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I’d planned to walk away with my head high, but the moment I’m beside him, Eli jerks up, grabs my arm and tugs me against his chest.
My body explodes in a volcano of violent emotions when my breasts glue to his hard muscles. A lick of heat penetrates my skin as his scent seeps into my bones.
He stares down at me with frosty coldness eclipsed by furious fire. The longer he looks at my face, the more astonished I am that I don’t melt into a puddle on the floor.
The feel of his touch and his attention is too much, and yet a part of me, a foolish suicidal one, yearns for more.
For something other than the rejection I’ve been swallowing like a bitter pill since I was seventeen.
For his loss of control.
For the Eli no one else knows.
And I figured the best way to do that is to threaten him with another man. It seems to be what makes him tick. Aside from OCD tendencies.
Yes, I’d never act on those threats—cheating, ew—but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t use the possibility to my benefit.
Keep him on his toes and all that.
“Do not ever bring another man in my presence if you know what’s good for you.”
“Marrying you proved that I do not, in fact, know what’s good for me.”
“Ava…”
“Yes,darling?”
I’m inexplicably thankful for our strict gun laws, because if Eli had one, he’d shoot me between the eyes.
“May I help with anything? Dessert, perhaps?” The waitress comes back with a plastic smile and heart eyes directed toward my prick of a husband.
I wonder if she would still jump his bones if she knew he’s not capable of love and collects broken hearts in a jar like Lan once warned me.
Pretty sure mine is the most smashed of them all.
Who am I kidding? She totally would. People like her and Gemma probably don’t care about the Tin Man as long as he fucks their brains out and provides them with power and prestige.
Since I’m well equipped with the last two, I have no interest in anything he offers me.
“No, thank you,” I say, shrugging free. “I’m leaving.”
“How about you, sir?” The waitress gets so close, she’s just short of rubbing herself all over him.
Professionalism has left the building.
I should walk away and leave him to his own devices, but then again, my mama didn’t carry me for nine months so I could be trifled with.
Plastering on a smile that matches her plastic one, I slide my arm into Eli’s. “Didn’t you hear the part where I said we’re leaving?”
“I thought you were…”
“We’re married, so of course we’ll leave together, or did you deliberately miss our rings in your attempts to gold-dig? He’d eat you for breakfast and still be in the mood for more, so you should be grateful I’m keeping him off the market. You’re welcome…” I pretend to read her name tag, ‘Hannah,’ and pronounce it “Anna.”
“I’ll be waiting outside,babe.” I flash Eli my sweet smile, pat his arm, and then walk out with my head held high, ignoring Eli’s all-knowing smirk.
As soon as I’m outside, I’m hit with a chill. Damn. I should’ve brought a jacket.
I forgot my phone and purse inside, so I can’t tell Leo to bring the car around. Brilliant.
