Page 7

She’s staring straight ahead at nothing in particular. Everyone else is either on the dance floor or at the bar.

“Care to repeat that?” I ask, also looking forward, my tone casual but edged.

After a long pause, she finally speaks, still gazing ahead.

“You’re in a relationship with Irina, and you fucked Jessica last Saturday?”

I’m not sure if it’s my imagination, but there’s a hint of venom and frustration in her voice.

I turn fully toward her, waiting for her to find the courage to meet my eyes, while I say absolutely nothing.

So she knows about Jessica—apparently that’s her name, the woman who left a hickey on my neck, along with scratches across my back.

How does she know?

Do they know each other? Did someone tell her?

Irrelevant.

Who cares?

She can hear that I fucked thousands of women. Why should it matter to her?

Sensing my stare, Thalia slowly turns toward me and finally meets my gaze.

I allow myself a moment to look at her—from those magnetic eyes to those sensual lips—before leaning slightly closer and whispering in her ear, “It’s my business who I am or am not with.”

I hear her gasp at the sharpness in my tone, but I’m not done.

“And more importantly,” I add quietly, “it’s my business who I fuck.”

With that, I stand and leave her alone at the table, it’s not my job to keep her company or make sure she’s not sitting alone.

Where is Theo? Why did he leave her alone with me? Isn’t it supposed to be his responsibility to make sure she’s never unsupervised?

On my way to the bathroom, to cool down a little, I see him talking on the phone near the exit door.

Muttering under my breath, I keep walking.

Once inside, I barely manage to close the hall door behind me before someone opens it immediately.

Irina.

And the moment I see her eyes, I know exactly why she followed me here.

“Are you up for a quickie?” she asks, smiling.

No. Absolutely not.

But she’s always aware of my needs, and I can’t be an asshole—worse than I already am—and ignore hers.

I don’t say a word, just reach for her, pulling her closer. Once she’s pressed against my chest, I push her back until her spine meets the wall, trapping her completely between me and it. One hand slides into her hair, tugging just enough to leave a trace of pain, while her lips trail wet kisses along my neck and jaw.

She lifts one leg and wraps it around me, her dress riding up almost completely, revealing red lace panties.

One hand still tangled in her hair, my mouth at her ear, the other hand moving between her legs…

Just then, someone opens the door leading to the bathrooms.