When she turns around, our gazes lock. I understand the panic fluttering in her irises because where I see salvation, she sees damnation. “Get the fuck away from me.”
“Wait!” I shout as I chase her through the crowd. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I just want to talk.”
2
MIA
The universe hates my ass. Hates me with a passion. No matter what I do, I can’t catch a damn break. Three months ago, when I ran from the nut job, relief flooded my body in such a wave, it almost felt like I was reborn.
My feet move so fast, I don’t realize I’ve walked straight into my new boss, Axel Moretti. I’ve heard rumors about him from the other girls working here, but he’s always seemed like a nice enough guy. Based on what they've said, I probably shouldn’t have taken this job, but I need the money, and this place pays well. Med school isn’t cheap, and I’ve got no desire to come out of it three-hundred thousand dollars in debt.
“You okay?” Axel appears concerned, but who knows how genuine he is?
“Yes, I’m fine. Some guy was harassing me, so I wanted to get away.”
Axel peeks over my head. “Which guy? I’ll get him booted out of the place. I don’t need some drunk asshole harassing my staff.”
“It’s okay. I lost him.”
“Where are you running off to, Goddess?” the psycho asks, smirking at me.
“I spoke too soon. This is the asshole who won’t leave me alone.”
“I’m not an asshole. I’m a nice guy.”
Axel barks out a laugh. “He’s nice like a wolf’s nice before he bites off your hand.”
The psycho growls. A real growl, the sound a wolf makes, validating Axel’s statement. “Get lost, Axel.”
“Mia, this is Alexie, and I promise you, if he’s chasing you, the last thing he’d ever do is hurt you. He might want to do other things to you, but hurting you is not one of them.”
“What other things?”
Axel shrugs. “Probably X-rated adult things. But don’t worry, from what I hear, he’s very good, and ladies always come first.”
“Can you shut the fuck up, man?” Alexie says through gritted teeth.
Axel laughs and walks off to his table, leaving me alone with the psycho. “If you’re worried about me saying anything, I won’t. I want to be left alone. What sucks the most is I’m gonna lose my damn job.”
Alexie cocks his head to the side. “Why would you lose your job?”
I can’t help thinking how sweet he looks. But all wolves can disguise themselves as sheep. “Because I’m not gonna put out for you. You’ll run to your buddy, and he’ll give me the boot.”
Alexie steps toward me, and I retreat until my back hits the railing at the VIP level. “Do I appear to be a mere boy?”
My eyes roam his chiseled face with its five o’clock shadow, the rise and fall of his solid chest with each ragged breath, and the thick, brawny arms caging me in. My voice hitches as I whisper, “No.”
“What’s that, Goddess? Turns out you’ve lost your voice. Or do you need me to repeat the question?” He moves closer, his body pressed against mine. The man is packing serious heat between his legs. “Let me ask again. Do I appear like an insufficient boy?”
“No!” I shout.
“Rest easy. No matter what you say, your job is secure. But I would like to make you an offer.”
I’m not sure what kind of offer he has in mind, but as I stand here with his body pressed so close to mine, I’m not sure I could refuse any request this man makes.
I want to be the badass I know I am, kick him in the balls, and tell him to go fuck himself, but something about this guy throws me for a loop.
The way his eyes roam over my body is so hot I could burst into flames at any moment. He licks his lips as if he’s staring at a piece of Kobe beef and salivating for a bite.
But what gets me the most is how he looks at me with such intent and longing that it makes me feel majestic. There’s heat behind his eyes, for sure. The man wants to fuck me, but wrapped around that heat is wonder, as if I’m the only one who can unlock the mysteries of the universe. No one has ever looked at me this way before. I didn’t think it was possible to be seen the way this man sees me. But here I am, standing in front of a psycho, and he’s looking at me like I’m the entire world. Talk about a serotonin boost.
“What’s the offer,” I ask, my voice as shaky as my legs. The last thing I need is to swoon on the floor like some pathetic Disney princess.