Page 37 of Broken Pieces
Making a split-second decision, I make my way to their table before I talk myself out of it. It’s all about split-second decisions; take the opportunity and make it yours before it’s too fucking late.
Iwanther.Needher. She has to bemine, andonly mine.
Sitting down next to her, I throw my arm possessively over her shoulder. My gaze falls on the guy, a smug, condescending laugh escaping my lips. He’s your typical preppy blond guy who peaked in high school and never moved on from those glory days. It's unbelievable this is who she’s having dinner with.
“Thank you for keeping her company while I was at work, Chad.”
She leans in and hisses, “What the hell are you doing?”
Ignoring her question, I turn my attention toChad, who is still trying to make sense of the situation.
“My name is Hunter, not Chad.”
Another laugh escapes me. I don’t know which name is worse.
I shrug. “It doesn’t really matter what your name is,Chad. I hope you've enjoyed your time with my girl,” I say, my tone firm and controlled. “But you can leave now.”
She stomps on my foot with her heel hard enough that I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from wincing.
Gritting her teeth, she says, “We'renottogether. You don't have to listen to him.”
The man frowns. “Who the hell are you, man? Leave us alone.”
Pft. This man has a death sentence.
With a warning tone in my voice and a death glare, I say, “You really should go now. We don’t want to cause a scene in the middle of this very busy restaurant, do we?”
He gets up irritated, murmuring, “Whatever. This isn’t worth it.”
As soon as he leaves, she rises from her seat with her purse in hand and marches out of the restaurant with a fury that burns in her eyes.
I follow her, urgently calling out, “Aria, wait!”
She quickens her pace. How is she fucking walking so fast with those heels? Seriously.
I take three long strides, quickly catching up, given the height difference between us. Gripping her arm gently, I say sternly, “Aria, I'm trying to talk to you. Look at me.”
She turns to me, her eyes aflame with anger. “Damian, what thefuckwas that? Seriously, why on earth did you dothat?” Her voice is sharp as she shouts at me, frustration evident in her every word.
I stand in front of her, letting the sounds of cars honking and walking people around us fill the silence, offering no immediate response. What can I say? That I’m jealous? Damn right I am. The reality of this situation is that I want her to be mine, but we can’t and it’s fucking frustrating. This impossible constant feeling that's been eating me alive every waking moment of every day since she walked into my life; a feeling that refuses to go away.
She crosses her arms, her frustration growing as every second passes.
My temper flares, and I lean in closer, my voice low and seething. “Watching you with another man drives me insane.”
Her back straightens as she replies dryly, “You don't get to decide who I see, Damian. That’s insane.”
Iknowthat my actions are insane. But that’s the thing, when I’m near her, rationality abandons me, and all that's left is this uncontrollable torrent of emotions.
A humorless laugh escapes me. “I’m well fucking aware of that, but I can’t think straight when I’m near you. You invade all of my thoughts every waking moment. Your presence is everywhere. It’ssuffocating.” I gulp. There’s no turning back now, I’m knee-deep in this already. It’s now or never. I whisper, “I want you, and that’s the fucking truth.”
She takes a step back, her face shocked by my confession. Her anger softens into something else, something more complex. “This isn’t how it works. You can’t just lay claim to me.”
“Funny, because it seems like I just did,” I deadpan. I sound like an asshole, but I’m done tiptoeing around the situation. The attraction is there,bothways.
She laughs, a sound laced with frustration and disbelief. With exasperation, she raises her hands in the air and says, “I can't do this with you, Damian. One moment, you're cold and distant. Then, you're close to me, almost kissing me!” She’s practically shouting, her chest raising and falling in irritation. “You’re infuriating! I don't understand what you want from—”
I don't let her finish the sentence because I knowexactlywhat I want. Closing the distance between us, I firmly grasp the nape of her neck, and lock our lips in a fierce, deep-seated kiss. I kiss her like she is my only source of air, and I am running out of time because that’s exactly how I feel every time I’m around her.
