My stomach aches. Everyone is staring at her and they see us together. Watchful eyes burn into my navy suit jacket, through my cold exterior and right into my chest where my heart beats out of time. Her fluttery pulse replaces the missing beat.
The stars in my eyes extinguish with every stride we take. Having her here, in front of these people, is a terrible mistake.
“Don’t forget, if anyone asks, you’re my personal assistant. Nothing else,” I snarl, somewhat breathless by my irrational temper. “These men might pretend they’re loyal to me, but any one of them could betray us. That makes you vulnerable if they think you mean something to me.”
Intrigue sparks from her eyes, penetrating my chest where my wretched heart thumps for her.
“Why would they think that?” Her forehead creases with the daring question. The melody of her sweet voice will forever break through my demons. “Surely I’m just another woman on your arm like a shiny new toy.”
My fists curl tight, the timing for such a question is completely wrong. Then again, when is the right time to address this insanity? It’s not like we have a future.
I pivot, my torso bumping into her breasts. My dick grows even more painful. “Everyone in this house can see you’re not a toy. I’ve no doubt my mother quizzed you on our unusual situation and warned you of a world you don’t belong in.”
Shane joins us, his interruption necessary before the floodgates burst and I reveal how she heightens my senses and shines a light into my darkness. I’m a fucking fool.
“She doesn’t think I have what it takes to stand beside you.” Carina raises her chin and strikes my unsettled mood with a simple bat of her long lashes.
“She’s wrong,” I say behind clenched teeth.
Her cheeks flush the perfect shade of pink. A color so pretty I could paint the world with it just to remind myself of her.
“Tommy,” Shane offers me a drink. “Can I have a word?”
“About what?”
“Private.”
I knock the hard liquor back, enjoy the burn as it slides down my throat and cock an eyebrow at him. “Fine.”
Carina nods at Shane and turns away. My hand lashes out, cuffing her wrist like she's caught by a powerful magnet. “I won’t be long. Get something to eat. You’ll need a lot of energy for later.”
She glances at my tight grip and then meets my gaze with hungry eyes that arrest me. “I’ll mingle with these men, shall I?”
I snarl under my breath, keeping check of the mayhem running riot in my chest. As difficult as it is to stay calm in the wake of such a teasing threat, I catch Matheus’ eye and signal over to him. He saunters through the crowd, rolling his shirt sleeves to the elbow and loosening his thin tie. “Everything okay?”
“Stay with Carina until I come back.” I release her arm, the struggle to step away from her crippling. “And keep your hands to yourself,” I add on a growl. “I know where they’ve been.”
Matheus chuckles. “She belongs to you, brother. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Carina stiffens, her fingers twitching to touch her lip. This is our last night together before the agreement goes up in flames. I’d rather spend that time wisely—like feasting on her sweet pussy and coming over her bruised ass. Accepting that it would have to wait until later, I nod to Shane. “Let’s go.”
I swipe an open bottle of tequila from the bar on my way past and hold it to my lips as we leave her behind. Suddenly my chest tightens, so I look back at her for another glimpse. Everything has changed. She’s not the same girl my father had wanted dead. When I stare into a room full of people, she’s the only one I see. Her eyes. Her skin. Her breasts. Her fragility.
I’m an asshole.
A confused fool.
Half of a man.
I want her so much, my brain short circuits and my swollen dick pleads to be touched by her. The only traitor in this house is me. I’ve betrayed my own wishes, burned my beliefs, and ripped my own goddamn heart out from a cage of ribs.
I grip the bottleneck hard, curbing the impulse to snatch her away and leave this place in the ashes of my bad decisions.
“Tommy?” Shane clears his throat.
My head aches, the whirlwind of thoughts fucking with my sanity. “What’s so important?” I snap at him when we’re further down the hallway, out of earshot.
He scrubs his face, exhaustion tugging at his eyelids. Shane isn’t a fan of my plan to gather everyone at the plantation in the middle of nowhere. The guy has been on high alert since they arrived. It’s his job to advise me and watch my back.