Page 30 of Was I Ever Here

I plop the wet rag on the counter, wipe the errants strands of hair off my face, then storm out of the bar and into his office, shoulders straight, head high. I don’t bother knocking, I know he’s alone in there.

I storm into the room, slamming the door shut behind me and stand there, murder in my eyes. Or what I hope translates to murder. Byzantine doesn’t seem surprised by my sudden appearance, which only makes my blood run ten times hotter. I take deep breaths in and out, ready to pounce as I watch him recline back in his office chair, a tumbler full of whiskey in his hand.

“What the hell are you playing at Byzantine?” I snap. I cross my arms against my rising chest as he pins me with a heated stare, my throat suddenly tight, yet still I refuse to stand down. He told me not to fear him. So that’s exactly what I’m doing.

“You’ve barely spoken to me since this morning and even then it was like pulling teeth. Let’s all remember that it was you who invited me for coffee, not the other way around.”

He takes a long sip before answering. “Not everything is about you, Sunny,” he drawls. Then, he picks up his phone, effectively dismissing me.

I take a step back as if slapped. Oh, thefucker.

“Not about me?” My voice raises up an octave and I can hear the hysteria in my tone. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before continuing.

“I don’t know what fucking games you’re playing at but you have the wrong girl if you think I’m gonna take this laying down. Don’t you dare start acting as if this is all in my head when you’re the one practically stalking me. This hot and cold shit isn’t cute, get over yourself,” I hiss.

My whole body is trembling but I would rather die than let him win a game I didn’t even agree to play.

Byzantine glances back up from his phone, his jade eyes penetrating as he coldly stares me down.

“Get over myself?” he says incredulously. He deliberately places his glass and phone on the desk without making a sound. Slow and calculated. Like a predator before the strike.

I swallow hard and lick my lips. I unfold my arms and begin to wring my fingers together.Fuck what did I just start?

He braces his hands flat on the desk, standing up. He looks every bit the gangster I believe him to be, straightening to his full height while glaring back at me. The intimidation is etched all over the hard curves of his body. It’s too late to second guess my stance, so I raise my chin in defiance.

Finally, he moves, walking around his desk and towards me in quick strides. I can’t help but to step back until eventually I’m leaning flat against the wall. Only inches separates us when he finally comes to a stop, pinning me to the spot with his glare.

I gulp loudly while his eyes darken. Heat blazes across his pupils, and a low rumble rises from his chest as he repeats himself. “Get over myself?” he growls.

It almost sounds like a threat. His eyes dip to my lips and then back up as he slowly raises his hand and collars my throat, his rings cold on my skin while his thumb presses against my thrumming pulse.

“Do you have any idea what you do to me, little sun?” he questions, his voice like flames licking across my face.

His other hand begins to trail up my arm, his fingers tracing a path of goosebumps along my skin. The hand against my throat squeezes lightly as he coaxes a small whimper out of me. I’m powerless under his touch.

“Do you know how hard it is to be around you and not touch you?” he says, low and almost threatening.

He leans closer, his lips barely a flicker against my jaw, then travels down my throat. Lust begins to curl low in my stomach.

His lips find their way back to my ear and he whispers, “The nights I’ve spent fisting my cock to the images of what I could do to you?” He presses his hips against mine, evidence of his desire hard against my thigh.

“What Iwilldo to you?” he rasps. His hot breath wreaks havoc on my nervous system as I try to desperately regain my composure—and fail.

“The nights I’ve spent watching you work, thinking about all the ways I’ll make you come with my tongue alone?” His hips press even harder, pinning me against the wall, my clit pulsing with what his filthy words are promising.

His thumb travels against my neck and pushes my chin up, effectively opening my throat to him. My body is frozen against the wall while his stubbled cheek rubs against the sensitive skin near my ear and I let out a moan, my lips parting with the sound.

Byzantine sighs and finally pulls away, his hooded eyes landing on mine. I can feel my cheeks flush as my body tingles at the sight of him. He grins and licks his lips—his hand still firmly placed against my throat.

“I don’t play games, my little sun. You best remember that,” he states, his mouth curving devilishly.

My heart plummets into my stomach when he finally releases me and steps further back.

“I’m just waiting for the day you’ll be mine again.”

And without a second glance my way, he reaches for the door and storms out of the office, leaving me panting against the wood-slatted wall. My mind is a lust-filled mess but his last words are still ringing in my ear.

You’ll be mine again.

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