Fuck. I loved the way my name sounded rolling off her tongue.
“I can make my own choices,” she continued.
Her words only fueled my desire to possess her. “No,” I replied sharper than I intended, my grip tightening on her waist. “I’m the boss, and what I say goes, including anything I say to you.” My voice dripped with authority.
She straightened her back, meeting my gaze head-on. “I won’t be controlled by anyone. Not even you,” she whispered.
“You dare defy me, Angel?” When she didn’t respond, I grabbed her chin, making her wince. “Let me make it crystal clear. I am the one calling the shots.” I gritted my teeth. “And if you dare to defy me again, there will be consequences. Do you understand?”
She winced again at the force of my grip.
Her lips turned downward into a frown. “You can’t just bully me,” she said flatly. My grip tightened even more, and my voice dropped to a dangerous whisper as I leaned in closer to her face. My men closed in, probably worried that I might be ready to snap her neck.
No one ever disrespected me in front of my men. “Oh, but I can. And believe me, you don’t want to test me on this. You have no idea who I am and what I’m capable of when pushed to my limits.”
Her body trembled against mine, the fear noticeable as she swallowed hard. Winter nodded slowly, the reality of my warning seeming to set in. I’d like to keep her separate from that side of my life, but her fiery spirit turned me the fuck on. With a curt nod, I gently tapped her legs. I asked her to get off my lap, as much as I didn’t want her to because I loved the way she felt against my body.
She slid off and stood to my side.
I adjusted my hard on and watch as her eyes moved to my dick. I smirked when her cheeks flushed and she quickly averted her gaze.
“Let’s go,” I commanded my men.
Before I walked away, I leaned down to her ear and said, “Sleep tight, my angel. Pray and hope the devil stays far from your dreams tonight.”
With a smile on my face, I realized that she was stronger than I ever would have guessed from first looking at her, a force to be reckoned with, a woman who refuses to be controlled by anyone but herself.
“You are so fucked,” Luca said with a snicker.
Tabi and Ana walked up the steps to the VIP section as soon as Nico left. The moment they spotted me, their goofy grins stretched wide enough to tell me they were drunk. Hell, even I felt drunk after letting Nico finger me—and in public, no less.
“Oh, my God, Winter!” Tabi squealed, her voice a mix of a whisper and a shout as she scanned the room as if to make sure no one could hear us. But the crowd dwindled after Nico and his men left, so there was no one left to overhear her.
Before I could respond, Tabi grabbed my arms and started inspecting me.
“What are you doing?” I stepped back to avoid her probing fingers.
“Well, he didn’t seem to do anything to you,” she said.
“Right? I mean, not that I can see.”
“Tabi, for fuck’s sake,” Ana interjected, rolling her eyes. “Clearly, she’s fine.”
“Sooo,” Tabi said, taking a dramatic sip through the straw of her bright pink, fruity cocktail. “What did the boss want? Did he want to fuck you?”
Oh, my God. This girl had no filter when she had alcohol running through her veins.
“Haven’t you had enough?” I teased, reaching for her drink. She looked like she was one sip away from face-planting onto the floor.
She pulled the drink closer and pouted. “No, I haven’t! It’s my birthday, and I can drink all I want!” She stuck her tongue out defiantly, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “What about the other guys?” Tabi asked. “They were seriously hot,” she said, fanning herself dramatically.
Sure, the other guys were gorgeous, but only one made me feel like my skin was on fire. He looked at me as if I were the only girl in the room, the only one who mattered. His hands on my skin sent a jolt through me. I could sense a hunger there, like he was wrestling with his own desires.
I wanted to explore these feelings and see where they would lead. It was like the thrill of testing out a new rollercoaster. The anticipation builds as your heart starts racing, waiting for the plunge before the twists and turns that tip you over the edge.
But how could I explain that to my friends?
I turned to Ana, raising an eyebrow. “I think it’s time to go home. Don’t you think?”