“Yeah, you’re probably right. The buzz is great, but you’re not exactly steady on your feet,” she winks.
“And heels aren’t helping,” I add.
Noah suddenly grabs my backside and looks deep into my eyes.
“I’ll carry you home if I have to, babe.” Oh, now he’s listening again.
I break free from his grip and laugh politely.
“That won’t be necessary,” I say firmly.
I try to take a step back, but Noah already has me by the waist again. Now he’s starting to get a bit too pushy.
“Back off, Noah, that’s enough.” My laugh is forced.
I push a little harder than before, but it doesn’t have much effect. Isa grins, turns around, and heads back to our table. Great, no help from her. Does she not realize Noah is seriously crossing lines now, or does she just not care? Noah is tall and quite muscular despite his slim build. His fingers dig into my body possessively, and his crotch grinds against me. My eyes scan the room, but Dennis, of all times, is nowhere to be seen. Did he go to the bathroom? Is he at the bar? I’m on my own, and I press my hands against Noah’s chest to push him away. It doesn’t work.
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Nora. I know you want it,” he whispers in my ear.
Panic takes hold of me, even though we’re in the middle of a crowded room. No one seems to notice what’s happening. I do the only thing I can and shout.
“Let me go, Noah, I don’t want this at all!”
There’s a bit of pushing and pulling between us, and the next thing I know, Noah is on the ground. I’m shocked and look at the man who just gave him a hard shove. The panic turns to relief when I see Andreas standing next to me. His fists are clenched, and his eyes are blazing. His gaze tells me he’s ready to do just about anything right now. I’ve seen him angry and frustrated at the table during our dinner, but this is on a whole other level. Hatred and rage fill his eyes, and I almost feel sorry for Noah, who has no chance against Andreas. Almost.
Andreas’s appearance completely throws me off. I thought nothing could top his Italian suits, but the tight jeans, hugging his butt, make me doubt that. His black, fitted T-shirt accentuates the size of his biceps. His disheveled hair and shadow of a beard only add to his intensity. I hold my breath and don’t know what to say or do. How on earth did I end up in this mess? I stand there, dazed, watching the scene unfold in front of me. The alcohol is probably also making my reaction time far from record-breaking.
“Keep your hands off her, understood?” Andreas roars, his voice like a storm.
Noah doesn’t answer and is still on the ground. Fear flashes in his eyes, but something else too—recognition.
“Do you two know each other?” I ask, my voice barely audible.
The men don’t answer, but Isa, who has just joined us, does.
“Oh, we know each other, all right. We had such good times together, remember, Andreas?”
Andreas and Isa? I can’t believe my ears. The room starts spinning even more. I don’t like Isa at all anymore.
“You and I, Isabella, had anything but a good time. You and your boyfriend stay the hell away from her,” Andreas spits back, his voice like a blade.
Isa is Isabella? Is this the woman he was talking about on the phone on Wednesday? It almost certainly must be. I can tell he wants to hit her too. Everything about Andreas shows he’s about to explode, but he’s holding back. He positions his body and shouts but doesn’t touch her. She, however, touches him, running her finger over his chest.
“Oh, now I get it. Is that your new girlfriend? Is she tasty?” Isa taunts.
As quickly as he can, he slaps her hand away.
“Don’t touch me, Isabella, and stay the hell out of my sight,” he warns with lethal intent.
“For what it’s worth, you just came to me, Andreas,” she replies, her voice still playful and seductive.
The next thing he says, he whispers in her ear. I notice a painful grimace form on Isabella’s face. Even in the dim light of the club, I can see all the color draining from her face. She looks ghostly pale, takes a step back, and walks away. Noah, who has finally scrambled to his feet, follows her.
“You! With me!” Andreas commands me. Verbs are apparently a waste of time.
“Not so fast. So, you’re Andreas?” Dennis chimes in, stepping into the conversation, seemingly unbothered. His confidence is undeniable, especially when you consider Dennis is just as tall and almost as good-looking as Andreas.
“And you are?” Andreas seems ready for round two.
