Chapter 16 Alaric
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ALARIC
“The eye sees all, but the mind shows us what we want to see.”- William Shakespeare
By the time we get back to the office, it’s already five-fifteen.
Fuck, I have little to no time to get cleaned up before Celeste heads over.
Quickly, I grab the files on my desk for this case and head down the elevators to the parking garage.
Once inside my vehicle, I turn the engine and it roars to life.
To my damn luck, traffic overfloods the roads.
Luckily, I know shortcuts to my place and squeeze myself between cars earning my share of blaring horns and vulgar gestures.
Rightfully so, but I have a furious, beautiful woman who’s going to be arriving at my apartment and I would rather not smell like ass when she gets there.
Thankfully, I get home in record time with twenty minutes to spare to take a quick shower.
Throwing the files on the counter, I step into my room unbuttoning my shirt and tossing it in the hamper right by the bathroom door.
Turning on the water, I let the water heat up while I step out of the rest of my clothes.
Pulling the curtain to the side, I step in and let the steaming water run down my body, loosening up my muscles before I begin to lather the day off.
I have to fight my body from the longing of staying under as, for once, I feel calm and relaxed.
Groaning, I step out and quickly towel off before putting on boxers when I hear a knock at the front door.
Fuck, I didn’t realize the time flew by once again.
Grabbing a pair of sweatpants, I quickly slide them on and head over to the door. As I open the door, a pair of bright green eyes collide with mine. I don’t miss how her eyes rake down the front of my body and the breath she sucks in.
“Hi,” is all I can muster up.
Her green eyes captivate me. She’s so damn beautiful, even as she stands there like it’s the last place she wants to be at.
“Hi,” she responds as she raises her eyebrows. “Are you going to invite me in or are we going to talk in your hallway?”
“Yes, of course, come in.” I open the door wide, allowing her in. Shutting the door, I follow her to the kitchen as she props herself on the bar stool. “Can I get you anything to drink? I have water, coke, whiskey?”
Opening the cupboard, I grab glasses and set them down on the counter. Why am I so damn nervous?
“Whiskey sounds nice. Just get off work?” She leans on the counter with her chin resting on her hand.
“Yeah, it was a long-ass day. I barely got here on time to take a quick shower. I didn’t want to smell like ass when you got here.” I pour us both a glass and slide hers to her.
She catches it and brings the glass to her lips and takes a sip. Those lips, so soft and plump. I long to feel them, instantly jealous of the glass that gets to touch them.
“Thank you for gracing me with a proper shower and those damn gray sweatpants. You know they make shirts too, right?” she grounds out but I don’t miss the way she takes in my muscled chest.
Her body is drawn to me, just as much as mine to hers. She longs to touch me but fights the urge. That boosts my ego just a bit.
“One would have thought you would appreciate the view.” I give her a sheepish smirk.
She dramatically rolls her eyes as she shifts in her seat. Affected, definitely affected.
“That doesn’t erase what happened the other day. Is this your plan to sweep it under the rug like it didn’t happen at all and go along like normal?” she retorts as she looks away from me.
“Celeste, I had no idea she would treat you like that. I have no idea where that came from but I don’t see you any differently than I did prior. It changes nothing.” I step around the counter and pull her hand into mine.
She quickly yanks it away from me and moves off the counter. It shouldn’t have but the movement was a punch to the gut. Never do I want her to yank away from me like that. I can’t stand the thought and feeling of her rejection.
“She practically called me a whore and you did nothing but stand there. The reason I didn’t tell you what I did for a living was because of the look you had in your eyes when you opened the door.
I knew it would have turned you away from me.
On top of that, it appears there’s something between the two of you for her to act like that.
It wasn’t the first time.” Her walls rise up as she defends herself.
Ah, so she thinks there’s an old flame between Monroe and I. I want to laugh but the look on her face says she might sock me if I do. She’s jealous and I’m loving every single bit of it.
“I don’t think you’re a whore and I don’t give a shit what you do for work.
She got her ass reamed for how she spoke to you.
She and I have nothing going on between us.
We had a drunken one-night stand, but nothing came of it and it was years ago.
She’s protective, yes. Our line of work, we have each other's backs, but we’re nothing but friends.
What you do for work does not define the person that you are.
It doesn’t change the way I feel about you.
” I step towards her, eliminating the space between us.
Done.
I’m so done with this barrier between us. All I want is to feel her, hold her, and remind her who claimed her a few nights ago.
“My job requires me and my girls to entertain men and women with dancing, liquor, and longing. How does that not bother you? Everyone else seems to have an opinion on the line of work. It’s their escape from a long day of work, from home, or to feel a sense of longing.
Our bodies are put on display for them to look upon and worship.
You can’t tell me that does not bother you,” she argues as if she wants me to be disgusted or turn away from her, but I can’t and I won't.
I don’t understand why she’s playing this game with me. I know she wants me but she’s acting like she doesn’t deserve happiness. It’s bullshit and I won’t let her self-sabotage.
“What I see is women trying to make a living. Single moms who have no other choice or simply something they love to do. It isn’t for me to judge what you choose to do for your career.
You opened a club for those who also need an escape from reality, who can go somewhere the music takes over.
Your club is the most elite in New York.
It has heavy security which provides safety for all.
It also has an owner who cares for her employees and shows up when something is wrong outside of work.
If you didn’t care about your employees, you wouldn’t have shown up at that apartment and fought for that little girl.
“What that shows me is that you’re loyal and you give a shit.
It doesn’t show me that you’re a whore. You didn’t give me a chance to speak nor defend you but make no mistake, I won’t let anyone treat you as if you’re trash, Celeste.
You’re way more than that to me.” My hands cup her face, forcing her to look at me.
She tries to resist but ultimately, she gives in. A few moments go by as we stand in silence. I can see her mind racing, preparing for the next excuse.
“And how do you feel about me, Alaric? We’ve only been talking for a few weeks. There can’t possibly be feelings this early.” She sucks in a breath as if she’s waiting for a blow to come.
Waiting for rejection. But that’s not what I’ll give her because she’s wrong.
“Time is nothing when you’ve found your person.
You’re selfless, you're fierce, and you stand on what you believe in. You have this hard exterior as if you’re protecting yourself from a war that may approach, knocking at your door, that you’re ready to win.
You’re stubborn and sassy as fuck, but to be honest, it turns me the fuck on.
There’s an unexplained pull that tethers us together.
You consume my thoughts every damn minute and you’re a liar if you don’t feel the same.
” As my words pound into her thick skull, she steps back until her back rests up against the wall.
I tower over her, caging her in so she won’t escape. You can’t run from me, baby girl. I take what I want and will hunt down what belongs to me. She has another thing coming if thinks she can end this so easily.
“We could never work, Alaric. There’s darkness that lays resting within me.
You would hate who I have to become at times.
Your job goes after those who live in the dark.
I would never ask you to compromise yourself.
You’re good, too good for me.” I don’t miss the glint in her eyes as they start to water.
There’s more to her than what’s being led on but I don’t give a shit. She thinks she’s the only one who struggles but she isn’t. She needs to get that through her thick skull.
“Who says I don’t struggle with darkness?
That I haven’t killed people and not regretted a single bit of it?
It was there long before I got my position.
What you need is someone who is willing to pull you out and show you the stars.
Show you that even when you slip, there’s a glimpse of light to keep fighting for.
Even in the pits of hell, together we will make it out.
” Before she can respond, I crash my lips to hers.
The kiss deepens as she allows my tongue to collide with hers.
We fight for dominance as I yank her head back by her hair.
She sucks my lower lip into hers and bites down on it.
Her hands roam my bare chest and shoves me to the other wall causing a picture to fall from it.
Grabbing her legs, I hoist her up, wrapping them around my waist and slam her on the opposite side of the wall.