I blink, not expecting that.
He gestures with his free hand to the pile of vomit on the floor.Oh. Duh.
“Peachy. Just some… bad wine.”
His lips purse as if he doesn’t quite believe me. “Why are your pupils dilated and unfocused, then? And you’re clammy. Shaky.” A grin spreads across his face, lighting his features despite the mask he wears. I itch to reach up and brush it off, reveal his identity, but he has me pinned. “Do I make you nervous?”
“I mean, I just puked. I think those are pretty normal bodily functions.”
“Maybe.” A teasing glint dances in his gaze, and I notice a busted blood vessel in the corner of his left eye. I can’t help wondering if that’s a result of the orgasm or something else, but then he continues talking, drawing my attention to his plush mouth. “Or maybe you liked what I was doing to her. Maybe you don’t know what to do with your gut reaction.”
“You’re joking, right? What would I find exciting about you fucking some other girl’s mouth? I don’t even know you.”
“You always need to know someone in order to find them attractive? To find their actions enticing?” Tilting his head, he studies me through narrowed lids. “Or are you embarrassed by the things that turn you on? Think you’re too good for a little depravity?”
My eyebrows furrow.Is he serious?“She’spassed out. You sexually assaulted her, and you’re probably planning on what you can do to me as we speak. Who would be turned on right now?”
Fire flickers in his eyes and his nostrils flare, as if the very idea of hurting me excites him. “First, that was consensual. Ever heard of erotic asphyxiation?”
I shake my head, and he shrugs.
“She gets off on that shit. I do too, but I feel it’s important I point out that I didnotforce her to do that. Mel got on her knees willingly, knowing exactly what I like.”
He drops his chin, scanning the length of my body, gripping my jaw in his long, powerful fingers. My cheeks heat as he steps closer, pressing his length into me. “And for what it’s worth, Iamthinking about all the things I could do to you. But they wouldn’t be things I’d force you into. You’d love every second of it.”
Pulling myself from his grip, feeling defiant, I glare at him. “If you think I’d let you do anything like that to me, you’re insane. I don’t evenknowyou.”
“But I know you,Juliet.And believe me, there’s a sexual beast inside you, waiting for someone to discover it. Tame it. I might be that man.”
I snort, ignoring the fact that he knows my name. After spending the night glued to my sister’s side, a mafia queen in her own right, I’d be more surprised if he didn’t recognize me. “Has that line ever worked for you?”
“A lot of things work for me, kitten.” He yanks back, disconnecting our bodies, and I can’t stop the wave of disappointment that floods through me at the loss.Stupid.Trailing his index finger down the column of my throat, he continues his descent down between the valley of my breasts, over my silky dress. He swirls around my belly button, the outline clear through the fabric, and stops at my pubic bone. “I could drag you to the sinks by your hair and lick you ‘til you’re raw. That’d work, for sure.”
My thighs clench, my pussy throbbing. I don’t know why, but I want him to keep going. Even though he’s a psycho, even though I don’t know him, even though I just watched him face-fuck another woman. I want him to cup me, to shove my dress up over my hips and fuck me bloody against the door, until my skin blooms red with his handprints and my throat is sore from screaming his name.
“Would you like that, Juliet?” He bends, his nose brushing against my hairline. “Would you like a stranger to take you in public? Fuck the spoiled brat out of you?” One large fist tangles in my hair, yanking at the roots, forcing my head back so I’m glaring up at him.
My stomach flutters, confused emotions swirling around as my brain tries to fight off the lust I have for this stranger with logic. On a gasp, my lips part, the slightest breath of air slipping out and brushing across his skin. His eyes light up, his grip on me tightening, and I find myself wishing he’d release me, just so I could drop to my knees.
Make him forget about the girl from before.
He seems to read my thoughts, a dark chuckle rumbling in his chest. It sends a tremble down my spine, divine yet dangerous, my mind swimming with possibilities. “Youarea spoiled little brat, aren’t you? Can’t stop thinking about how you might get me to ditch Melanie and keep you for myself. I can fuckingsmellthe jealousy on you.” Inhaling, he shoves his cheek against mine, breath hot against my ear. “I’m not sure you’d be able to keep me invested, kitten. I’ve got quite the appetite.”
His words give me pause, and after a moment, I’m no longer stripping for him in fantasy land; instead, I’m back in a dirty public restroom, this stranger accosting me with his large body after making another girl pass out.Right in front of me.
“This is verging on sexual harassment.” Shoving him away, I scowl up at him, not missing the way his gaze seems to dull as we disconnect. “Who are you, and why do you know who I am?”
“I’m quite versed in the happenings around town. Especially those that are supposedly fascinating.” Gripping my shoulders, he shoves me aside, reaching for the door handle. “Pity that you don’t actually seem to be that interesting, after all.”
“I’m interesting. Maybe you should try picking girls up in a way that doesn’t involve groping them in a bathroom.”
“Ah, but then you wouldn’t fear me. And where would the fun in that be?” He takes a wide step back, spreading the space between us, and stuffs his hands in his pockets. I should turn and run, go find my sister and her husband, but there’s no telling how far I’d even get.
If this man would kill me, given the chance.
The sad, miserable part of me wants to test him. Give him a reason to hurt me. Make him drown out the sorrow finding safe harbor inside my heart.
End this suffering.