“I’m not stupid,” she snapped. “You wanna talk about someone being stupid—”
“I never said you were,” he interjected, not letting her finish that insulting statement. He observed her carefully, knowing that whenever Kenzie became cornered she reacted defensively. He held her tighter to him now. “I asked why you are drinking yourself stupid. What are you running from?”
“Nothing,” she said, again refusing to look at him.
He stopped dancing. “I wish you would talk to me. I don’t like you this way, kitten.”
“Speaking of stupid, that nickname is at the top of the list, by the way. I am nothing like a damn kitten, unless you mean that I currently want to claw off your face.” Her eyes narrowed, and there was quite a bit of ire in them. “You know what? I never asked you to like me.” She forced her hand out of his and stepped out of his hold. “You also don’t have to dance with me.”
He closed the distance, paying attention to the others around him, and hoped that no one took notice of them. He didn’t want to cause a scene, but he had a bad feeling that Kenzie was going to anyway. He looked over his shoulder and noticed Dmitri at the table with Presley, Aidan, and Cora. All eyes were on them, so apparently Kenzie was already making a spectacle of herself.
Porter gestured to the door and waited for Dmitri’s nod in understanding that Porter was taking Kenzie home. He took her hand, tugging her with him. “Come with me.”
“I’m not going…” she loudly responded.
That’s all she got out before he crushed his mouth on hers, ending the conversation. She tasted of whiskey and he felt her loss of control, and more than anything, the trembling of her lips was indicative of a woman falling to pieces.
When he broke the kiss, he brought his mouth close to her ear. “Tonight belongs to Kyler and Ella, and you will not forgive yourself for making a scene. Take my hand and follow me out. We’re going home.”
He grabbed her hand and led her away. Anger flickered hot in his veins, and he wasn’t sure where the anger should be directed. It wasn’t at Kenzie herself. No, he sensed too much going on with her for him to be furious with her. His red-hot rage was at the situation.
He needed control. He craved it like a drug. Right now he controlled shit.
Once he made it outside of the private room, the sound from the casino rushed over him and he cursed it. He needed silence to think of his next steps. Tonight Kenzie behaved in ways that went beyond what he’d thought her capable of. She was crumbling around him, and he could do nothing to stop it.
She stayed silent behind him until they were outside, and then she ripped her hand from his. “You can stop fucking manhandling me!” she shouted.
Heads turned in their direction.
Porter frowned and took the final steps toward her, leaning down into her face. “See that cab over there? You are going to get your pretty little ass in the fucking backseat and say nothing. I will not discuss anything with you while you are in this state.”
“I’m not in any state, you big ass,” she slurred.
As childish as she was acting at the moment, his heart only went out to her. She wasn’t behaving like herself, only telling him how bad things were for her. He reached for her arm, but she dodged him and cursed. When she nearly went ass over teakettle, he gathered her in his arms and growled, “Enough.”
Her eyes were glossy and dazed; she was only a battered soul staring back at him. “I can’t get into that cab.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m going to be sick.” She pulled away from his arms and ran toward one of the potted plants by the entranceway, leaned over it, and hurled.
Porter looked at the valet as he approached Kenzie. The man gawked at her in complete horror with his mouth agape. Porter asked, “Do you have a tissue?”
The man reached into a drawer on his stand and handed Porter a couple of napkins. “Please remove her immediately.” He picked up the telephone and added with a hard voice, “I need someone to come clean up out here. Someone has vomited in our plant at the entrance.”
Porter finally reached Kenzie and placed a hand on her back, rubbing it and waiting for her to stop heaving. When she did, he held on to her arms to steady her and wiped her mouth with the napkins. “Any more arguments about going home?”
Her eyes were bloodshot as she leaned all her weight against him. “Nope.”
Chapter Ten
The bright sunlight shining through the window woke Kenzie, as did a headache the size of Las Vegas. She groaned, refusing to open her eyes, feeling as if she belonged six feet under. Someone clearing his throat refused her wish to die right then and there, and she forced one eye open.
First, she noticed a cathedral ceiling with white beams and light wood planks. She lifted her head, instantly regretting it as it throbbed in retribution. The room spun as she focused on the simple oak furniture in the room and the pictures of old Vegas on the walls. Confused by her surroundings, she sat up, and felt a tug on her wrist. Instant fear washed through her and she shot up, discovering she was handcuffed to a bed wearing only her bra and panties.
She scanned the room quickly. That’s when she realized she wasn’t alone.