He didn’t like that idea.
A whimper fell from my mouth and a sweat broke out over my skin when his teeth bit at my collarbone.
“Your speech was ah-mazing,” the somewhat older and definitely intoxicated brunette slurred without thanks, waving her wine glass towards us before swaying in the direction of the restrooms.
“Yeah.” He scoffed against my throat, nipping again, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood at full attention.
“What?” My mind was hazy.
Lifting his head, he glared at me. “Who wrote that for you?”
I came crashing into reality at Mach five and not a moment too soon. “Excuse me?”
“The speech. Who wrote it?”
“I did.” My voice had dropped low. I was edging farther away from being turned on and closer to being royally pissed off.
“You didn’t,” he accused as his hands trailed over my backside. I loosed the grip I had on his suit lapels for fear I’d rip one off and use it to choke him.
“I did.” I shoved the wall of his chest.
It was futile, as I moved not even an inch.
“What’s someone like you know about grief, Princess?” He laughed.
He actually had the audacity to laugh in my face.
Maybe he thought I hadn’t suffered enough. Maybe he thought I deserved it. Or maybe his head was so far up his ass he couldn’t find his own without a road map.
My hand moved of it’s own accord.
I slapped him, hard.
And I didn’t regret it.
Not one fucking bit.
My nerves were shot from the day’s vulnerability, and I had no patience for a condescending son of a bitch. I was so wound up I barely noticed the way my hand stung.
“How dare you,” I spat. “I dragged my brother from the gutter for years until the day I watched his demons slaughter him in it. So don’t you dare assume I don’t know what grief is. I may not have fought wars, but my trenches are laced with blood just the same.”
I stepped backwards and tried to rip the mask from his face. He caught me by the forearms on my retreat and I snarled as he dragged me back into his chest.
“I let you hit me once,” he growled, and it never occurred to me to flinch. “Do it again and you won’t be able to sit down for a week.”
I lifted my hand to slap him again, but his grip was too tight. “Let. Go.”
I leaned into his space. Prey challenging a predator like it had a death wish.
“No,” he deadpanned.
I wasn’t sure a man had ever made me so mad.
I was losing control and I hated it.
I hated that he belittled my suffering.
I hated that I was becoming unhinged in front of him.
“Let me go,” I seethed, biting down hard enough on his bottom lip to draw blood. “Let me go, or I will rain a hell down on your head so ruthless you’ll wish you knew my grief and not the one I unleashed on you.”
He grinned.
He wasn’t afraid of me.
“Fuck you,” I spat.
He dropped his hands to his sides.
Good.
His wasn’t stupid either.
“Goodnight, Princess.”
I walked away surprised I managed to stay upright. My limbs visibly vibrated with fury.
“Asshole,” I muttered under my breath, ducking towards the service entrance.
“Excuse me?”
I swivelled to see Tom approaching me with Tina on his arm.
“Nothing,” I lied.
Tina, his wife and my employee of three years, looked from him to me, and back again; she didn’t seem like she bought the lie, but she didn’t seem like she was going to call me on it either.
Shaking my head, I pointed to the direction in which I came.
“Someone knocked over a vase in the back hall. I just need to have it cleaned up.”
Tom nodded. “I’ll let them know. I need to check in with the sound crew anyways.”
“Thanks.” I sidestepped them and aimed for the ladies’ room to avoid any further scrutiny.
Tina was observant, and the thought of anyone seeing through me in that moment made me dizzy.
I was certain they wouldn’t like what the saw.
I certainly didn’t.
I was falling from a high, and fast.
No one handled the downfall gracefully, especially not me.
Making slow fists in the bathroom stall, I dug my nails into my palm before stretching my fingers wide and repeating the motion. My knees shook as I leaned into the cheap aluminum paneling and I continued the motion until my eyes dried.
I took the time to right my hair in the mirror and confirm the blush of my cheeks had settled before entering the common room once more.
Scanning the event, I waved to a few familiar faces and assessed if anything seemed out of place. It didn’t. The music was loud and the guests were drunk and happy.
Kevin made pained eyes over the head of his red-haired dance partner, and I shook my head.
The things people put up with for sex.
I was looking for Leighton when an arm slid around my stomach from behind and my gut coiled in response.
“You look beautiful tonight, Charleston.”