Page 16 of I'm Not in Love (I Promise)

“Bee, there you are. They’re asking about our next exam dates and I dunno. Lessgo.” He grabs my arm with more force than necessary but I stand firm. Whatever I was thinking about not giving up flies out the window.

“No, I’m going to call myself an Uber. Tell your parents thanks for the invitation.” I pull away and start to dig my phone out of my purse.

He’s inches from my face before I can find it. “Bee, don’t be like that.” He plants a wet kiss on my lips before I have a chanceto move my face away. “Come on, baby. I’ll be good out there. Promise. I need you, baby.”

“Ethan, come on,” I plead.

His hands snake along my arms as he buries his face in my neck. He’s murmuring nonsense, begging me to stay.

“What do I have to do, Bee?” His hot breath fans across my cheek. “Do I have to fuck you right here? You’d like that, wouldn’t you? All dressed up like a cheap whore.”

I’m immobile. Frozen, while he paws at my waist. He crowds me against the wall with his frame and presses his erection against my stomach. “No,” I manage to whisper.

He lets loose a manic laugh under his breath. I’m trembling, unable to do or say anything to get me out of this situation. And I hate myself even more. Whatever he took in the car had him acting like a different person. Like a monster.

“Everything alright over here?” Ethan steps back at the intrusion, giving me a chance to regain feeling in my limbs. I turn toward the resonant voice as a man steps out of the shadow.

His golden brown eyes lock onto mine. They’re sharp and full of fire. As I take him in, I realize everything about him looks angry. His tense square jaw, his inked flexing fists, his strained posture. Even his outfit is intimidating—all black with the exception of a dull silver buckle on his belt.

I should be afraid, but I’m not. If anything, I’m relieved.

Ethan looks the man up and down. “Yeah, I’m talking to my girl.”

The man’s lips pull down and his brows furrow. A deep crease forms between them. His gaze bounces between me and Ethan and I realize I’m holding my breath. When he locks eyes with me again, I try to convey gratitude in my expression. As much as my frozen body will allow me.

“I was actually looking for the restroom,” I say. “Do you know where it is?” Seconds go by with his gaze pinning me to the wall. I lick my dry lips and look away.

“Yeah, it’s around the corner. Want me to show you?”

“No, it’s fine.” I don’t bother looking at Ethan as I force my legs to carry me away from them and whatever this weird encounter is. I don’t know this man but the tension in the hallway is a powder keg ready to blow.

CHAPTER SEVEN

DAMON

I’ll kill him.No. Death is too simple. A piece of shit like him doesn’t deserve the easy way out.

Blake picks up speed with each step and as much as it kills me to put distance between us, I’m glad she’s not here to witness this.

The waste of space in front of me stumbles toward the wall and mutters a curse under his breath. “Whaddya want, man?”

I smile wide, showing off my dimples. The docile lamb hiding the sharp-toothed wolf beneath. “Just making sure you’re alright. Weren’t you saying you needed to take a piss?”

“Did I?” he asks. He takes stock of his body and nods. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

“I’ll lead the way.”

He plods behind me, holding onto the wall for balance.

Those hands were all over Blake. That body flush with hers. Those sloppy lips kissing her precious skin.

My blood boils with each racing thought. I don’t know how I manage to make it to the men’s room with the red film over my field of vision.

We stop at the door and I push it open, letting him enter first so I can lock it behind us. If he thinks it’s odd that I’m following him inside, he doesn’t say.

They’ve kept much of the original structure of the building with some obvious upgrades like urinals and multiple sinks. My eyes go directly to the vintage cast iron radiator against the wall.

I can smell the heat in the room. Hear the popping sounds from the steaming contraption. I’m already flushed from how warm the space is.

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