“It’s no secret that everything with my dad has taken a toll on me. I guess I should have stopped to consider that it might come across as favoritism, a recruit here before and after hours.”
His eyes cut toward Row right then, and mine follow, finding him frowning at the two of us.
My and Gio’s stares meet again.
“I’m sorry if it seems like Rowan is receiving special treatment or extra training … or whatever it is you’re thinking. Rowan is my best friend, has been for years, and he insists on hovering even though I’ve asked him not to.”
A sad laugh leaves me, and Gio’s shoulders visibly relax.
He nods, his relief more than obvious.
He looks to Rowan again, and when he does, he stands taller. Confidence lining his spine, he turns back to me with a deep smirk that’s lost on me.
“See you two in the morning.” He glances Rowan’s way one more time, licks his lips, and then steps around me.
My eyes follow him out the door.
When I turn back to grab my bag from the floor, not one, but two Daniels boys are right in front of me, both wearing deep scowls.
“What did he want?” they spit out the same question.
My head pulls back. I straighten my spine and glare at them both. “To talk to his instructor.”
Alec’s nostrils flare, and Rowan’s brows lift, both waiting for more.
So, I give it to them. “Confidentially.” I spin on my heels and storm out.
And they both follow, only Rowan bolts out the front, the way Gio headed, and Alec stays on my tail.
Shocker.
“I asked you a question, Oakley.”
“And I answered you, Alec. Just because it wasn’t the answer you wanted doesn’t mean you’re privy to another.”
“I’m his instructor, too. What could he possibly need to say to you that he couldn’t say to me or with me around?”
I storm through the Employees Only door, and he catches up, yanking my arm before pushing me against the wall.
“What did he want?” he seethes.
My jaw drops. “Are you serious right now?”
“Do I look like I’m playing?”
“Let me put this in terms you will understand. You have no right to ask me anything about anyone at any time. You deserve none of my respect, and even if you did, you have none.”
“You think I don’t know I’ve fucked up?” He crowds me, his expression dark. “I live it every fucking day. I don’t sleep. I force myself to eat. I can’t fucking focus on anything other than the fact that every day that passes, I’m losing more of you. But know this, princess. I won’t fucking allow it to happen. Far as I’m concerned, you’re with me. Anybody tries to step in on that, and I’ll—”
“What? Huh?” I push into him, and his lips smash together. “You’ll what? Rage out and beat up a student because you’re irrational and feel privilege you don’t have? Go ahead. I’d love for you to be arrested for something like that. It would help in court when I contest my dad’s will.”
His eyes narrow.
“You don’t belong here. You never did. That’s why it was so easy for you to go before, wasn’t it?”
He pushes back, smashing me to the wall as he dips lower, so his mouth is almost in line with mine, his eyes on my lips as he speaks. “You wanna know why it was so easy for me to leave before?” he breathes, purposely making his bottom lip hit mine before dropping back a fraction of an inch.
My thigh muscles clench, and I know he feels it against his. His eyes slice to mine before hitting my mouth again.
“Because leaving meant my baby would be safe.”
His hand finds my waist then, slowly sliding up my ribs, and my back bows off the wall, my eyes squeezing shut.
“Any trouble or change or challenge is worth the risk if it means she’s okay.” His warm breath fans across my lips and I turn away, resting my cheek as close to the wall as possible.
I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.
I swallow.
God, I miss him.
His mouth finds my ear. “I miss you, too, princess. Every fucking day, all day, and especially at night when all I can think about is holding on to you, touching you … sliding into that soft pussy of yours, watching as it sucks me in.” He groans.
I bite into my cheek, my hands balling into fists so that I don’t reach for him.
“The way your walls clench around me, pulsing with every inch taken, shaking with every inch out.” His grip grows possessive. “My baby.”
“Your baby …” I breathe.
He shivers.
It almost kills me, but I force air into my lungs and fire off the words trying to stick to my throat. “Is waiting at home for you.”
His muscles lock against me, his head slowly lifting. Sore eyes hit mine.