Chapter Six
Bella
“Bella?!” I spin around at my name being called.
“Adam?” What on earth is he doing here in the San Francisco office of all places?
“What — how are you here?” he asks as he approaches me.
Adam attended the same college as me. He definitely hinted at wanting something between us, but it never happened; I made it clear we were better off as friends.
Mia and I would go out drinking with him and some of his friends, though, often mixing in the same circles.
“I work here; well, here and the L.A office.”
“Wait, you’re the new boss brought in alongside Reed?”
“I wouldn’t say boss — not yet anyway — but yes, I’ve been brought in to work with Reed. My Dad is George Knight.”
“Holy shit, how did I not know that?” The shock on his face is clear but he’d have no reason to know that bit of information. I didn’t advertize who my father was at college, I learned from a young age that people would use me to get to him.
“Well, this is maybe a little weird seeing as you’re… you know, technically, my boss, but you’re also my friend. Anyway, I’m going out Wednesday night with some friends and I’d love you to come out with us. We haven’t seen each other since graduation, and it would be good to catch up.”
“Let me think about it, okay? And, that’s not because of the ‘technically your boss’ thing, it’s because there’s so much going on at the moment that I’m just not sure I’ll be able to get out.”
“Sure,” he smiles at me. “I’ll message you the details and just join us if you can.”
***
It’s Wednesday evening and I’m meeting Adam and some of his friends at a club in SoMa. I messaged him this afternoon, confirming I’d be there.
I need this, to get out and have a few drinks. Things have been awkward between Reed and me since the plane, both of us ignoring the elephant in the room. I catch him watching me, though. When he thinks I'm not looking, his eyes are constantly on me.
I check my reflection in the mirror. The dress is maybe a little shorter than I would normally wear but I had to grab something quick today on my lunch break, and this works.
It’s a little black dress, heavy on the ‘little’. It’s cut low enough at the front to show a bit of cleavage and has long lace sleeves. The showstopper, however, is the back — or lack of it. The whole of my back, right down to the top of my ass cheeks, is exposed.
My hair is up in a high ponytail and my make-up is dark and sultry. If I’m going out tonight, then I’m doing it in style. Plus, my father isn’t here to see me and judge.
Grabbing my sparkly silver Louboutin’s that match my clutch bag, I make my way to the door and out of my apartment. Just as I turn to lock the door behind me, the lift pings alerting me to the arrival of the only other person on this floor.
Reed.
I make my way towards the lift, towards him.
He hasn’t moved since he stepped out of it, he’s just standing there staring at me.
He takes me in, from the tips of my sparkly shoes, to the top of my ponytail. I can’t help but internally high five myself. I know I look good right now, and having Reed see me like this? All dressed up? Maybe it will give the man the push he needs to make a move.
“Where are you going?” he rasps.
“SoMa.”
“Where?” he demands.
“A club.” I have definitely developed more of a bratty side since starting work. Maybe it was always there and it’s just coming out to play more often.
“What club?” he grates.
“Riot.”
“Fuck, baby… you can’t…” His words trail off, his eyes still looking me up and down.
“Can’t what, Reed? Go out? Have fun? Meet someone?” At my last words his eyes fly to mine, his gaze burning.
“Don’t play with me, baby girl.”
“We’re not playing, Reed. Remember? We can’t be anything. You don’t get to call me ‘baby’, but, maybe I’ll meet someone tonight who can.” With that, I walk into the lift and press the button for the lobby. “Have a good evening,” I call as the doors are closing.
Reed
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
I’ve been pacing the same floorboards of my apartment for the last hour.
I’m trying to talk myself out of turning up at that club, throwing her over my shoulder and dragging her away.
I can’t do that. If I do that, I cross a line — a line I may have already crossed when she sat on my lap and felt my erection.
But, deliberately going after her? That is something else entirely.
My phone pings with a message.
Unknown number: You don’t know me but we both know Bella. You might not want her virginity but someone else will, and they might be man enough to take it
What the fuck?!
Who the hell sent me this? Who knows that I have — wait, Bella is a virgin? My Bella? My green-eyed, dark-haired goddess, is a virgin? And she’s out at the fucking meat market that is Riot?
Oh fuck, no!
I have never driven so fast in my life. I could have broken the land speed record for the time it took me to get here.
I pull up outside the club and chuck my keys and a hundred dollar bill to a bouncer. Pretty sure they don’t have a valet service here, but I figure a hundred dollars should guarantee my car being there when I leave. Just to be sure, I tell him he’ll get another hundred when I come back out.
Walking into the club, I’m hit by a wall of heat and the smell of sweat.
I’m instantly reminded why I haven’t done this in years.
However, she’s worth it. I’ll go anywhere, do anything for her.
My mind is finally catching up with my body which claimed her when she first walked into my office over a week ago.
I make my way into the middle of the club, the music is so loud it’s like I have another heartbeat. I start scanning areas for her, I’m looking everywhere, all at once.
Fuck, where is she?
Why does everyone have to be wearing black? It’s so dark in here, the odd flash of a strobe light is in no way helping my search.
Suddenly, as if I’m Moses, the crowd parts like the Red Sea and a path opens up through the dance floor, my eyes finding her immediately. She’s dancing with someone else and is completely oblivious to my presence.
He leans down and whispers something into her ear. She nods at him and he places his hand at the small of her back, her bare back, and guides her towards the bar.
Oh, hell no.
My feet carry me to the bar as if my life depends on it.
He’s got his arm around her, pulling her into his side while he addresses the bartender.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” My voice is low, but they both hear it or maybe just the threat that carries to them. I don’t care what it is, all that matters is that they heard.
Fuck-face turns around and looks me up and down, paling when he catches sight of me, but to give him credit, he doesn’t back down.
“What’s it to you?”
“She’s mine.” Bella’s eyes fly to my own, her gasp of surprise loud even over the noise of the club.
That’s right, baby, I’m here.
I stalk towards her, pulling her out of the little jerk’s arms. “Now, move the fuck on or I will hurt you.”
“Reed! Stop it. What do you think you’re doing?”
“Finally doing what we both want,” I murmur only loud enough for the two of us to hear.
“You said no, Reed. You said we couldn’t be real.” Her words are barely audible, but I hear them, and they hit their target. I hurt for the both of us.
I’m sorry, baby.
“I’m done fighting this, Bella. I’m done pretending I don’t want you.” My lips stamp down on hers, my tongue thrusting its way into her mouth. She’s hesitant, her tongue is gentle and sweet.
How fucking innocent is she?
I groan at the thought of teaching her what I like, of teaching her everything. She pulls back far too soon.
“Dance with me, Reed.” She takes my hand and pulls me onto the dance floor.
The beat is heavy, sultry, her body presses up close to mine, not an inch of space between us.
Her hips roll to the music and I’m instantly hard. I grab her hips and spin her round, pulling her into me so her back is to my front. I thrust against her ass, showing her what she does to me. She moans, pushing back into me and rubbing her tight little ass against my painfully hard cock.
“You want to tease me, baby? Punish me for making us wait this long?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“You’re a little brat, aren’t you? You’re asking to get punished, baby girl.”
“Yes, punish me, Reed. Make me yours.”
Ah, fuck.
I very nearly embarrass myself on this dance floor and come in my pants. This little cock-tease is a virgin? I’m not going to survive her.
Grabbing her hand I pull her off the dance floor and towards the exit.
“We’re leaving. Now.”