Page 123 of The One
I shift beneath her, trying to get more comfortable and not bruise Mari with my rock-hard cock digging into her hip.
I wish I could disappear to the bathroom to take care of my dilemma, but now is not the time. Romeo approaches with Sorens in tow.
“Fuck,” I curse when I spot them.
Fuck, fuck, double fuck.
I need to get Mari home. I need more of her.
She’s still cradled against my chest, boneless and content, her breathing normal now.
I press a kiss to her forehead and whisper in her ear, “I’ll wrap this up as quickly as possible.”
She startles, having been lost in her own world. She notices the men approaching and tries to get off my lap, but I tighten my hold and keep her exactly where she is.
Now that I found her, I have no intention of hiding her.
Sorens doesn’t bat an eye as he settles into the chair opposite me, Julian, his ever-present right-hand man at his side. A couple of his women hover near him, but with a casual wave, he sends them off to the bar until our business is concluded.
Mari shifts on my lap, her unease palpable, and I rub a soothing hand over her back.
“Do you mind if I go dancing?” she asks me, her voice soft and hesitant.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes flicking to mine as if bracing for my reaction.
Do I mind?
Yes. Yes, I do.
But I won’t tell her that.
“Go on,” I say with a nod, keeping my voice steady even though I already know I won’t hear a word of this meeting while she’s out there.
She hesitates for a moment, as if unsure, then smiles before making her way to the dance floor.
I track her every step, unable to look away. When she reaches the center of the floor, the lights catch on her dress, highlighting the curves of her body as she closes her eyes and lets the music take over.
Her movements are tentative at first, but as the rhythm pulses through her, she begins to sway, her confidence growing with each beat.
God, she is stunning!
My heart pounds harder than the bass, drowning out Sorens’ voice entirely. He’s talking, but I couldn’t repeat a single word if my life depended on it. Romeo catches my eye and smirks, clearly aware I’m not paying attention. I’m relying entirely on him to handle this meeting.
Then some guy approaches Mari, an easy grin on his face as he steps into her space. My chest tightens as I watch him say something to her, leaning closer than he has any right to.
My protective instincts—no, let’s call it what it is, my possessiveness—kick in, sharp and immediate.
“Finish this,” I tell Romeo in as calm a voice as I can muster, while my fists clench at my sides.
I rise, trying to keep my movements slow and controlled when all I want to do is rush over and poke the guy’s eyes out for even looking at my girl.
The crowd parts for me as I stride toward her. My eyes stay locked on the guy leaning down, murmuring something in Mari’s ear. Her face is turned away, lips pressed into a tight line, her discomfort unmistakable.
My vision tunnels when the douchebag snakes his hand around her waist and pulls her against him.
She stiffens, her hands pushing at his chest, but he doesn’t let go. If anything, his grip tightens.
I see red.
