I glance at my phone to check the time yet again. It’s nearly 5 a.m.
Fucking 5 a.m!
I swing my legs out of bed and begin pacing along the line of the bedroom windows, muttering under my breath.
Maybe something happened to him?
Bullshit. Nothing happens to Mateo Ricci.Hehappens tothem. He’s been out dicking around all night, that’s what’s happened.
“Out with Raoul. Grabbing a drink at a club,”I mimic. “What the fuck kind of drinks keep you busy until 5-fucking-a.m, you bastard?”
I have a pretty good idea…probably out fucking some bimbo with his goddamn mobster buddies. Raoul is the worst of the lot. I’ll bet he’s snorting cocaine off some hot little stripper’s tits right this minute.
He could have been fuckingme, dammit!
I’d been waiting in a tight little black number all evening. Lacy lingerie, “screw-me” shoes…the works. Why? Because he told me he didn’t want me to leave the apartment. Right! When did I start taking orders from men? Maybe since I’d stupidly started thinking about hearing those ridiculous words from him again.
I love you…
Well, I don’t need his fucking “I love yous.” He can take his pretty words and shove them up his ass! I’m so mad, I could spit. And there’ll be no slinky little dress when he gets back, that’s for sure. I stripped off and climbed into bed a while after midnight when it was clear he wouldn’t be coming home anytime soon. And then I lay tossing in that bed we’ve been sharing, getting more furious by the second.
I spot one of my sexy stilettoes lying nearby and kick it clear across the room.
Who does he think I am? Some “little woman” who’s happy to wait dutifully for him to get home, whenever it suits him?
Screw that! I’m nobody’s “little woman.” I should have gone out, too. Who cares about staying in this damn apartment where it’s supposedly safe? Safe from what? Safe from cramping his pick-up style? I should have been out “having drinks” and picking up my own easy lay. That would serve him right. Let him get home and find the bed unslept in. Let him wonder where the fuck I am.
I find my other shoe and kick that one too.
Bastard. Bastard, bastard!
“Just look what he’s turned you into, Andy!” I hiss beneath my breath as I start pacing again.
“What have I you turned into, Andy?”
I bleat in alarm and spin in surprise at the sound of his voice. Mateo is leaning against the bedroom door, his arms folded over the dark button-down shirt that’s stretched across his chest. He’s clearly smirking at me.
“Where the fuck have you been?” I half-yell. My fists are balled at my sides.
“I told you, I went for drinks with Raoul.”
“Until fucking five in the morning?” Iamyelling now. And he deserves it, the fucker. He glances at his watch and quirks his mouth ruefully.
“I’m sorry. I guess time got away from me.”
“Time got away from you? Time fucking got away with you? Yeah, right! I’ll tell you what else is going to get away from you. Me! That’s what!” I storm toward the closet and begin yanking clothes from shelves. Until an arm bands around my waist and I feel myself hauled back against the length of his body.
“Andy, dammit! Will you just stop for a minute?”
I’m almost naked aside from the little lace bra and pantie set I’d stupidly put on, expecting him home earlier. His clothes are rough against my bare skin. His hands warm on my body.
Not thinking about that. Not thinking about him touching me!
I kick out at his shins and slap his hands sharply.
“For fuck’s sakes!” His breath is warm against my neck as he swings me off my feet. “Can you just calm down?”
“Why should I fucking calm down? You left me alone here for hours! Where the hell were you?”
