His arms tighten, but around her, as he tilts his head, his mouth gaping open only for no sound to come out.
“Surprise,” Mallory whispers, grabbing his hands and pulling them from around her body.
He stands there, frozen in place, his eyes flying across the room, landing on the screen on the small table.
They narrow on the screen as he pieces it together.
I watched every move made, heard his every desire.
“No,” he breathes, shaking his head franticly.
He darts forward, but Mallory slips in front of me first.
“What the fuck is going on here?” he asks, but his voice is just above a whisper.
I’ve lost, that’s what.
He stands still as a statue as Mallory turns to me.
Wild, crystal blue eyes meet mine as her clammy palm flattens on my cheek. “Mike thinks he knows what you want.” She leans forward, sliding her lips across my cheek until they meet my hair. “But I know you better, don’t I?”
“What the hell are you doing?” I whisper brokenly.
Her soft chuckle fans across my skin and I force myself not to shove her back. “You made me think you cared about me. You pretended to be there for me. You lied to me, Vee, and for what, him? He’s not worth it, he doesn’t deserve you. Look how easy he gave you up.”
“You’re a crazy bitch,” I hiss.
Captain frowns, unable to hear our quiet words, and unease creates heavy creases across his brows.
Mallory grips my chin in a hard hold, forcing words past clenched teeth. “You gave me no choice. I am controlling this party, Victoria, so play along.” Her voice is so low, there is no way he can hear, but she might as well be screaming in my ear when she says, “Play along, and take what you want, Vee, because this will be your one and only chance to have him.”
My only chance.
Because he chose her.
My chest caves as I stare at Captain, and even more so when his focus switches to the beautiful, near-naked blonde in front of me.
Maybe she’s right...
Despite what anyone wants, I have no intention of leaving this place, no matter the girl on his arm or the obstacles that may follow.
This is my home and it will stay so, and she’s making it clear in case it wasn’t, that no matter what she does, she’ll always have a part of him I won’t, and she plans to use it as a tool against me, because I’m the enemy now.
She’ll always stand in my way, even when she doesn’t want him if it means keeping him from me.
With that thought, I stand perfectly still as her hands lower to my jeans, and when she unbuttons them, I allow her to push them down.
She bends over, picking them off the floor and spins on her heels, resting her ass on me, nothing but the thin line of her G-string and my thong between us.
She tosses them to Captain, who catches them with a tight frown.
Mallory grabs her hair in her hands and drags it all to the opposite side of her, tilting her head, and like a robot, I give her what she wants.
I shuffle closer and press my lips to her shoulder.
Captain’s eyes follow the movement, and slowly my pants fall from his hands.
“Come here,” she whispers to him.
Of course, he listens.
My pulse beats heavy in my throat, vibrates deep within my ears, and only grows louder with each slow step closer he takes.
“She’s gorgeous,” Mallory says to him, and his features tighten, gaze flying between mine only to cut to hers. “Isn’t she?”
Her fingers suddenly slide along my outer thigh and he follows the contact as he gives an almost unnoticeable nod, and they dip beneath the band of my underwear.
It takes everything inside me not to wrap my arm around her neck and choke her on the spot, but then I’ll have to sit back and break a little more as he comes to her rescue.
So, as she begins to pull them down, pushing them along my thighs, I allow it. They fall to my feet.
Captain’s eyes fly to mine, a twisted expression taking over his face.
She blocks my exposed body with her own, and asks him, “Are her eyes on yours?”
His features pull, but he nods, and then her hand slides behind her.
I grind my teeth together, fighting back tears as she violates me and right here for him to see.
Her hand slides along my center, and shame colors my neck and cheek as my body reacts to the sensation. My core heats without permission, and I can’t stop the shuddered exhale from escaping, but it helps hide the slight cry that slips out in the same second.
Mallory’s chest inflates with a heavy inhale, proud of her piece of shit self, and her blue eyes lock with mine over her shoulder. A wicked glint glares into me as she lowers her hand, now cupping me completely.