Page 2 of Under the Influence
“For an ad agency down thestreet.”
She should be down on her knees in myoffice.
“Looks like lunch, then some kind of gift exchange, and thendessert.”
She should be naked and drenched in caramel as a present forme.
Sliding through the mirrored doors as soon as they part, I jog through the lobby and into the restaurant. Half crazed, I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. Or say. But it sure as hell will be something that sends a clear message to both of them. She may have come with him, but she’s leaving withme.
No one notices our abrupt entrance. The music as loud as their spirits and laughter. Everyone drunk on the decadence of spending a Friday afternoon eating and drinking on the company’s tab. The same defiant buzz as skipping school. Which I know all too well. Although I sure as hell wasn’t missing class because I was havingfun.
Probably seventy-five people mill around. The bar area overflowing, brighter than normal with strands of tiny blue and white lights strewn across the wall-to-wall mirror and the tall evergreen stuffed in the corner. A harsh contrast to the normally dark bistro that Iprefer.
But I still find her instantly. My cock like a magnet drawn to her essence. Her long, dark hair that feels like silk sways over her shoulder. Her slender legs even more stunning in black heels. Her red tipped fingers wrapped around a tall glass, the golden liquid sloshing against the sides as she leans closer to some motherfucker. Whispering words only he can hear. A wicked smile lifts his cheeks from her luscious pink lips brushing his ear and her free hand tugging his sleeve. With an intimacy that shoots boiling rage through my chest. That affection should be meant for me. She’s meant forme.
“Books?”
The tone sounds harsh even to my own ears. Demanding. Possessive. Obsessed. And for the best fucking second of my life a spark of happiness flames in her eyes when her gaze meets mine after hearing my voice. Responding to me uttering my nickname for her. Regardless of what bullshit she tells me or herself, she’s glad to see me. Before reality douses the fire between us. Before she remembers that she hatesme.
Her smile fades as fast as the grin blossomed, and she shakes her head. Nervousness jolts her slight body, and she grasps his forearm, attempting to turn him and walk away from me. Which I will never let fuckinghappen.
In four quick steps, I’m behind her. Sheathing her back with my chest. My hand sliding around her waist, her body shuddering under my palm when I tuck my cheek against hers. Claiming her in front of this bastard and everyone else. “You better not be fuckinghim.”
I swear to fucking god her body arches into mine from my threat hissed into her hair. As much as she swore she despised my dirty mouth, her pussy and tits don’t lie. Sweet nipples strain against the sheer bras I know she wears, pebbling under the thin fabric of her silver dress. And fuck me if I can smell her arousal only inches from my fingers gripping herhip.
Before she can respond, her dumb ass friend, who thinks he stands a chance against me, twists around and tries to yank her out of myembrace.
“What the hell are you doing? Let hergo.”
Never.
A few heads spin in our direction from the sharpness slicing through his voice, and she stiffens, struggling to push off of me and spin around. Fear that I fucking hate lines her face, her gaze bouncing between him andme.
“Please stop, Gio. You’re making ascene.”
I’ll stop. For her. Not him. Although I do fucking love the sound of her begging. The pleading tone zeroing in on my already pulsingballs.
I grin and wink, allowing her to step back from me. As if it’s all in jest. Just friends getting a bit too boisterous from the booze. A bunch of crazy fuckers living it up at three in the afternoon. Although these lame ass hipsters have no idea how to really enjoythemselves.
I nod toward the half-empty tumbler in the bastard’s clenched fingers. “Better slow down on the whiskey, my friend. You’re getting a little out of control with your boss standing rightthere.”
All the flushed fury seeps from his face when he glances at the man squinting in our direction. A wide stance and expensive suit conveying a confidence that almost matches my own. From the worry scrunching the idiot’s face under the man’s scrutiny, my guess iscorrect.
A fake ass smile plasters over his face, and he lets out a lame laugh before lightly punching me on the bicep. Touch me again motherfucker and you die. I don’t give a fuck who'swatching.
“Dude, you’re such a wildman.”
Dude?Really? How the fuck does she stand this guy? Done with him, I focus on my girl. “Come on. Let’sgo.”
Rage blisters her already pink skin. Which is so fucking gorgeous to see her riled up and feisty withme.
“No.”
My chuckle only angers her more. Squeezing her rose petal lips to keep from telling me off. That I know she wants to do so badly with her amazing body humming with disgust. So, of course, I fucking stoke the fire. “Unless you want me to break his jaw in front of his co-workers, I suggest you put a smile on that beautiful face and walk your cute ass out into the foyer withme.”
I refuse to call him boyfriend. Whatever she thinks she had with him, it’s over. She can tell him, or I’ll show him. Either way, he’sgone.
Her gaze jerks to Tucker, standing a foot behind me. Desperate for his help. Frantic enough to think his influence might sway me. But they both know better. Only offering a defeated shrug in response, he shakes his head. Despite his gun and massive size, he’s just as helpless as she is. Both of them well aware no one and nothing can control me when it comes toher.
