I’m going to talk to her, and suggest we find somewhere quiet.Inside one of these booths would do.It’s not so loud here.We wouldn’t have to sit too close, or shout.
“Can you hold this booth for me, and keep it free of people?”I ask Ronnie.“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Darling, that won’t be a problem.”
-14-
-Dylan Drake-
None of it should theoretically be a problem.All I have to do is locate Kira.Not difficult, even in this crowd, considering how stunning she is.And then convince her to come with me to a quiet corner to talk.Again, it’s pretty obvious she has plenty to say to me, so that should be straightforward too.
I’m a couple of feet away from the booth, scanning the crowd when someone shunts into me from the side, propelling me into the nearby wall.Pain explodes through my shoulder, and forces a grunt from my throat.“Watch it!”I bleat, expecting an apology, only for a hand to clap against my butt.I twist to face my assailant, planting my rear against the brickwork as I turn, however, the distinctive mix of musk and geranium alerts me to who it is even before I see Adam’s face looming inches from mine.
“You’re a slippery son of a bitch, but I’ve caught you.”
The way he says that implies we’re playing an elaborate game of cat and mouse with rules we both signed up to.The only thing I ever signed up to do with Adam Bask was the Feinstein & Clairmont commercial, and that, rightly or otherwise, never saw the light of day.
“Get out of my face, Adam.”
“Not bloody likely, considering the pains it’s taken to get rid of your tail.It’s time for you to pay up on your promises.”
“What promises?”I’ve never made him any promises, and I certainly haven’t been leading him on.And actually, “What do you mean you’ve got rid of my tail?”
“Your bodyguard.The bitch.”
A chill strikes right down deep into the marrow of my bones.“What…what have you done to her?”
My mind fills with images of Kira flopped like a ragdoll in some darkened corner: drugged; unconscious; maybe, bound.Surely someone saw something.She’s part of the security detail.I’m sure they check in and check up on one another.
“Mate, you can quit acting.”He’s in my face, nuzzling against my hair.Although I don’t recall him grabbing hold of my wrists, he has both pinned behind me.“I know she’s just part of your kinky little set-up.”
I’m seriously lost.Whatever it is Adam thinks is going on, isn’t.Unfortunately, wriggling to free myself fails to achieve the desired response, though Adam sure as hell gets smiley at the bodily contact involved.
“God, I can’t wait to do you.Okay, let’s go.”
How the hell is he this strong?He flips me around like I’m a kid not a grown man, and with my hands clasped behind me in the small of my back propels me through a door at the back of the club into what is clearly a staff only area.We stumble into a small antechamber that leads onto a stairwell.The area is lit by one dim security light over what I presume is a store cupboard, since it’s under the slope of the stairs, but turns out to be the staff loo.Adam shoves me inside and slides the bolt behind us.
As soon as he releases me, I turn on him.My wrists ache from his previously overzealous grip.“What the fuck are you playing at?And what have you done to Kira?”
He comes to me with his arms outstretched.“We’re alone now.You can stop pretending like she means anything to you.”
Despite my attempt to bat him away, his hands close on either side of my head, and he presses a kiss to my lips.
“Get off.I’m not pretending anything.I don’t know what the hell is going on.”
Adam shakes his head.“Games with you.It’s always ruddy games.Don’t you ever get tired of them?I’m tired of them.I’m tired of the subterfuge and the acting.It’s time for the action.”
His mouth on me again is not what I want.I struggle to be free of the kiss, while simultaneously acknowledging the irony.Not so long ago I was forcing myself on Ronnie like this, now my role in this scenario is flipped.I can’t claim to be enjoying it much.Not that I was exactly into it the first time around.The same can’t be said of Adam.The man is all arms and extra limbs, and since when did he possess the strength of a herd of rhinos?
“Will you stop that?Look, Adam, I don’t know what you think is going to happen here, but whatever it is, you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.”
“Is that right?”He shoves me backwards with enough force that I wind up sitting on the toilet seat, whereupon he occupies the space between my splayed legs.He leers over me and grips the front of my shirt, tugs so that I’m lifted off the seat towards him.
Strength like that only comes from one source.Dumb butt has swallowed drugs of some sort.That also explains why he doesn’t seem to register the fact I’m kicking his shins.
“Adam.Stop.Seriously.I mean, I’m flattered that you’re interested, but the thing is, I’m really not.”
“You said you’d say that.”
