Page 3 of Under the Influence
With trembling fingers, she sets her flute on the table and rolls back her narrow shoulders. “I hateyou.”
“Iknow.”
Hurts more than I care to admit. But I deserve her wrath. I’m an asshole, and I know it. Never pretended to be anything other than what I am. That’s why we’re here. Like this. Instead of her at home in my bed where shebelongs.
A stunning smile lights up her face that stings even more than her words. That I want to make real so fucking bad. She leans into the fucker, almost kissing his cheek. Seeming to think better of it, she cups his cheek instead. Smart girl. Otherwise, I’d have to beat the taste of her lips off his stupidface.
“I’ll be right back,Leighton.”
Even his name sounds like a pussy ass. I scrub down my chin before I put my hand on the small of her back. Tugging her closer despite her resistance. When the fuck did I become so fucking immature? Because of her. She does this tome.
“Okay, see you in afew.”
Too loud and forced. Stupid fucker’s nervous. Good. He should be fucking scared. And sad. Because she’s not coming back ‘in a few’ or any othertime.
Only her ire speaks while I wind her through the tables and into the lobby. Her heels tapping furiously across the marble hotter than fuck. “Slow down Books. I’ll be fucking you soonenough.”
Now I’ve really pissed her off. She jerks away from my hold. Slender fingers curling into fists. Keeping herself from slapping me across my smart ass mouth. A loss of control that only I bring out in her. Crumbling her normal poised, elegant demeanor. My brute to herbeauty.
We lose Tucker at the elevator. Fucker actually looks relieved. Doesn’t have to listen to our argument all the way up. Which is just foreplay. So I can see why he wantsout.
She’s on me as soon as the doors tap shut. Wound up and adorable, grabbing my lapels with all the force she canmuster.
“Why did you do that? You could’ve gotten Leightonfired.”
Fuck him. This is abouther.
I’m in her space in a heartbeat. Forcing her to stumble backward. Caging her in against the textured wall. Cool metal vibrates under my fist resting above her sweet head. I dip down, eliminating the difference in our heights, and nuzzle her neck. Welcoming her surprised little gasp. Relishing her soft skin, that pulses under my lips skimming her shoulder. Breathing in her seductive scent that I need more than an addict craves hisneedle.
I lift my head, pressing my forehead to hers. Brushing my thumb over her parted mouth. Grazing her tongue, which makes her breathe even harder. “Because you seem to have forgotten. You. Are.Mine.”
“No. I’m.Not.”
Small but quick, she crouches down and slips under my arm. Jetting over to the numbered panel. Shoving buttons trying to make us stop. Make mestop.
I grab her wrist and spin her around to face me. She cries out, flinching under my grasp. Delicate fingers claw at my hand, attempting to pry me off her velvety skin. “Let mego!”
“Don’t.” I loosen my grip but refuse to release her. “You know I would never hurtyou.”
Meeting my eyes, I see the agony in hers. For all her bravado and defiance, the pain I fucking caused glows the brightest. “Only my heart and my pride. But you’re right. No bruises. So yeah, thanks forthat.”
That fucking mouth. That I need on my cock so fucking bad. “I’msorry.”
The words slip out before I register them. I never apologize. Ever. But it fucking kills me to see what I’ve done to her. Making me a weak assbastard.
She knows this and surprise flashes across her face. Huge blue eyes widening with disbelief as her mouth falls open. But doubt creeps in, and she shakes her head. Giving up. Her body softens and her gaze slides to the floor. All the fightgone.
“No you’renot.”
I’ve broken her. When all I want to do is pick up the shattered pieces and figure out a way to glue them back together. Eliminate the cracks. Make her whole again. Make an “us” again. “What’re you doing here? You know this is my building. That I’d behere.”
Grasping for a bit of hope like a motherfucking pussy, I latch onto the idea that she wanted me to find her. To see her with that asshole and realize what I’ve lost. Regret what I destroyed. Which I’ve done every single fucking day since I put her in that cab and watched her ride away confused andheartbroken.
“God, you’re still so arrogant.” The bitter laugh burns like another blade to my gut. “I know you think the world revolves around you, but this event was planned months ago. When Leighton asked me, I said yes before I knew it was being held here. Otherwise, I would have told himno.”
She challenges me to question her more. Because we both know she has all the answers. Except the one I want to hear. The one she’ll probably never say again. “Guy’s a prick.He?”
“No, he isn't.” Soft but adamant, her voice holds no doubts about him. The only uncertainty swirls around her feelings toward me. “He’s a good guy who wants what Iwant.”
