Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Daniel looked down at his phone once more, confirming the address of the restaurant.
Somehow King had gotten it out of Claudia and the boss had texted it to his man.
Daniel was confused, but grateful. He didn’t trust himself not to hurt Addison.
He didn’t know how the fuck other people trusted him not to.
Especially King. The man had seen up close and personal what Daniel was capable of doing to others human beings.
King was delusional if he thought gender would make a difference to Daniel.
Yet, for some reason, King had sent Daniel the address to an upscale sushi restaurant in the river district.
Rage seethed through him as he once more pictured Addison in the arms of a faceless stranger.
Then the faceless stranger was joined by another man and the ecstasy on her imaginary face doubled.
Daniel had to clench his hands on the steering wheel of his truck to stop himself from tearing into the restaurant and causing a scene.
Not that he cared. It didn’t bother him in the least to stalk in there and drag Addison out over his shoulder, after putting a bullet in each of her boyfriends.
Except that she might be upset. And that part did bother him a little.
Though he was pissed at her, he knew she wouldn’t like being publicly humiliated.
She had fucking cried when he threatened to drag her out of that hotel in a bathrobe.
So he would wait until she appeared. Then he would beat the shit out of her dates and drag her home.
He wasn’t sure what he was going to do after that.
Because all of his former reasons for keeping his distance still applied.
He still wasn’t any good for her. He would still probably end up hurting her or worse.
But he couldn’t seem to fucking leave her alone.
The fact that he couldn’t manage to go a week without at least listening to her proved that.
He’d installed those listening devices in her apartment exactly five days after he threw her out of his life.
And like the deviant pervert he was, he lay in the bed he’d bought just for her, inhaling her scent and listening to her talk to herself, cooking, playing her cello, occasionally masturbating and sometimes even peeing with the bathroom door open.
He would stop listening when he knew it was too far.
When she would rather die of embarrassment than have someone hear those private moments.
But otherwise, he was often there with her, when work didn’t otherwise demand his attention.
Pathetic. He knew. But it was all he had of her. The only way he could be close to his woman without causing her pain.
It wasn’t enough. Because if Addison was ready to start dating again, then he was going to be forced to listen to her in the throes of ecstasy with another man. Or men, according to Claudia. And that was going to be far more dangerous for Addison’s health than Daniel just taking her for himself.
He was still in the process of trying to figure out what the fuck he planned on doing when she suddenly appeared on the sidewalk.
Like an angel, she stood in the door of the restaurant, the warm glow of the interior lighting her up from behind, creating a silhouette around her beautiful curves.
She stood like that for a moment with her coat draped over her arm, breathing in the spring evening air appreciatively, a half smile curving her lips.
Clearly she was enjoying her date so far.
Daniel got out of his truck, slammed the door and crossed toward her.
Her smile began to falter as she felt a larger presence approaching her quickly.
Her date was still inside the restaurant, probably still taking care of the bill.
She tried to step aside, assuming he wanted to get into the restaurant.
Instead, Daniel caught her by the waist and shoved her rapidly around the corner of the building into the alley.
He pushed her up against the graffitied concrete and, before she could call for help, covered her lips with his hand.
He meant to reassure her right away, so she wouldn’t be scared for more than a second, but having her in his arms again felt so good he needed a moment to just enjoy.
He bent against her and pressed his much harder body into her soft curves.
She struggled against his hold, screaming into his hand.
He caught her wrists before she could punch him and forced her to stand still while he dropped his head into her neck and inhaled her familiar scent.
He felt tears touch the edge of his hand where it bit into the softness of her lips, which broke the spell.
“Shh, Addison, it’s Daniel,” he muttered.
She slumped against him, her panic instantly subsiding.
Then all at once she went tense from head to toe, drew her foot back as far as it would go with the wall behind her and sent it into his shin.
He grunted. It fucking hurt, considering she didn’t have a lot of leverage.
He shoved a knee between her legs and forced them apart so she couldn’t kick him again.
He moved his hand off her mouth and levered his forearm against her neck.
“Scream and I’ll make it hurt,” he growled.
“Fuck… you,” she said breathlessly.
He smiled grimly. Addison was pissed. She only used bad language when she was really mad or really turned on.
She breathed heavily, her small breasts pushing up and down against his chest. It was driving him crazy.
He wanted her so bad he was ready to shove her dress up, tear her panties off and fuck her right there in that dirty alley for anyone to see.
“You’re coming home with me,” he said.
“The hell I am,” she snapped. “Let go of me, Daniel, right now.”
“You aren’t going home with them,” he snarled. “I’d rather kill you than see you fuck someone else.”
“Then don’t watch!”
He tapped her cheek lightly with two fingers. “Watch it, Addison.”
She shoved her body forward against his, but his weight was too much. She barely moved. She growled in annoyance, “Let me go! You didn’t want me, Daniel. You made that pretty damn clear the last few times I saw you. I got the message. Now it’s time for you to get my message. Go away!”
He ignored her. Instead, he leaned in and licked her cheek, rubbing his bearded chin roughly against the softness of her skin. “If you won’t come with me, then I’ll fuck you right here in this alley where your dates can find us and see exactly who makes you beg for your orgasms.”
“Dates… ?” Addison asked, confused as his hand began to lift her skirt. She clenched her legs together.
“What the fuck are you doing?” an angry voice shouted behind Daniel. “Addison!”
Someone punched Daniel in the side with more enthusiasm than skill and fingernails dug into his arm, over the bicep, trying to wrench his arm away from Addison.
He was about to brutally knock the person back with his fist when his brain registered that it was a woman.
Confused, he grabbed his attacker by the neck and swung her into the wall next to Addison.
She was tall, almost as tall as Daniel. She had dark brown skin and black hair styled into dreadlocks. She wore a suit and tie.
Understanding dawned immediately. Claudia, the devious little bitch, had lied to him.
This woman was Addison’s date for the evening.
He released both of them and stepped back.
The woman in the suit immediately reached for Addison.
Daniel growled and jerked Addison away from her.
Dreadlocks gasped and jumped away from him.
“Who are you?” she demanded angrily.
He didn’t respond. She didn’t matter to him.
She didn’t represent a threat to him. He didn’t want her touching Addison in future, but so long as she kept her distance she would be fine.
He kept his grip on Addison, bent to pick up her coat and the twenty that had tumbled out of her bra, and began striding out of the alley toward his truck.
“Addison!” the woman gasped coming after them.
Daniel rounded on her. “Don’t,” he snarled.
Addison sighed in annoyance, “It’s fine Mandella. He’s a security guy that lives in my building and tends to be overprotective. I’ll be fine. I’ll call you.”
“Uh huh,” Mandella said sceptically. “Looks more complicated than that. I’m not really looking for complicated right now, Addie. Are you sure you’re going to be okay? I don’t like leaving you like this.”
“I’ll be okay,” Addison reassured her, sounding disappointed. “And I understand. I wasn’t looking for complicated either. You take care.” She shot Daniel an eloquent look that expressed her feelings on being accosted outside of a restaurant in front of her date.
He didn’t give a shit. He opened the door, shoved her into the passenger side of the truck and slammed it shut again. Mandella stood on the sidewalk, with her arms crossed, glaring at him as they drove away. She was really a beautiful woman. He wondered how Addison had met her.
“A woman?” he asked gruffly.
She didn’t respond. Just sat stiffly with her hands clenched in her lap while he drove.
“Either conversation or sex, Addison, pick one,” he said, his voice hard.
She glared down at her lap. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I’ll pull this truck over right here and drag you underneath me, Addison. Now wake the fuck up and start talking. Want you so bad I can taste you from across that seat. Distract me, or take the consequences.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “Yes, I went on a date with a woman. Is that a problem?”
“Yes.”
“Why, are you anti…” she started, her voice rising, but he interrupted her.
“Don’t even start. I don’t give a shit what other people do. I’m against you dating anyone, man or woman. Although, I admit I’m less against you dating women then men.”
“Why?” she demanded.
He shrugged. “Something appealing about two women together,” he said. “Fantasy material for most guys. Not going to happen for you though. So don't even think about it. I don’t share with anyone.”
“You don’t get to dictate who I do and don’t see! We aren’t getting back together, Daniel,” she said angrily. “And if I remember correctly, we never were together, because you were never my boyfriend!”