“She was–––.”
“What the fuck are you looking at?” I snapped at the same woman who had listened in just moments ago.
“That’s enough. You’re going to make a scene,” he cut in.
Scoffing, I pushed away from the table and weaved my way back outside, cupping the back of my neck as soon as I burst through the glass doors. I wasn’t sure how long I stood there receiving curious stares from the valet and other patrons coming and going.
“Elena.”
I ignored him, pissed I’d left my clutch in his car.
The heat from his body pressed against my back. “I have fucked other women, Elena, but I don’t stick my dick in every pussy thrown at me.
That woman was Claudia. She’s my cousin, and she knows who you are to me.”
Instant shame and embarrassment flooded through me. Wasn’t it less than two hours ago I was calling him a psycho? Wasn’t this pot meeting kettle? “I’m sorry,” I turned to face him, slightly stepping back so I could see into his eyes. “I––.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips that effectively hushed me. “It’s okay. Let me take you home.”
The second the Mustang was back in its parking spot, I waited for him to open the door and then stepped past him, heading back through his darkened house.
I was hoping I was going the right the way when he caught me by the arm and turned me around.
“You continually run away from me, and I continually have to catch you.”
I glared at his hand. “Let me go.”
“No,” he said harshly. “Explain to me what happened between the parking lot and me pulling in the garage.”
“I don’t know if I should take your word on what you want from me. I easily believe everything you say. I’m…naïve, and I think you know that. You could be mani–––.”
“Please shut the fuck up, Elena.” He said it so softly it made an even harsher demand. His ‘please’ added a hint of tenderness.
Unsurprisingly, I found myself doing what he asked. His hand found its way to my throat, where he gripped me firmly. “Is this how it’s going to be between us,amada?
Do you need me to treat you like a worthless bitch that’s only good for being fucked once or twice and then discarded?”
I opened my mouth, just to close it again on a whimper when his grip grew tighter and he eased me back against the wall. “I didn’t say you could speak yet.”
My lips slightly parted on their own accord. He cocked his head and took in my uncontrollable reaction. He leaned in, touching his nose to mine and tightening his grip again, so I felt an obstruction when I swallowed. “I know I scare the shit out of you, but also that fear makes you want me even more.” He eased up so I could speak; I swallowed trying to regain my bearings, still stuck between his solid body and the wall behind me.
“You need someone mentally stable to deal with all the baggage that comes with you. I’m not mentally stable. You have no idea what kind of walking disaster I am and how...crazy I can get. You would either kill me or hate me in the end––maybe both.”
He dropped his hand altogether and took a fraction of a step back to contemplate me. “Are you trying to scare me away? If you are, you’re doing a really shitty job.
“Your warning is only enticing me all the more. Give me your baggage, I can handle it.”
How could he so nonchalantly be okay with everything I’d said?Because of who he is,a little voice whispered. He’s an underground king. He was the best kind of poison to be addicted to because he was immune to the venom I unintentionally injected into others once our relationship ever moved forward.
How could I possibly compare my baggage to his? He could take me on, on his worst days, but could I do the same for him? And then what about…Eva? I couldn’t bring that up yet. I didn’t trust him enough. I didn’t know what he would do with the information or if he already knew and was waiting on me to slip up.
I hadn’t forgotten the look he gave me at the post-reception, the one where he seemed to know exactly what my motive was. And I still couldn’t place why the smell of him was so familiar.
I drove myself fucking crazy, I really did.
It wasn’t fair, because I wanted him in all the ways I could have him even though I knew better. I was reaching for a star that didn’t belong in my sky.
I shut my eyes for a second and heavily exhaled. Upon opening them I took two steps towards his front door He exhaled heavily.
