That’s odd. I’ve never met him and yet something about this man makes me want to punch him in the face. Maybe I’ve read something displeasing about him in an article that has influenced me negatively.
“The pleasure is mine,” he replies nonchalantly, glancing at his wife as she smiles at me.
“So, you’re Vi-” She yelps when Bellami pulls her aside and whispers something in her ear. “Oh, okay. As I was about to say, you’re Andrew’s date, aren’t you?”
I glance at him but he’s already watching me attentively, his gaze so intense that I almost forget Francesca’s question. “Yes, I suppose we can say that.”
“Since the introduction is over, we’ll leave you two love birds in peace,” he smirks, and I feel his palm settle on my lower back. Heat flushes my cheeks, and I’m tempted to fan myself. “I want Aoi all to myself as you can imagine.”
Every time he touches me, my body unravels, and I begin craving more. I don’t understand how someone’s touch can be so magnetizing, but all I know is that I want his hands on me.
Only on me.
Francesca smiles brightly as she pushes her long brown hair behind her back and takes her husband’s hand. “Let’s go. We wouldn’t want to keep bothering them.”
I watch them walk away while Bellami gazes lovingly at his wife, and I catch myself getting envious of their relationship. He is clearly head over heels for her and she undeniably loves him equally as much.
But since I’m a piece of shit, I can’t help but feel prickly that others get theirhappily ever afterwhile I’m stuck in one place, lost in time.
“Now you’re all mine,” a low and devilish voice murmurs into my ear and I smile despite myself. “Do you want a drink?”
“Are you trying to get me drunk, Prince Charming?” I smirk and his hand on my back slides around my waist, making my breath hitch. “Impatient much?”
No one’s paying attention to us for more than a split second and relief settles in my gut as I lean against his chest.
“It’d be best if we could just slip away and spend the rest of the night together.” His firm hands grab my hips, and he lowers his voice to a whisper. “I’ve been dreaming about you in my arms for an ungodly amount of time, Aoi. I can’t wait to show you how much I want you.”
“You’re so shameless.” I grin like a damn fool as I detach myself from him.
“You love that about me.”
“I’d love a Cosmopolitan even more,” I tease, grazing his fingers with mine. “Can you be a doll and fetch me one?”
“I’ll be right back.” He kisses my cheek. “Don’t move.”
Lips curling into a smile, I nod and retreat closer to the wall behind me. I lean against it and sigh, shutting my eyes for a second. I startle when a familiar face appears next to me.
“He really likes you,” Bellami says, throwing narrow glances at me. “Not that it’s a surprise. I’ve never seen him being so touchy with someone.”
I watch Andrew speak to the other guests while holding my cocktail, anxiously trying to escape them so he can come back to me. “You think so?”
“He allows you into his personal bubble. That tells me enough about you,” he points out. “When I brought him back home with me, he never let anyone get close. Not me, not any doctors. Nobody.”
“I didn’t know he has issues with physical touch.”
“That’s because heletsyoutouch him. You’re a rare exception.”
Bellami takes a sip of his Whiskey on the rocks, and I trace his line of sight back to his wife conversing with a blonde woman in a burgundy low cut dress.
“I’m not especially fond of you, Holden,” he admits stoically. “Your existence in itself is a problem I’ve had to deal with before. My brother might not entirely know what kind of person you are, therefore, I’d appreciate it if you refrained from upsetting him.”
My fist bawls at my side, and I swallow back my annoyance for Andrew’s sake. “I don’t know what you’re referring to but I advise you to mind your business, Mr. Lacroix.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re excused,” I retort, nodding toward his brother who’s coming our way. “I couldn’t care less about your warnings. He knows what he’s getting into and still wants me. Besides, I happen to quite like him. Tell me whyIshould listen to you when evenhedoesn’t.”
“I have the power to put an end to your little games with a snap of my fingers, Holden. Don’t underestimate how far I’d go to protect him from you and your baggage.”
