Page 10 of His to Unwrap
Yet here I am, only six days later, desperate for even a glimpse of her, like I’m some kind of tweaking addict or something. I’m pathetic.
“Well look who decided to be festive and join in on the fun.”
I scowl at my buddy Cam as I approach his table in the highly decorated front lounge—it looks like Santa’s elves threw up in here. My expression only makes Cam laugh at my expense. “I mean, look at that face. Such an improvement to our gathering. Just brimming with holiday cheer.”
“How ’bout you shut the fuck up?” I suggest, taking a seat across from him.
“Seriously, man, I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight.” He studies my face. “I don’t think you’ve ever come to one of the club Christmas parties before.”
Before I can respond, a waiter pauses at our table, setting down two glasses of champagne. I pick one up gingerly, the stem far too delicate for my big paw, and frown at the bubbles. “The fuck am I supposed to do with this?”
“You’re supposed to drink it, asshole.” Cam brings his own glass to his mouth as if to demonstrate.
I make a face. “Fucking frou-frou drinks. Where the hell is the whiskey?”
“You can order whiskey at the bar.” He sounds slightly less amused by me. There’s a strain of irritation in his voice now—I’m messing with his chilled-out vibe. “They’re handing out the champagne as a special treat. Since, you know, this is supposed to be aparty.”
I sigh, settling back in my seat. “I’m fucking up your holiday spirit,” I mutter.
He grins, the irritation forgotten. That’s the thing about Cam—he’s the happiest, most laid-back motherfucker I’ve ever met. Unless he’s wielding a riding crop in the dungeon, that is.
“Of course you are,” he says pleasantly. “But when has that ever stopped you?” He studies me a moment. “All seriousness—it’s good to see you here. You sit at home alone too often. What made you decide to show up?”
Without meaning to, my eyes drift across the club to the bar. Three women are standing there, dressed in their holiday best. Only one of them captures my attention, though.
“Ahh,” Cam says and I realize he’s followed my gaze. “Now I get it.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
He shakes his head, exasperated. “Dude. This is ridiculous. You’re so far gone for that girl. I don’t understand why you don’t just do something about it.”
“The last thing she need is some old asshole like me sniffing around her.”
He barks out a laugh. “Are you kidding me right now?”
I just glare at him.
“You’re not that old?—”
“Nearly forty. Seventeen years older than her.”
Cam shrugs. “So?”
“So, she should be with someone her own age.” The very thought of my angel with some twenty-something, limp-dick idiot makes me clench my fists under the table.
My friend leans across the table. “Roman, man, I’m not sure if you noticed, but we’re in asex club.” He gestures around the room. “A little age gap is nowhere near the most scandalous thing you could find in a place like this.”
“That’s not the?—”
“Furthermore,” he goes on, raising his voice to talk over me, “your girl is about as submissive as they come. And you and I both know that plenty of submissives prefer the whole older man thing. They want their Dom to be able to take care of them.”
God, the idea of taking care of Noelle has an ache blooming in my chest. What I wouldn’t give to be the one to provide for her, to protect her, to be her man.
Not going to happen,I tell myself. I reach for the champagne glass and down the whole thing in one gulp. It’s too damn sweet and does nothing to ease the sick feeling in my gut. “I really need some fucking whiskey,” I mutter.
“By all means.” Cam gives me a broad grin, gesturing to the bar, where Noelle is standing. “Go order yourself some.”
“It’s pointless to even talk about,” I mutter, rubbing a hand over my face. I really shouldn’t have come here tonight. But sixdays without seeing her had, apparently, been too much for me to handle.
