute, not hard enough to hurt her, but firm enough to show her that I could if I wanted to. “Have you ever been with a man before?”

“Hell, you don’t waste any time, do you?” she says. She shifts as if she wants to get up, but I tighten my grip to keep her seated.

Her eyes widen, but she still doesn’t look me in the eyes.

“I asked you a question.”

I give her enough slack to shake or nod her head, and she nods it.

Interesting.

“Good,” I tell her. “I don’t have the patience for virgins.”

I feel her fingers grip onto my thigh. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

“That one’s better shown than explained.”

She opens her mouth, perhaps to protest, but closes it again when I dig my fingers into her slim neck.

“I’m going to break you apart, again and again. And then I’m going to try to fit the pieces of you back together exactly as I want them.”

This time, I give her enough slack to turn her head. She does.

She looks right into my eyes, and even I stop breathing for a second.

None of what I said was a lie, but she probably just thinks it was some peculiar brand of dirty talk. No doubt new and exciting for her.

If only she knew the truth.

The muscles in her throat contract as she swallows, and her tongue peeks out between her lips.

“Boss?”

No fucking way. She was about to say yes, I could practically smell it.

I turn my head around to see Derek standing just behind the cordon. Now, I like Derek, but the man has an uncanny knack for interruption and this time he takes the gold medal.

“I’m busy.”

I turn my attention back to Meisie, who’s now busy looking at Derek. Brilliant.

Does she want to go home with him instead?

“Boss I rea—”

I cut him off before he can finish. “Come here.”

He unclips the red velvet rope and comes to stand just before our table. “Look at her,” I tell him.

Derek looks everywherebuther, and then finally rests his eyes on the little thing sitting on my lap. “Do you see her? Fucking look at her. Unless the building just spontaneously caught fire then there is nothing more important than the conversation I’m currently engaged in.”

He stays silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Of course he is.

Derek probably knows me better than my own useless brother, and I’m positive he can tell this bit of bravado is purely for Meisie’s benefit. If she falls for it then I’m laughing all the way to the bedroom. Girl’s like to think they’re special.

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