“Why is he looking at you?” Sebastian whispers in my ear. But I can’t reply. I’m frozen to the spot, my arms hanging limply at my sides, my eyes wide, as I stare at Arlo in shock.
“Cora Ashford,” he says, and everything goes blurry.
“Oh my god. Is he the guy you’ve been seeing?” Sebastian hisses.
I stand numbly as Arlo goes on and thanks everyone for their support.
“This is his event?” Sebastian continues. “And he’s still looking at you.”
I want to tell him to shut up. But I’m so mad, I can’t even form words.
How dare he?
Who does he think he is?
EIGHTEEN
ARLO
Not once have I ever claimed a woman like that in public. And she refuses to go home with me, even though I can see in her eyes that she wants to. It was a risky move doing what I did, but I had to get her attention somehow. I’ve barely tasted her, and already I’m becoming quite obsessed with all things Cora.
As I walk off the stage, she tracks my every movement. Her confused expression has now been replaced with one of anger. Why the fuck does that turn me on?
I like having her mad at me.
It means she cares.
When I stop in front of her, she throws a glass of champagne in my face. I don’t bother saying anything. I did it to get a rise out of her, and that’s exactly what she gave me. My mouth tightens into a hard line, and as she looks at me, she creases her brows together in confusion.
“You’re delusional,” she grits out. I see her friend behind her, trying to bite back laughter as he covers his mouth with his hand.
“Sir, would you like me to have her escorted off the premises?” a security guard asks from beside me. I didn’t even notice his approach because all my focus was on her.
“Me?” she shouts at him.
I see the fire there, and she isn’t even drunk. I hold up a hand to the security guard as I ask her, “Do you think you can calm yourself?”
“Did you just claim me in front of everyone here?” She waves a hand around.
“Yes. You didn’t like it?” I reply, raising a brow. She needs to know she does not control the narrative, and I backed her into a corner for a reason. I need control, and she is a hard one to control, that’s for sure. Because while her body says yes, her mind won’t quite keep up.
“We are not a thing, so why would you do that?” Her face is going red, and her friend is now watching her with a hint of concern.
“Had to push you over the line somehow.”
“There are people here who know me, and you just declared something I will have to explain when I’m asked about it.” Her gaze darts around the room, frantically looking to see if anyone is watching her.
“No one will question you about me,” I tell her. It would be foolish for anyone to do so. I know too many secrets of the rich and powerful people of this town. “And technically, I wanted to thank someone special in my life… It could have many meanings.”
She scoffs. “Yeah? And how often do you do that for others?”
“Never,” I answer truthfully.
Shaking her head, she spins and steps away from me.
Turning to Sebastian, I ask him, “Think she might let me take her on a date?”
He bends over in laughter like he can’t believe it.
