Chapter 14 #4
I pull back my shoulders and look toward the bar where I can see Denham laughing and joking with Lottie and Spike.
I relax knowing they’re there. I start to pass the table and relax just a minute too soon.
A cold strong hand with very long bony fingers shoots out to capture my wrist. I gasp and try to wriggle free which just makes him tighten his grip.
“Hey, sweetheart, you’re a feisty one, huh?
” I watch his eyes light up when he speaks to me.
The dude is wiry, and not ugly, but not handsome either.
He’s dressed in jeans and a tee and I wonder how he managed to get in here looking so underdressed.
He stands up from his chair, blocking my view to the bar.
“I saw you dancin’. You’ve got a fuckin’ hot body, you know that?” he drawls with his stale cigarette breath, making my stomach churn. It’s clear he’s had far too much to drink, and he’s even starting to sway a little.
“Excuse me, but my friends are waiting for me at the bar,” I say politely, giving the man one chance to move. He glances over his shoulder, but still doesn’t let me pass, and my nervous adrenaline is turning into anger by the second.
“Those your friends over there?” he says, screwing his nose up.
“Hell, girl. You’re slumming it this evening,” he slurs, making his friends laugh.
“Why ya wanna travel in economy when there’s a first class seat right here, baby.
” He thrusts his hips forward and points at his crotch with his index finger.
His scummy friends dissolve into fits of laughter at his antics, but I’m not finding this in the least bit funny.
I place my hands gently on his shoulders and he looks shocked that I seem to be responding to him.
Oh, I’m responding to him all right. “I asked you nicely,” I speak directly into his ear so he doesn’t miss a word, “to move and let me pass, but you thought it would be funny to try and humiliate me in front of your friends.”
It’s clear that he’s confused as to how to handle me. The calm, threatening voice is always the worst. I’ve learned that from experience.
“I don’t take kindly to being laughed at or indecently propositioned by cockroaches. My man is a hundred times the man you’ll ever be and after this, you won’t be any kind of man for some time.”
I smile, a sinister, crooked smile that feels so fucking good.
I’m taking control, fighting back, reclaiming my life, and unfortunately for this man, he’s bearing the brunt.
My knee moves swiftly and powerfully upward.
It connects with his groin at full force and he drops with a strangled moan.
I watch with satisfaction as his face contorts with pain and he struggles to catch his breath.
With any luck, he’ll be out of action for quite some time.
His friends leap up but don’t come to his aid until they’re sure I’m not going to turn on them. I step over the jerk and find Denham, Spike and Lottie standing on the other side of him.
“Oh, hi guys,” I chirp nonchalantly.
“Ari!” Lottie screeches. “That was badass! Did you see the way that guy dropped? Like a fucking tranquilized elephant.”
“He was just in my way.” I shrug.
Spike looks at me with an amused expression while Lottie bounces excitedly next to him, holding his hand. “Listen to you!” Lottie exclaims. “Remind me not to get on your bad side …”
“You guys gonna stop staring at me like I have three heads and get me a drink, or what?”
My cool, calm exterior is the opposite of the shaking mess I am inside, but the fact that I actually stood up for myself, that I fought back, makes me feel empowered.
I’m still running on adrenaline which adds to the alcohol and the intense lust from a little earlier.
It’s a potent, heady mixture, but one that makes me feel pretty damn good. I can’t stop smiling.
Denham is still standing in front of me, silent, his brows drawn into a tight frown and his thumbs tucked into the pockets of his pants.
I step into him, sliding my hands around his waist and hooking my fingers in the belt loops of his slacks, and pull him closer to me.
With my heels on, there’s only a few inches difference in height, and he looks down at me through those thick, dark lashes that frame his golden eyes and tilts his head questioningly.
“You’re brooding,” I state.
His eyes narrow and his gaze pierces the guy who’s still rolling around on the floor. “I’m trying to decide if I should wait here and beat that guy’s ass when he gets back up or …”
“Or …” I prompt.
“Whether I should take you home right now and make you scream my name until sunrise.” His hard stare softens and he looks over me seductively.
My mind is made up. If there was ever any doubt, it has been permanently erased. It’s not the drink talking. It’s lust …
It’s happiness.
It’s confidence.
It’s him.
All him.
“Let’s go,” I say boldly, wetting my lip with my tongue and drinking in the desire oozing from him.