Page 84 of The Marriage Policy

“You have that giddy Donovan smile,” Ana says as we wait for the drinks.

“I know. I can’t help smiling about him. Tonight is a lot of fun.”

“The two of you are so adorable.” She reaches over and squeezes my bicep.

“The cutest.” I beam, which makes her laugh. “It’s true.”

“You’re an absolute joy, Eric, and I hope you never change.”

Before I can reply, the bartender comes over and hands me my drinks. Ana didn’t end up getting one, so it’s just mine and Donovan’s. “Shit. I need to piss real quick.”

“Go ahead. I’ll take the drinks to our table.”

I thank her, and we go our separate directions. The club is even fuller than it was when we arrived, and it takes me what feels like an eternity to work my way through the crowd and the hallway where the bathrooms are.

The hallway is packed too, men pushing other men up against the walls as they kiss and rut together. My cock takes notice, and I can’t help but conjure up a hundred different scenarios where I’m making out with Donovan in every area of the club.

The bathroom is pretty full, and there’s no doubt that sex is happening in some of the stalls. Would Donovan be down with that? Sex in public? I want to do everything with him, as long as it’s something he’s into as well.

I take the longest piss of my life at one of the urinals, wash my hands, then head out, excited to get back to Donovan and our friends. I only make it a few steps into the main part of the bar when I feel a hand on my arm. I turn to see who it is, the smile immediately falling from my face when I meet Malcolm’s smarmy gaze.

My hackles rise instantly, rage and hate battling for dominance. It’s not a feeling I’m proud of. I don’t want to be an angry man. I don’t want to dislike anyone, but this man hurt Donovan. He took advantage of him, didn’t see his worth, as if he isn’t the best fucking thing in this world.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” I jerk my arm out of his hold.

I start walking away, but his words stop me. “I always knew you were fucking him too.”

I stop cold, body tight. I turn to face Malcolm. “Excuse me?”

“I saw the two of you earlier. I always knew you were fucking him too. He tried to make it seem like he’s so good, Donovan who cares about everyone and always does the right thing, but really, he’s just as bad as I am. He was fucking you while he was fucking me, just like I was fucking them all at the same time.”

I can’t move. Can’t speak. My brain and every part of me are fueled with nothing but rage. “Don’t talk about him. Don’t look at him. Don’t even fuckingthinkabout him.” My hands fist, my chest so tight it’s difficult to breathe.

“What the hell are you going to do about it? You can’t even function in life without Donovan. You know he feels sorry for you, right? Poor, stupid Eric who doesn’t have a clue.”

Even though his words hit every single one of my sore spots, I roll my eyes. He’ll never make me believe Donovan feels sorry for me, can never make me doubt who we are to each other. “You’re jealous because he’s mine. And you know you never deserved him. You didn’t deserve any of them.” Our argument is drawing attention, the people around us starting to watch what’s happening. “You used him so you’d feel better about yourself, about your pathetic little life, and now you’ve lost him and he’s mine. I’ll give you a hint: he never would have been yours. He would have seen through you.”

I turn and take a few steps away when Malcolm says, “He really loves cock, doesn’t he? I bet you think it’s just yours he loses it for, but I couldn’t keep him off my dick. He’s a good piece of ass, better than the other two, but I’ve had better.”

I see red, my body nearly vibrating out of my skin. All thought turns off as I whirl around on Malcolm. I’ve never hit anyone in my life, but I can’t stop myself from drawing my arm back and letting my fist collide with his face.

Gasps surround us. Malcolm stumbles backward, nose bleeding. He catches his balance, and before I realize what’s happening, Malcolm is charging me. He knocks me to the ground, and then his fist connects with my eye.

I throw him off me, flip us so I’m straddling him. I pull my arm back again, when I hear, “Eric,” and look up to see Donovan watching me. Rylan, Hayes, Anthony, Mads, and Ana are there too.

I already feel my eye swelling, adrenaline and hate for the man beneath me begging me to hit him again.

The music turns off.

Hundreds of people surround us, watching.

“He’s not worth it,” Donovan says. “He’s sad, pathetic, hateful, and he’s not fucking worth it. This isn’t you.”

The anger in me decreases. The hate I feel for this man doesn’t go away, it never will, but Donovan is right. He’s not worth it. “I feel sorry for you,” I tell Malcolm. “You had the best man in the world, and you didn’t see it. I won’t make that same mistake. I’ll love him better than you ever could.”

I shove to my feet, push away from Malcolm, and go straight for Donovan. He pulls me into his arms the second I get to him.

Security is finally heading over to us, and Anthony says, “Get him out of here. He’s not even supposed to be in here!” his voice cold in a way I’ve never heard it.

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