“Just visiting.” Saying I wasnewgave the insinuation that I was planning to return but that would not be the case. This would be my first and last time at this place. A visit was the more appropriate term for this situation.
“Have you visited the other floors yet?” He leaned his body against the loveseat, inching in just a tad bit closer.
I wanted to squirm away, but I held my ground. “I just arrived.”
“I’d love to take you to the Wet Room. A body like yours should never be covered up.” His pale green eyes slid down, stopping at the ample cleavage my black dress exposed. They moved farther down, pausing again at the sight of my exposed walnut-colored thigh. The dress had been Judy’s idea and I was regretting it. I shifted, pushing my long sister locks over my shoulders to cover as much cleavage as possible.
“Beautiful brown skin like yours…” He paused, moving his hand closer to my arm. Just before I could pull away a voice sounded.
“If you fucking touch her, I will break all two-hundred and six bones in your body.”
The deep voice sent shockwaves through my entire body.
It can’t be.
As the strange man stood, moving out of the way, I nearly passed out when my greatest fear was confirmed.
It was him.
Aaron.
He looked a little older, and still just as mean as ever. And that was his appeal, part of it, at least. The man was handsome, bordering on beautiful by conventional standards. With his dark hair, hazel eyes, square jaw, and perfect nose with a splattering of freckles across the bridge.
“This one yours?” the strange man asked, looking toward Aaron.
“She’s off limits…to you,” he snarled. “Leave. Now.”
Aaron gave the man a hard look and before I knew it the guy was backing off. Aaron’s gaze lingered on his retreating form for all of two seconds and then he pinned me with his gaze.
I felt as if I was being lifted, even though I remained seated. I couldn’t avert my eyes as all types of emotions swirled around in my gut, each fighting for dominance over the other.
Don’t be so sensitive.
That reminder, of his harsh words, allowed the anger I still held to reign supreme. I’d let my anger at him lead the way.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he growled, before I could speak. His words knocked all the wind out of my sails.
“I-I,” I stammered, but then caught myself. “Having a drink and minding my damn business.” I turned my head, to reach for the glass on my table that had been dropped off by the waitress, but my arm was caught in a steel trap. I dared to look down at his creamy hand, encircling my forearm.
“Get up,” he demanded, but didn’t wait for my compliance. He yanked me up out of my seat with one arm. Once standing, he pulled me tight to his body. With his free hand, he gathered my sister locks at the nape of my neck. His hard eyes moved from mine, down to my lips, face, neck, and stopping at my breasts. Unlike when the other man had done this same thing, my nipples began throbbing painfully against the cotton fabric of the dress.
“You’re not wearing a bra.”
Why did his simple observation cause a flood in my panties? I should hate this man. No. Idohate this man for the way he treated me.
“Let go of me.”
His jaw tightened along with his grip around my arm.
“You think you’re all grown up now? Think you’re ready for a place like this?”
“It’s none of your goddamn business what I’m ready for, you son of a–”
His free hand clamped around my lower jaw, and his lips crushed mine, pushing my angry words back down my throat. I didn’t want his kiss or his touch. I squirmed to break his grasp, but he was too strong and I was always too weak for him. I gasped in pain and pleasure when he bit my lower lip and pulled back, not trying to soothe the bite like he’d done in the past.
“Watch your fucking mouth. Let’s go.”
I stumbled over the heels I wore, which weren’t my own, when he began pulling me by my arm. I tugged and attempted to yank free. “Let go of me! Where the hell are we going?” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low to not draw attention from the surrounding patrons. Aaron didn’t even bother to turn and look back at me, pulling me easily toward a long hall.
