Page 77 of Pride

Stepping into the main club, I stumble as Isiah’s grasp abruptly slips away as someone greets him warmly. Immediately seizing my chance to escape, I hurry away without looking back. Freedom!

At one end of the room there’s an area filled with plush sofas; people rest there while they sip their drinks and talk in low voices. At the opposite end is a stage where a live band plays, the music reverberating off the walls and giving life to the bored crowd dancing in front of them.

I want no part in this and I quickly walk away from it all toward the restroom instead, choosing to find solace further away from the crowd, far from Isiah’s prying eyes. My night will be spent counting down the minutes until I can finally go home.

As I’m about to make it to the restroom, someone clears their throat. “Not so fast, love.” A heavy hand clamps down on my shoulder, and then he slams me into the wall, the force of which takes my breath away. “Did you really think you could escape and hide from me?” His ice-blue eyes look alluring in the lighting of the club, a fact I hate to admit.

I shrug. “It was worth a shot.”

He moves his hand to my throat and squeezes, asserting his dominance over me. “It’s about time you stop playing games and accept the facts. You’re mine, Bella Benedetto, and there’s nothing you can say or do to change that fact.”

I hate the way my stomach flutters hearing him say that. It’s pathetic as this man is clearly unhinged and has no respect for women, and yet since he took my virginity, it feels like I’m connected to him in an irreversible way.

“I’ll never willingly be yours.”

He moves his body against mine, his hard muscles pressing against the length of me. “Are you sure about that?” he murmurs into my ear, lips teasing at the shell before gently skating down the side of my neck. “As the way you shudder at my touch suggests otherwise.”

Fed up with his antics, I bring my knee up into his crotch.

He grunts and releases me, doubling over in pain. “What the fuck?”

I dart around him and into the ladies’ room, trying to lock to the door behind me. And I fail, as he slams through it before I get to the lock. “Big mistake, sweetheart.”

He stalks toward me like an angry wolf ready to rip apart a sheep from limb to limb.

“Stay away from me.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Why would I do that when you just assaulted me?”

I bite my bottom lip, knowing that nothing can save me from his wrath now. His ice-blue eyes are swirling with rage as he stalks toward me. And then he surprises me by kissing me, stealing the oxygen from my lungs with one move as my heart thunders in my chest.

I melt into him, the passionate hatred I feel for him fueling my need to kiss him back, as I slide my fingers into his hair, enjoying the feel of his warm body against mine.

When we break apart, I’m in a daze, staring into those eyes I’ve come to hate and yet love all at the same time. “What the hell was that for?” I ask, stepping back from him.

He smirks. “Your feisty attitude gets me hot under the collar.”

I shake my head. “And your arrogance drives me to despair.”

“Is that true, Bella?” he breathes, stepping closer to me again. “You kissed me like a girl who’s desperate to get fucked again.”

My entire body tingles at his words as I shake my head. “We need to get back to the party.” I try to move toward the door, but he blocks me.

“But do we really?”

I hold his gaze. “Yes.”

“Okay, on one condition.”

I narrow my eyes. “No conditions.”

He chuckles. “I need another kiss before I let you go.” Isiah leans toward me, expecting me to initiate.

I swallow hard, drawn to him despite everything. And then I press my lips to his in a quick, chaste kiss. As I’m pulling away, he laces his fingers in my hair and deepens it, his tongue sliding against my own. And then, he pulls back a little and looks into my eyes as if he can read me like a book. “Your cunt is dripping wet right now. I can see how turned on you are just looking into those pretty little eyes of yours.” He drags his tongue down the side of my face, a move that should disgust me, but only increases the desire pooling between my thighs. “Now, let’s go back to the party.” With that, he grabs my arm and hooks it under his, before unlocking the bathroom door and leading me back out into the club.

“You really do make me despair,” I say.

“Good,” he mutters back.

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