Chapter Seventeen
Ria
“God, it”s packed in here,” Harley shouts over the music as we work the VIP area. I nod in agreement.
I’m exhausted. I”ve worked the past three nights and I am dead on my feet. I miss the girls and all I want to do is go home and get to bed.
Jack has been here again, and it seems if I”m on shift, then he’s here. His eyes are on me like a hawk and my ego gets a little boost every time I notice him staring like he’s drinking me in.
I’ve never had a man act protective over me and the way he came to my rescue earlier did things to me. I wanted to kiss him, thank him for defending me, but when he walked back to the bar, Annabelle was glaring at me like I”d just stolen her favorite pair of Jimmy Choos.
I haven”t asked, I”ve not wanted to know the answer, but I get the sense there is some history between Jack and Annabelle and it bothers me more than it should. I have no claim to him. He can do what he likes with whoever he likes, but it does bother me. However, I need this job, and pissing her off is not high on my to-do list, so I keep my head down and do what I need to do so I can get home.
I head back to the bar, trays full of empty shot glasses and champagne flutes ready for the glass washer. I’m mindlessly stacking them, when I spot Jack and Annabelle have moved over to the booth towards the back of the room. A sensation I have no business feeling creeps over my skin, making me sweat. It”s probably business talk. Right?
That”s all it is.
Then why are you still staring?
Slowing my stacking, I take just a little extra time to spy on them, but people keep getting in the way.
For fuck’s sake, move.
“Ri, you okay, honey? You’re bobbing your head about like you’re stalking your prey,” Harley shouts over the music from next to me, while polishing glasses.
That”s exactly what I”m doing.
I let outa fake laugh. “I’m good. I thought I saw a friend, but it isn’t her.” I need to get it together and calm down. I inhale a deep breath and slowly release it, grabbing a dishcloth from the side and begin to mop up the mess on the bar top.
He isn”t mine. I can’t be mad that he’s talking to another woman.
Finally, the crowd breaks and I have a full view of them. I watch as Annabelle slides closer to Jack, whispering something in his ear. Credit to Jack, he leans away, looking like he would rather be anywhere else than sitting with her.
Her tacky red nails drag over his exposed forearm and I watch, clutching the cloth in my hands until my fingers ache. I”m not sure I”m breathing either because, when Jack removes his arm from her reach, I let out a deep breath.
Get it together.
Jack points at the papers in front of them, but Annabelle seems to have absolutely no interest in them at all. I watch, unable to think straight, as her hand slips under the table and everything in Jack”s body tenses. That”s when I snap, throwing the cloth down. My feet storm towards them without a forethought.
I don”t know what I”m doing or what I”m going to say, but my feet move on their own accord, and before I know it, I”m standing in front of them, hands on hips, chest heaving.
“Ri, you okay?” Jack asks with concern.
Think, Ria, think.
“Yeah, erm…” I mumble, flitting my eyes between him and Annabelle, fury still bubbling in my chest.
Jesus, Ria, words, use your words.
A slow, knowing smirk spreads across Jack”s face, his eyes narrowing.
Busted.
“I.. err… I need the key for the, erm the safe for closing. Kate asked me to get it from you.”
“Sure, it’s in my office. Come with me.” He flicks his gaze to Annabelle, briefly dismissing her. “We’ll catch up tomorrow, Annabelle.” Her eyes narrow, as a snarl curls her red lips.
Back off, bitch. I give her a sarcastic smile and turn to follow Jack back to his office. I feel myself begin to panic, my palms sweating. I don”t need the key, I never get the key. I’m such an idiot. I”m a jealous idiot who doesn”t know what the hell she wants.
We enter the office, which I haven”t been in yet. Everything in here is leather or dark wood and screams luxury.
He opens the top drawer of his desk and takes out the key as I hover by the door that I’ve closed behind me. Rubbing my arms up and down to comfort myself, I will him to hurry up, so I can get back out there and away from him and this ridiculous situation I’ve created.
“Here,” he says, walking towards me, dangling the key from his finger. I take it and stuff it into the pocket of my skirt.
“Ugh, thanks. I”ll go back now,” I rush, keeping my eyes anywhere but on him. I can”t let him see how flustered I feel.
“Ri,” he says, his tone playful.
“Yeah,” I mumble.
“Look at me.”
I reluctantly lift my eyes to meet his, as my heart rate picks up.
Get me out of here.
“You didn”t need the key, did you?” he smirks.
Clearing my throat and standing tall, I say as confidently as I am able. “Yes, I did.”
“No, you didn”t… I think you were a little bothered by Anabelle.”
I let out the most un lady-like scoff and shake my head “What, don”t be ridiculous. She doesn”t bother me.”
“Oh, really,” he says, quirking an eyebrow as he steps towards me and I step back, my back hitting the door, causing me to gasp. He leans in, placing one hand above my head, leaning against the door, trapping me. He’s so close our lips are almost touching and I hold my breath.
Is he going to kiss me again?
”Does it bother you when another woman touches me?”
My eyes flutter shut for a brief moment, my body heating, and my heart feels like it”s about to break out of my chest. “I… erm…”
“Because watching that man put his hands on you earlier made me insanely jealous. The thought of him touching you, being that close to you, drove me wild.”
“Jack, I…” My breathing is erratic. I need him to kiss me, touch me. I can”t pretend anymore.
“Tell me to stop, Ri.” His voice is low and gravelly, making me ache for him. He lightly brushes his lips with mine. It”s not quite a kiss, but it leaves me needing more.
“If you don”t tell me to stop, sweetheart, I might have to have another taste of you...”
He swallows, his throat bobbing “... and this time, I don”t think I’ll be able to stop,” he says, his voice barely a whisper.
I lick my lips, my tongue grazing his lips, and he lets out a groan.
His jaw flexes and his eyes close, as if he”s having an internal battle
Kiss me, I silently beg.
“Fuck it,” he growls, as his free hand grabs the back of my neck in a possessive grip, crashing our lips together and devouring me. I”ve never been kissed like this. With so much want.
His hips grind into mine and my body moves on its own, rocking into him as my hands fist his hair. It”s a sensory overload; his scent, the taste of whisky, his touch.
He breaks away, locking eyes with mine. I don’t know how long we’ve been kissing, but my lips feel swollen, my chest heaving.
“You have no idea how badly I want you.”
I want the chance to feel what it might be like to be his. “Please, don”t stop,” I beg.