“Enough to want to know her. Enough to stay and do just that.”
CHAPTER14
Fabio
The motherfucking prick stared at me like he wanted me dead. The feeling was mutual. I couldn’t stand him, and, beyond all logic, I couldn’t stand him being around Gabriella either.
I knew his kind well enough. A predator posing as a gentleman, lurking to feast on his prey without a care, and when the thrill was over, and his hunger was silenced, he’d just toss the bones aside, making room for his next kill.
I didn’t want that destiny for her. I didn’t want him to hurt her. I didn’t want anything to hurt her. Why? I was no stranger to pain and hurt and evil and loss. I’d looked them in the eyes several times before, and they were ugly monsters that ate you from within. I could tell they visited her, too. Their mark was clear in the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. Those eyes deserved to heal, not to suffer.
But why wouldIwant to help end her suffering? Why was it driving me so crazy I was ready to do very bad things to this man just because he posed a threat to her? She was smart and strong enough to deal with him. Why would I want to be involved?
When I’d wanted to take her out, I was after nothing but the quick fun with her perfect ass. A few minutes later, things changed. I was literally throwing myself at her, offering her my body on a silver plate, but again, it was nothing but a cheap thrill to rejuvenate so I could continue my life that started to become meaningless and tedious.
Hours later, things changed again when I was covering my bathroom wall with my cum thinking about her, when I was ditching work to be with her, buying her underwear, getting worked up over the asshole who wouldn’t leave her alone.
And now that I’d savored the taste of her lips, that I had evidence she desired me—at least, her body did—that my heart and cock leapt because of her kiss, things were different again.
So different I wouldn’t let another male, no matter how alpha he thought he was, think he had a claim on her.
Fletcher touched his chin pensively. “You think after what Jack did she’d let him go easily, quickly, but even his crime she accepted. Not even that was enough to put her love for him behind and start doing what was right and good for her. Make no mistake, since Gabrielle Morrison became Gabrielle Brighton, she never let anyone stay long enough to really know her. She’s not going to start with you.”
What crime? The DWI? I added that question to the growing list I intended to get the answers for on my journey to win the most intriguing challenge that was Gabriella. “Thanks for the heads up, but I’ll take my chances.”
“Listen to me…boy.” His tone switched from an irritating calm to a menacing dark. “I’ve known her for twenty years. If you think you can just waltz your pretty, little ass in and take her from me just like that,” he stood, buttoning his tux, the true colors of a predator in his glare, “you’d better watch that ass.”
That’s it. I’m done with that arrogant asshole’s bullshit.I shot to my feet, dropping my mask on the table so he’d know I meant business, fury jolting through my veins, fists clenching ready for a fight.I’m gonna kill—
“What the hell are you still doing here?” Gabi appeared out of nowhere and stood between me and him. “Go back to your table, Fletcher.”
I hated the way he was looking at her. I couldn’t even stand the fact that his breath was that close to her. Taking her hand, I pulled her gently so she would be standing behind me, and I’d be facing him. “He was just leaving.”
An ugly smirk wrinkled around the corner of his mouth as he took his bow. “Enjoy your night, Gabi. I’ll be keeping an eye on you, in case you needed anything.”
When he spun and went back to where he belonged, as far away from her, even the air felt lighter. I pushed him off my head for now and focused all my attention on Gabriella as I should. It wasn’t hard. It wasn’t hard at all, especially when the second I saw her face—her mask, too, was off—the memory of our kiss came to play. Her expression wasn’t any less tense, though. “Are you okay?”
She just nodded and took her seat.
“Gabi…” Three men and two ladies in their fifties approached the table, so I swallowed my words, plastering my rehearsed smile for events.
They greeted Gabriella with warmness, and when she introduced us, they acted like normal people. No judgment, no inappropriate comments, no bullshit. If anything, they looked happy for her. That was a relief. To know that she wasn’t surrounded by sharks and catfishes all the time.
The lights dimmed, and a spotlight formed on the mini stage in front of us. I leaned in, letting her calm perfume fill my nose. “That kiss…was—”
“The ceremony is about to start,” she interrupted. In other words, she didn’t want to talk about the kiss.
But I’d make her talk. I had to. I couldn’t let it go. Wouldn’t.
That kiss was the most spontaneous, most sincere action I’d had in ages. I couldn’t remember when the last time someone kissed me or I kissed someone that wasn’t entirely emotionless was. I wasn’t ready to drop it or pretend it didn’t happen.
It did happen. And I dangerously liked it.
I didn’t know where I was getting all the courage to pursue something as graceful…something as real as Gabriella. I should be running for the hills. It was what I’d been doing for years. My specialty. Whenever I came face to face with something that could turn my life for the better, turn me into a better person, I ran.
Maybe, I’d finally grown up. Mamma would be throwing a party.
Or maybe, I wanted the magical blue eyes to see I was mature enough.
