Page 15 of The Senator: Raphael

My hands twitch. I want to grab him and take him out with a couple of punches to his ugly face, but I can’t without getting in trouble. But God, it’s really difficult not to slap him. I glance at Matthew and see he is just as annoyed as me. Dave moves in closer, I can see his massive body in my peripheral vision.

“No, because I really don’t like you and I don’t want anything to do with you,” she snaps back, raising her voice.

“Bitch. Do you think you’re better than the other whores you work with?”

“Enough!” My voice rings out loud and clear. The silence in the place is almost deafening. Both of their heads snap toward me. She is surprised, he is pissed off.

“She told you she’s not interested. Back off.”

He comes closer, his eyes alive with fury and an arrogant smirk on his face. Dave shifts to move in closer but he doesn’t come between us. He knows it’s not my habit to hide behind my bodyguards. I’ve made that very clear since the beginning. He will only intervene if there’s a danger I can’t handle. I’m not crazy enough to assume I have superpowers.

“Or what? What are you going to do, superman?” he taunts, and I struggle not to put my hands on him. I’m so close to making a scene here in public.

“You really don’t want to find out,” I state so coldly he’s caught off guard for a second. Then he launches at me, throwing a punch. I dodge his fist, grab his wrist and push him against Dave who doesn’t even budge. He grabs the man by his shoulders and holds him in place.

Everything happens so fast, the only sound I hear are gasps from the customers. He looks like an idiot, my face is safe, and she’s free of that asshole. Situation under control. Dave is so huge compared to him that he doesn’t even resist when he’s walked out of the café. He just scurries out with his face an angry red.

“Thank you,” she says, coming closer, not wanting the other customers to listen in. They’re all looking curiously at us. “You didn’t have to do that. I can handle him. It’s not the first time he’s harassed me, and I can kick his ass.”

I smile at her. “I bet you can, but he was bothering me too.”

When she looks up at me, I almost choke. I’ve never seen her outside the nightclub, and I’ve never realized how beautiful she is in normal light. Her eyes are a warm shade of brown, her lips pink and full, but the freckles peppering her small nose are her best feature. Without makeup, she looks a lot younger than when she’s in the club.

She smiles at me, raises her coffee, and nods, blushing slightly. “Thank you for saving my coffee. I owe you a drink.” She tiptoes and pecks my check.

This time I’m the one who’s surprised. I inhale deeply and take in her sweet scent—strawberry and mango—and I have difficulty resisting the urge to close my eyes and breathe her in a second time. Matthew clears his throat next to me and I am brutally reminded of reality. I take a step back and put a reasonable space between us.

“May I escort you?” I surprise myself with the proposal.

She blushes again and I can see Matthew’s amused face studying us intently.

“I’m just going around the block. I work tonight and I’m headed for the employee entrance in the back of the club,” she explains in a puzzled tone but doesn’t turn me down completely.

“I want to make sure that prick doesn’t follow you when you’re alone. Please, for my own peace of mind.” I don’t know why I’m insisting on walking with her. I look like the creep I just kicked out.

Around us people seem to hold their breath waiting for her reply. Or maybe it’s just me.

She nods once and I let out a small sigh. “Okay.”

I put my hand on the small of her back and follow her outside in silence, Matthew and Dave behind us. We don’t talk, we just walk the short distance from the café to the back entrance of the nightclub, and when we come to a halt, I don’t know what to say.

“Well, this is me. Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it,” she says before stepping forward and swiping a card to open the door.

I smile, say nothing, and watch her slip inside. I turn around to find Matthew handing me his jacket with a smirk on his face. Dave is trying to hide a smile too. I look at the coat and frown.

“I’d cover up down there if I were you.” He waves at my crotch.

I look down and notice the massive erection straining my suit pants. “Shit!” I hiss and grab the jacket.

I’ve spent the last fifteen days dating women to findthatspark, and it left me more bored than excited. But five minutes without even talking to this girl and I’m walking around with a massive erection between my legs. This is not good. Not good at all.

Waiting in line to order my coffee, I notice the place is particularly packed tonight, and I feel the pain of the two girls behind the counter. They’re rushing to make orders, but there’s always someone complaining about been late for some appointment. Oh, the joy of serving customers!

I look around a bit concerned that I’ll spot the prick who harassed me last night. That dude doesn’t know boundaries, and the fact that he followed me into this café was creepy enough to make me worried today. I’m used to assholes like him, considering my work, but they usually stick to the nightclub rather than approach me in my daily life. That man is either sick or an entitled asshole who doesn’t know the meaning ofno. The most dangerous kind of idiot.

The only positive side to what happened last night is Raphael Wyden. Damn, that man has charisma for days. The way“enough”rolled off his lips, the firmness in his threats to the creep, the way he effortlessly dodged his fist—all of that is enough to send shivers of pleasure down my spine. And the intensity of those green eyes. Seriously? They should be considered weapons. I’ve never daydreamed about a man as much as I have in the last twenty-four hours about Raphael Wyden.

“Do you want to order?” The stern voice of the barista in front of me pulls me back to reality.

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