Chapter 10 - Avery
Ididn’t need to look up to know Rowen was watching me. I could feel his gaze burning holes into my back.
Good.
I couldn’t believe Rowen had continued to finger me when the guy walked up, as though it didn’t matter that we were being watched, just to send me away so he could have a secret conversation. My entire body was flaming with blush when I walked, eyes down, past James.
“Drink?” the bartender asked.
“Something strong that tastes good,” I said loudly over the music. “I want to get drunk fast as payback to my date.”
The bartender nodded, like he knew exactly what to get me. “You got it.”
I turned to my right to see a large man approaching. He was average-looking, tall, and muscular. Nothing extraordinary. Nothing like the man waiting for me upstairs.
“Hey,” he said as he leaned against the bar.
“Hi.”
I could see the bartender preparing my drink, whatever it was, and I bounced impatiently.
“I’m Aaron.”
“Avery.”
“That’s such a pretty name,” he replied as he grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on it.
I shouldn’t have let him, but I couldn’t help the smug satisfaction knowing Rowen had definitely seen that interaction and would lose his shit.
Serves him right for making me leave after getting me so close in front of a damn stranger.
Aaron motioned over another bartender. “Whiskey. Neat.” Aaron looked at me. “Can I get you something?”
I shook my head. “I already have something being made, but thank you.”
“Are you here alone?”
I looked at the guy attempting to flirt with me, deciding it was best to end this before it got too far. “No. I’m not.”
“Here you go.” The bartender who’d taken my order placed a pink shot in front of me.
I didn’t hesitate to throw it back, but I was shocked to find it was pleasantly tart and sweet, with hardly any hint of alcohol.
“Can I have one more?” I asked him, giggling.
“Sure thing.”
I stood there in silence for a while, listening to the song, letting the music wash over me, drowning out my thoughts for a few minutes.
Aaron—who I’d honestly forgotten was still there—cleared his throat, wanting my attention back. “Do you want to dance?” He motioned to my body swaying to the music.
I shook my head. “My boyfriend wouldn’t like that very much.”
The term ‘boyfriend’ felt weird slipping off my tongue, but it ignited something deep in my belly that warmed my entire body. I liked the idea of calling Rowen mine.
“Here you go.” My drink appeared.
I tossed back the shot quickly and decided it was time to find my way back to my boyfriend.
“So where’s the lucky guy stupid enough to let such a gorgeous woman walk around by herself?” Aaron grabbed my arm gently—nothing threatening, but just enough to make sure I was still aware of his interest.
“Look, I—”
“He’s watching her carefully for fuckfaces like you.”
His voice sent shivers down my spine. I was so needy for him, so desperate for his touch, I would’ve stripped naked right there in front of everyone had he asked.
Rowen’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me close.
“Hey, you.” I looked up at him, biting my bottom lip. “Decided to join the party?”
There was nothing soft or sweet about the way he looked down at me. His eyes weren’t playful; they were feral, so intense, they pinned me in place.
He was holding himself back, barely restrained. I could tell he needed to rip me apart and take what belonged to him just as badly as I wanted him to.
I raised a daring eyebrow, and, judging by how his jaw ticked, he took the hint.
“Let’s go,” he demanded, pulling me toward the doors.
“Hang on.” Aaron grabbed my arm, playing tug-of-war with Rowen. “She didn’t say she was ready to go, man. Have some respect for the lady.”
I giggled, but it wasn’t because I found anything funny. It was more of a maniacal laugh, knowing Aaron had picked the wrong girl.
Rowen grabbed my wrist and wrenched me from Aaron’s grasp. “Is she yours?” Rowen asked, stepping into his space, nearly nose to nose, though Rowen had a few inches on him.
“She isn’t property,” Aaron told my stepbrother with a flat face.
Rowen looked at me. “Is that true?”
I was drunk on lust and alcohol, and Rowen was my only relief. I needed him badly, and I wasn’t sure if we were even going to make it to the car.
I shook my head, and he smiled triumphantly. “Who do you belong to, kitten?”
The sound of my nickname made my stomach flutter. “You,” I answered.
“Good girl,” he praised.
Despite what our words might have implied, Rowen didn’t look at me like property. He looked at me with all the care in the world, like I was something precious and untouchable, something he cherished and worshiped.
So what if he also fucked me like I was just a toy he wanted to ruin?
I was everything to him.
I didn’t care that people were watching, listening, probably even judging. All I cared about was getting home as soon as possible so I could be under Rowen for the rest of the night.
“Bernard is outside,” he told me without looking away from his enemy. “Go to the car and wait for me.”
“Row—”
“Now, Avery.” He left no room for argument, his voice sharp and uncompromising.
My legs moved, navigating the crowd until I reached the doors. The cool night air was like a slap in the face, sobering and dizzying all at once.
Bernard was waiting next to the car, pulling open the door the moment he spotted me.
“Good night, miss?” he asked, but I didn’t respond as I slid inside.
The door closed, and the quiet that greeted me was heavy. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass and took a few deep breaths, wishing my heart would stop pounding so hard, wishing I could think about anything other than him.
Rowen.
The way he looked at the guy, whose name I’d already forgotten, who dared shoot his shot with me—it wasn’t jealousy. It was violent possession that had no boundaries.
And I wanted all of it.
His hands.
His obsession.
His love.
Someone appeared at the door. I leaned away to see my ‘owner’ looking behind him as he opened the door and slid inside. He looked tense, upset, but when his eyes met mine, it all melted away.
“Avery,” he spoke softly.
“Rowen.” My voice was barely above a whisper.
I looked down and gasped. Rowen’s knuckles were bleeding.
“It’s nothing,” he said, but he still let me pull his hands to my chest so I could hug them better.
“Did you hit him?” I kept staring at him, a part of me aroused at the idea that he’d hurt someone for me.
Instead of answering the question we both already knew, he pulled me into his lap until I was straddling him and grabbed my face with both hands.
“I love you.” He pulled me down to him, crashing our lips together.