But because of what led up to my getting on my knees.
I want a licked apology.
Now.
You’ll call me princess when you’re apologizing.
Holy hell, man. I never would have thought a tiny slip of a girl ordering me around would make my dick so hard. Make me feel…purposeful. Whole. Like a vault containing a secret had been unlocked inside of me.
Did I do enough to make up for throwing her onto the sink? For yelling at her?
I can’t see her face because she’s much lower to the ground than me, but I can’t stop thinking about what she said before leaving the bathroom.
Or how she said it, rather.
Like she was going to cry.
I don’t think I can go into this party until I’m sure everything is solid between us. I’m not sure what is going on with me and Petra, but my gut tells me it’s really important.
Thatshe’sreally important.
Also, I think I might have to kill myself if she cries in front of me.
“Hey.” I brush my fingertips against the small of her back. “Are you okay?”
“Of course, I am.” She slides her hand into mine and squeezes. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Damn. I like holding her hand. A lot. I was so determined to stay away from her, because of her age, because she’s a virgin and she came here to help me. Now that we’ve been in two intimate situations, how can I put the horse back in the barn? Is there any point trying? “We haven’t talked about what happened in the room.”
She seems to force a laugh. “We have bigger fish to fry, don’t we? I’m about to meet the famous grandma.” A beat passes while she regards me. “You still want to go through with convincing her we’re a couple, right?”
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” I say, distracted by her smooth, delicate fingers threading through my ugly, crooked ones.
“Yes,” Petra says without missing a beat. “Exactly.”
My head comes up as I replay what I just said. “I would want you here with me, either way. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound like…”
“Like this is just a job?” Again, her smile seems forced. “It is just a job, big boy. You don’t have to apologize for reminding me.”
Dammit. Have I hurt her feelings? “Petra—”
“Come on, let’s go in.”
I don’t really have a choice, because the hostess opens the door for us and boom, suddenly every head in the bar is turning in our direction. The breath evaporates from my lungs at the overwhelming amount of attention. Someone that I don’t recognize leans and whispers to the person beside them. There are a ton of whispers. All at once.
I hear he came by those scars in combat.
Who is his date? Is that his girlfriend?
Opposites attract. Isn’t that what they say?
Anxiety coils around my spine like a snake.
I have the urge to turn around and walk straight back out of the bar, but I have the good sense to glance down at Petra. She’s beaming at our rapt audience, holding my hand tightly in her grip. She even leans into my side and nuzzles my pec with her nose, her green eyes sparkling up at me. “Let’s find your brother and his bride first,” she says, for my ears alone. “Don’t worry about anything, baby. Just stand there and look like a hero. I’ve got you.”
Some of the pressure in my throat lessens.
As long as I focus on her eyes, I can breathe, I find.
