His dilated pupils find me and soften but then his face contorts and he slams the man’s head against the wall again. ‘Don’t ever lay a fucking hand on her. Do you hear me?’ Head meets stone again. ‘Do you fucking hear me?’
‘Yes, Christ! Let me go!’
Gregory drops his grip and the man falls limply to the ground.
‘You mad bastard. She’s gagging for it.’
Williams comes out of nowhere and grabs Gregory’s fist before he lands a blow. ‘I’ve got it, Greg; get out of here.’
‘You shouldn’t have left her with him,’ he snarls at Williamsas he yanks his arm back, still glaring at the heap of man on the floor.
A million thoughts are crashing through my mind and I can’t get a handle on what just happened. His rage.
Two deep, brown pools move to consider me. I have nothing to say.
‘I’ve suspected for a while that he was in love with his best friend’s sister. Seems obvious now, don’t you think?’
I turn to find the smug face that owns that whisper. Stella.
‘Well, that he’s fucked her in any event.’ Her lips are curled into a snarl. She’s the final straw in this whole godawful day.
Gregory steps towards me as the other guests go back to their own business.
I hold up a palm. ‘Don’t. I’ve had just about all the humiliation I can take.’
I barge past him, walking quickly, almost running the corridor to our room. Jealousy burns through my entire body, worse than this morning, worse than when any other woman has looked at him because this is different. He was like an animal, so protective and… possessive.
I sit on the edge of the bed and make soothing circles with my fingers at my temples. I really might be going insane. I don’t know how much more I can take of this man: his hidden truths, his lies,ourlies,ourdeception.
Does he love her? Is he fucking her?The rational side of my brain is screamingnobut the other has been crying out for him to say those three words tome.
The bedroom door closes but I refuse to look at him.
‘Scarlett.’
‘Don’t talk to me, Gregory. I don’t want to hear it.’
He stalks towards me, his feet moving into my line of sight. ‘Hear what? That I’m not sorry I just stopped that arsehole taking Charlie to bed?’
‘No. I don’t want to hear the why.’
He bends now, putting his hands on my knees, and lifts my chin with his index finger in that goddamn tender Gregory way.
‘Those women, all of them, they want you. I’ve been fighting the pack all day. Then you ignore me to flirt with Adriana all night. And don’t tell me it’s just business; she was all over you. To top it off, you let the entire world know that, that… Do you love Charlotte?’
He laughs like I’m a silly little girl and I want to slap his stupid, arrogant, beautiful face.
‘Scarlett, angel, she’s a kid. She’s like a sister to me. I’ve known her since she was a toddler. I’m not in love with her but I look out for her. Like a brother should look out for a sister. And Williams…’ He stops and shakes his head. ‘Williams does a pretty shitty job of it sometimes.’
‘Stella said… Have you… have you slept with her?’
He pushes up from my knees and sets about undoing his bow tie.
‘And what about all these other women? Have they… have theyhadyou?’
‘I’m not dignifying that question with an answer.’
‘That’s a yes.’
