Page 84 of Abyss

She knows exactly what she’s doing. She knows she’s pushing my buttons, but what she doesn’t know is those buttons are wired to set off an explosion she’s not ready for.

Leaving my empty glass on the bar and my friends and brother chatting, I will my feet not to stomp as I march over to where the asshole, who looks like a Ken doll, takes a bite of his food, eyeing Kavi like she painted the fucking sky.

I’ve watched him all evening—sitting a little too close,speaking a little too softly,breathinga little too much—and I’ve decided I’ve held back enough.

It’s been an emotional day, having to officially give away my daughter, and I’m glad to have held my tongue, but I can only hold it in so much.

Sliding my hands into my pockets to hide my fists, I greet Belinda and Greg before asking them about the baby. They’ve left her home with Greg’s mother, and Belinda thanks me for the gifts I had delivered.

I then turn my gaze to Kavi, ignoring the idiot sitting next to her. I won’t look at him because doing so could lead to me lifting him by his collar and throwing him out. My desires aside, my daughter and her new bride don’t need the drama.

Kavi brings her wineglass to her lips, hiding her goading smile behind it. Glad someone thinks this is funny, but it’s certainly not me.

“I need to speak with you, privately.”

She bats her long lashes in response to my demand. “Is it work-related because, like I said, I’m off the clock right now, Mr. Case. Plus, I don’t want to miss Madison and Brie’s cake cutting.”

“That’s my girl. You tell him, Kavi.” Belinda high-fives Kavi before wincing when she sees my unamused face. “Sorry, boss.”

My molars grind. “It’s . . .everything-related, and we should be back before the cake cutting. I wouldn’t want to miss it, either.”

Kavi throws her napkin onto her plate, making a show of how inconvenienced she feels, and I want to slap her delectable ass right the fuck here. She is on my last nerve, but fuck, what I’d do to get her on my dick, too.

She excuses herself, walking in front of me, when I hearKen doll behind me, speaking to Belinda. “Wait, is Madison’s dad also Captain CrankyDick from Kavi’s phone?”

Belinda chortles. “Yep, that’s him.”

My eyes stay fixed ahead, resting on the woman who’s walking fairly straight, given she practically chugged two healthy glasses of wine over the course of thirty minutes. She entered me as Captain CrankyDick on her phone? I suppose that’s not too far off, given my dick has been cranky since the night it was inside her and couldn’t be again.

Kavi weaves through the bustling waitstaff, traipsing toward the backdoor of my ranch house. She affords me the small mercy of following my directions in the text, climbing the stairs to my bedroom, and I trail a few feet behind her.

Perhaps I should be worried about sneaking into my bedroom with my admin. Maybe I’d be smarter to conceal the green-eyed monster rising inside me. But at this very moment, when I’m feeling both reckless and alive, I can’t seem to give a shit.

Yes, Maddy could find out and ask. Yes, Belinda is probably wondering what I needed to speak to Kavi about so urgently. But I’ll cross both bridges when I need to.

Right now, my priority is to figure out why I even asked Kavi to meet me here in the first place. All I knew was I had to get her away from that blonde-tipped asshole before he made the mistake of touching her again. He’s lucky it’s my daughter’s wedding day and I couldn’t make a spectacle when he had the audacity to touch her lips.

Lips that belong to me.

A smile that belongs to me and only me.

Jealousy courses through my blood and throbs in my temples. I’ve never been a jealous man. I’ve always worked hard for what I’ve wanted and gotten the fruits of my labor. But Kavi? Kavi’s the forbidden fruit I never should have laid eyes on. Or better yet, never should have tasted.

Hands folded over her chest, she struts into my master bedroom. I follow her, locking the door behind me. Thankfully, the noise downstairs will keep our conversation private.

She whips around, her wide eyes assessing me. “What’s this about, Hudson? What could be so important that you needed to speak to me right now?”

My heart beats erratically in my chest. “I won’t make a habit of watching men flirt with you.”

She tilts her head, perplexed. “What? What do you—”

“First Corbin, and now this asshole. You might allow them to flirt with you, but I won’t.”

Kavi’s mouth drops open and, honestly, I stare in astonishment at my own words. I can’t decide if I’m more surprised because they’re finally out or because I’ve never felt this strange possessiveness before.

She takes a step forward, incredulity and tension evident in her posture. “What do you mean, you won’t allow it? Last I checked, you didn’t dictate who flirted with me. Last I checked, you couldn’t control who I flirted back with.” She stands toe-to-toe with me, placing a finger on the middle of my chest. “You know why, Mr. Case?”

My breath falters as she rises on her toes, bringing her face inches from mine. She’s pure seduction and all the reasons I’m spiraling out of control.

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