10. Harper #2
Dawson stands up and rushes toward the three of us, catching all of our attention. Henry looks at him with annoyance in his eyes.
“Can we talk for a second, Dad?” Dawson asks, gesturing toward the door at the front of the room.
“Excuse us,” Henry says before taking a step back. “Harper, be a doll and get Malik a drink before the two of you sit down to talk.”
I nod and excuse myself to head to the bar. There’s one bartender working, and he doesn’t ask for my ID when I ask for two glasses of whiskey. My knees are shaking while I wait for it to be poured.
He’s not the kind of man you say no to.
What the hell did Dawson mean by that?
When the whiskey is finally poured, I move across the room to take a seat by Malik at the table.
He pats the seat right next to him, and I reluctantly sit down, plastering a friendly smile on my face.
I’m immediately reminded of what happened with Richard on my first day, and I hope Dawson comes back quickly.
I scan the room to see him standing by the door talking to Henry, both of them heated in whatever it is they’re discussing.
“So, Harper, do you have a boyfriend?” Malik asks, resting his hands in his lap while he stares at me. Ever since I walked into the room, his eyes haven’t left me one time.
“No,” I admit, shaking my head.
“You must have an ex-boyfriend then,” Malik says with a playful laugh. He looks me up and down once again, his eyes lingering on my chest as he licks his lips. “I’m sure he must despise the fact that he gave you up.”
“I don’t have one of those either,” I say. His eyebrows raise, and the excitement grows on his face. He folds his hands in his lap, and I try not to look down because I have a sinking feeling I don’t want to see what he’s trying to hide.
An uneasy feeling overtakes me, and I wish I could run away. I don’t understand what it is I’m doing here, and Malik’s line of questioning is very suspicious.
I look at Dawson and Henry once again, seeing how they’re still going at it. It hits me that this is a lot more than just a business meeting. There’s something else going on here, and I’m the only one in the dark.
Malik reaches over to brush some hair out of my face, letting his fingers linger by my ear as he practically drools. “You’re so soft and plush,” Malik whispers to himself as if it’s something he didn’t even mean to say out loud.
My throat goes dry, and I feel the back of my eyes burning. I’ve seen the look in his eyes before. I’m immediately brought back to that night. To him.
Before I can say anything to change the subject or back away from him, Dawson approaches the table and holds a hand out to me. I look up at him like he’s a white knight striding in on a gallant steed.
“Meeting’s over. It’s time to go,” Dawson says. I take his hand and follow him out of the room. Neither of us looks back, but I can feel everyone staring at me as I go.
As soon as we’re in the limo, I’m expecting some kind of explanation. Why the hell did he get me all dressed up to go to this nightclub and be paraded around, warning me against Malik right before I’m directly introduced to him, only to drag me out?
None of this night makes sense.
Instead of saying anything, Dawson is looking out the window with his jaw clenched. After a minute, he turns to me with an intense look in his eyes that makes my heart race a little faster.
“You don’t flirt with other guys, understand?” Dawson says, moving closer and forcing me to look at him.
“I wasn’t?—”
“I saw you tucking your hair behind your ear like a little schoolgirl with a crush,” Dawson interrupts. “I specifically told you not to talk to Malik.”
I scoff and toss my arms in the air. I can’t win with him.
“I didn’t have a choice. Your father practically threw me at him,” I argue.
“I don’t give a fuck about that,” Dawson says, gritting his teeth as he stares at me. “I told you once before that you’re mine, and I mean it. No other man gets to touch you. Understand?”
Dumbfounded doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. I try to rationalize what he’s saying and come up with something to reply, but before I can, his hands are on either side of my face, and he’s pulling me closer to him.
His lips crash against mine, and it feels like everything in the world comes to a halt. Dawson holds me tight as his lips move against mine, and it takes me a moment to realize what’s happening, that he is kissing me. When the reality finally sets in, I can’t help myself, and I kiss him back.
I close my eyes and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as I part my lips for his tongue to slide inside. I let out a moan as he grazes the roof of my mouth, and he growls with satisfaction, pulling me closer.
The heat between us builds, and I feel the wetness pooling between my legs. I’m reminded of our night in the office, how he bent me over and took me, and how much I want him to do that again. He was right. I can’t forget about the way he touched me. How could I?
I’m ready for this to go all the way again. I want to feel more of him, to let his hands explore my body. But before we have the chance, the limo comes to a stop and we’re home.
Dawson pulls his mouth away from me, still holding my face as he looks deep in my eyes. “You belong to me. Don’t you ever forget that.”
He lets go of me and climbs out of the limo, leaving me sitting in the seat more confused than ever.
I hate hearing him say that. I don’t want to belong to anyone. It’s even harder when I know there’s truth to it. It’s far too easy for him to make me melt.
I don’t know what the hell I’ve gotten myself into anymore.
“One year,” I remind myself before getting out of the limo.