Page 46 of Honey, Honey
“You shouldn’t frown,” Christian told me, taking a step closer to me. “You’ll get wrinkles. You know that.”
I took a step back mirroring his movement, and collided with the potted plant beside me. I took a wobbly step away from it. Christian had been forever trying to get me to get Botox as a ‘preventative measure’ because he liked how ‘youthful’ I looked. I’d almost done it before I remembered the way my mother had chased after her youth. She would have taken up an offer of free Botox at the drop of a hat. I refused to do it. The very next day Christian had begun policing my expressions.
God we had been so fucked up together, hadn’t we?
“Christian, back off. I mean it.” I held out a hand to him, palm facing him and shook my head when he came closer. “Now. Stop.”
“Honey, you missed me. I’m sure of it.”
“I can tell you she didn’t miss your sorry ass for one minute,” another voice said, and I almost tripped over my own feet in surprise.
“Who the fuck are you?” Christian asked, glaring at the person behind me that had spoken. I didn’t need to turn my head to see who it was. I knew exactly who it was.
“I’m her man,” Law said, coming to stand beside me. He crossed his arms and considered Christian. “From what I heard, you’re not supposed to be this close to her.”
Christian’s eyebrows drew together and he opened his mouth to say something stupid. I knew it was stupid by the way he was drawing himself up as if he was going to have the backbone to actually threaten Law and do something about it. Thankfully, the arrival of a giggling dark haired woman broke the growing tension between the two men. She was oblivious and all smiles to the show down and threw her arms around Christian’s waist.
“I was looking for you! You said you were going to get me a drink!” She exclaimed, giving him a hug and what could only be described as puppy dog eyes.
Christian’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “I got caught up with old friends. Sorry about that, Love.”
I wrinkled my nose at the nickname. What the hell? God, I hoped it was her nickname and not her real name. Honey? Love? What was he doing, going around collecting us for his twisted menagerie?
“Oh, that’s all right. I just missed you so much and-” she turned and looked at Law and I with a puzzled expression. “Hi, are you some of Christian’s friends?” She asked.
I cleared my throat, searching for an answer to her question that wouldn’t sound totally suspicious. “Well…” I began, but that was as far as I got because Law was grabbing my hand and shaking his head.
“No,” Law told her.
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh.”
Law ignored her and looked at Christian. “Come near her again and I’ll break your neck. Not gonna repeat it.” He turned, pulling me behind him, and we left the couple standing in stunned silence. I struggled to keep up with him but after we had cleared the corridor and made our way back up into the Great Room, I yanked on his hand.
“Stop dragging me around like a fucking caveman.”
He looked over his shoulder at me, eyes still narrowed in a glare. “Then walk.”
“I am, but some of us are wearing heels. I can’t keep up with these shoes on.” I gestured down at my feet and returned his glare with one of my own.
“Wear better shoes next time.”
“I wasn't exactly planning on needing to run when I picked these out,” I muttered, yanking on my hand, but he held fast.
“Wasn’t planning on baby sitting either, but here we are.”
I gave my hand another yank and this time managed to free myself from his hold. “If you think for one hot second that I want to be here with you, you’re horribly mistaken.”
He rubbed a hand across his jaw and chuckled. “Oh, is that so, princess?”
“Fuck yeah, it is.”
“Wasn’t the story last night when I left your place.”
My breath left my body as surely as if Law had punched me in the gut. “Fuck you,” I whispered, because he was right. I hadn’t wanted him to leave. I hadn’t said it, but he knew. He’d known and he’d still gone. He’d known and he’d still talked to me the way he had tonight. “You’re an asshole.”
He nodded, hand still at his jaw. “I know.”
“Why are you even here?” I asked, taking a step back from him. But it was no use because Law came right with me.
