Gerald began talking, ignoring her completely, and maybe for him it was easy, but for me, it was the hardest thing in the world.
How was a man supposed to think about anything but her?
Gerald spoke his piece, almost begging me for my backing, and before I could answer, more and more people came to join us. Soon, it was my own party of fawning sycophants.
And I didn’t want to talk to any of them. I didn’t want to be here with them. I wanted to be here with her so we could enjoy my success like I had always dreamed of.
Like the perfect woman, she sat silently and sipped at her champagne, but the alcohol in her glass didn’t seem to go down at all, and she didn’t refill her glass.
My fingers stroked across her knee.
It was possessive, I knew that, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want there to be any doubts. Sophia was here with me.
She was mine.
And anyway, touching her gave me comfort.
“Sister.”
My head snapped around, and my good mood disappeared. Gio stood there, looking his normal cocky self, and he was greeting her first. Like I wasn’t there at all.
My hand closed around her knee.
“Hello.” The music was so loud that I could barely hear her, but she sounded unsure of herself suddenly.
Was she feeling his presence like I was? Like he was an unwelcome guest.
“Gio.” Nodding my head, I stared up at him. Maybe it was my imagination, but his eyes looked glassy. “Glad you could make it.”
He didn’t answer me at first. His eyes were glued to the hand I had molded around his sister’s leg. He was staring at it like he couldn’t quite focus.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He was on something, that much was clear. In fact, he was so wasted that I was surprised he could function normally. I had heard rumors of his drug use, but this was the first time I was seeing the proof.
Gio really was a mess.
“Well.” He snapped out of it, dragging his eyes away. “It’s the only way I could see my sister, isn’t it?”
“No one stopped you from visiting,” I retorted.
“No?” Leaning down, he breathed alcohol fumes into my face. Although I wasn’t sure which alcohol. It might have been paint thinner, it smelled so strong and pungent. “Because I’m pretty sure…”
“Gio.” Sophia’s voice was sharp. “Stop it right now.”
“No, say what you were going to say, Gio. If you can get the words out, that is?” I slid my hand up Sophia’s thigh. Not too far, but enough to get a rise out of him.
“You have your hands all over my sister.” He shook with anger.
I opened my mouth to tell him that she was mine and that he was the one who had given her back to me, but Sophia got there first.
Jumping up, she put herself bodily between us. “I am right where I want to be, Gio,” she said in a hush. “But let’s talk somewhere quieter.” She glanced over her shoulder at me. “That’s okay, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s ok. Just stay where my men can see you.”
Sophia’s smile was for me alone. It was a blinding flash of white behind pink, glossy lips that I could so easily imagine wrapped around my cock.
“Let’s go and dance.” She was already leading her brother away before I could react.
Dance? I sure as hell hadn’t said she could dance…down there…on the dance floor where a hundred of men could ogle her.
