‘I know exactly who you are. It was impossible to miss the three hundred times you name-dropped “Mummy and Daddy” tonight.’
‘Then you won’t have missed how influential they are.’ He clutches his nose as blood pours down the front of his shirt, soaking through the fabric.
‘Oh, shut up, you spoilt little prick. I’ll have you arrested for sexual assault on my client.’
My attention turns to Victoria, who’s wide-eyed and trembling. Shock, no doubt. ‘Are you okay?’
She nods, staring at the blood pouring from Harrison’s nose.
‘Get the fuck out of my house,’ he snarls.
‘Gladly.’ I sweep Victoria into my arms and carry her out into the street and back to the car. I place her gently in the passenger seat and strap her in before slipping round to the driver’s side.
She doesn’t speak until we arrive back at her house.
‘I’m sorry,’ she says, resting against the kitchen counter.
‘You should be, Victoria.’ I help myself to a whiskey from the crystal decanter on the worktop.
The first rule of security is never drink on the job, but with the front door locked and Victoria only a foot away from me with her tail between her legs, I feel justified bending it just this once.
‘I had no idea he had that side to him.’ She bites her lower lip. It’s still trembling.
‘Here.’ I offer her my glass and she sips the alcohol thoughtfully.
Remnants of carefully applied make-up are smudged under her huge, sorry eyes. I reach across and wipe it with my thumb while my other hand steadies her hip.
Her scent assaults my senses, strawberries again, but tonight it’s mixed with a rich, sensual perfume. My eyelids close as I breathe her in.
My palm remains resting on her hip. I should tear it away, but I can’t. After watching her with another man all evening, the urge to claim her, to take her and teach her who she belongs to, is overwhelming. ‘You know I have a good mind to put you over my knee and spank your ass for your behaviour tonight.’
My hand hums, desperate to explore what lies beneath that navy dress.
A sharp gasp slips from her lips and her hip jolts like she’s been electrocuted.
‘If you’d only done that in the first place, we could have avoided this entire damn evening.’ Hazel-hued eyes rise to meet mine, heavy with a hunger that no fancy dinner could satiate.
‘Victoria.’ I swear I should record that warning and play it on repeat. It’s all I seem to say around her. Not that either of us is paying any heed to it tonight. I’m itching to touch her. To kiss her.
Technically, I’ve already made her come once.
Would it be so bad if I did it again?
The familiar internal duel between what I want and what is honourable recommences in my head.
The faces of Brady, Hanson and Jones force themselves to the forefront of my mind and I’m reminded of the need to live for today, because tomorrow is promised to none of us.
Guilt bubbles in my stomach, along with an overwhelming sense of longing. My fingers go to the ever-present pendant hanging from my neck as I swallow back the emotion rising inside my body.
‘Give into me,’ Victoria urges, gently setting the whiskey glass down on the countertop.
Her pelvis arches forwards, closing the remaining few inches between our bodies. Amorous eyes gaze upwards, while gold flecks dance like a devil wielding fire, tempting me to do something wicked.
Something selfish.
Something I’ve obsessed about for a very long time.
There are so many reasons I should shut this thing down. Not least because Ryan might actually murder me. And rightly so.
