Trevor claps his hands and scurries off, yelling over his shoulder. “I’ll get the paperwork.”
Ten minutes later the announcer at the podium calls my name. I stomp up to the bull with full determination and shoot Gabriel a harsh glare across the bar as I climb on. He’s on his feet within a minute, plodding over to the fence between us. He looks like his head is going to explode, and it gives me a small flare of satisfaction. Immature? Maybe. But do I care? Not really.
I climb onto the bull as graciously as I can, tossing my hair back over my shoulders. It starts out slowly and I hold on tight with one hand while raising my other in the air. The crowd goes wild with whistles and clapping as the bull bucks viciously beneath me.
But somehow, it only serves to remind me of Gabriel’s wild fucking the other night. I glance at him and see the tension in his jaw.
I know I should be the bigger person, but right now, the Tequila is doing all of the talking inside of my head. I want to make him jealous. I want him to feel one tenth of what I felt looking at the photos of him and Anya together. And by the look on his face, I’m succeeding.
The bull bucks harder, faster, and I begin to lose my balance. The room is a blur around me as I slam onto the mat beneath. Refusing to feel defeated, I stand up quickly and shake myself off with a rush of adrenaline. The crowd cheers around me.
I stumble up to the exit of the fence where drunk, horny men pat me and offer to buy me drinks. And then I feel a strong pair of hands hoisting me into the air. Gabriel. He throws me over his shoulder, pinning my legs against his chest as I squirm. He stomps up to Alanna and Trevor who are watching the whole scene play out in amusement.
“I’m taking her home now,” he growls.
Neither of them says a word, but nod with stupid grins on their faces.
“Put me down!” I demand, flailing against him in vain. He’s too damn strong. And he’s clearly made his mind up as he stomps through the door.
I’m expecting him to shove me into a waiting car outside, but instead he turns down the alley beside the bar, carrying me into the shadows. He sets me down and then pins me to the brick wall behind us.
“What do you want, Victoria?” he rasps. “Is this what you want from me, to send me over the edge? To make me jealous?”
“As if you care!” I shoot back. “Why don’t you just leave me alone? I’m clearly not the right woman for you. You belong with someone like Anya.”
“Is that what you think? Would I be here if I didn’t care?” he stares intently into my eyes, searching for a response to his questions.
And I’m trying to stay strong. I really, really am. But he smells so damn good, and his lips are just right there, all soft and inviting… and all I can think about is having them on my body.
“Is that what you would have me do, Victoria?” he asks. “Leave you here, and you’d never see me again? Is that what you really want?”
His voice cracks, showing the pain he holds inside. I feel it too. And all I want to do right now is forget about that pain.
“No,” I whisper.
“Then tell me what you want,” he orders.
“I want… I want you,” I breathe, exasperated.
His lips are upon mine, hot and fierce, kissing me hard. His hand moves roughly to my throat, wrapping tightly around the sensitive flesh as his mouth assaults me. It’s his way of showing me I belong to him, and I couldn’t be more turned on by it.
He nips at my lip, the metallic taste of blood trickling into my mouth. And then again, he picks me up, flinging me over his shoulder as he carries me to the car waiting at the curb. He opens the door and thrusts me into the seat before he climbs in next to me.
He looks at the driver and issues a command. “Go.”
And then with the flick of a button, the privacy screen goes up and it’s just the two of us in the long bench seat. He turns to face me without saying a word, pulling my legs from the floor into his lap. His eyes burn hot with emotion as he unties the strings of my boots and flings them to the floor beneath. Then his hands are on my hips, yanking my skirt right off. He reaches down without hesitation and cups me with his palm, no doubt feeling my wetness.
“This is mine,” he growls. “Do you fucking understand that?”
I look up at him wide eyed and in shock. “Yes,” I whisper.
He reaches into his pocket and retrieves the diamond collar, lifting my hair before snapping it around my neck.
“You belong to me. Is that clear enough for you, Victoria?”
“Yes,” I whimper.
He is really angry. In a way that I’ve never seen him before, and it’s confusing me. I like it when he’s rough, but he’s never really been angry with me like this.