Page 14 of Toxic

"I know. I'm-I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have told you," I blurt out without thinking.

Green fire burns in Sean's eyes. "We said no secrets."

"I know. But I feel like I've ruined us now."

Sean shakes his head. "Jesus, you don't get it, do you, Bridge?"

"Get what?" I ask as my fear grows.

"You're it for me. There is no ruining us."

I sniffle. "So you aren't going to break up with me?"

He drags his knuckles down my cheek. "No. But if that bastard comes near you again, I'm taking him out."

"He won't. I told him to stay away."

Patrick walks in with a tray of sandwiches. "Sorry to interrupt." He sets down the platter and leaves.

"Come eat," I say and pull Sean toward the table.

He sits then pulls me on his lap, ordering, "Kiss me first and remind me you're mine."

"I am yours. Only yours," I vow. Then I put everything into our kiss.

Sean's my future. I'm not letting anyone come between us, especially not Dante Marino.

3

Dante

Three Years Later

"So you'll pickme up later tonight?" Giorgia asks, sliding her heel on.

Shit. Why did I agree to go?

I was drunk.

I stretch my arms, barely awake. "Yeah, sure."

She lunges on top of me, pinning her brown eyes to mine. Her chestnut hair falls against my cheek. "Don't be late, okay? I don't want to hear about it from my father."

I pat her ass. "Noted."

She kisses me and then shimmies off my body. As soon as she leaves, I roll over and groan into the pillow. The last thing I want to do is go with her to the country club Valentine's Day Ball. It's a prestigious event filled with a bunch of pricks I went to school with, and I have no time for it. Nor do I have any desire to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Thoughts of last year at this time make me grip the sheets. Giorgia and I had been dating for a month. When I didn't shower her with gifts and make a big deal about the hallmark holiday, she cried all night.

I broke up with her, but somehow, she managed to find her way back into my bed.

In theory, Giorgia's the perfect woman for me. She's Italian, her father is one of my father's top advisors, and she's beautiful. But something is missing. I don't know what it is, yet every time she tries to bring up the topic of us taking the next step, I feel nauseous. It almost pushes me to break up with her, but then she rides my cock. It always convinces me she's worth keeping around.

Then she mumbles she loves me, and the cycle starts all over again.

So this holiday of shouting to the world who you love isn't my cup of tea.

It would be if Bridget were here.

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