Red

CHAPTER 47.

I let myself go, deep within the abyss of his dark irises.

Soft breath slipped between my lips as I dragged my wrist free of his grip, not to escape, but to show him I felt his strength. That he was industrious. That he wasn't the only one capable of pushing back.

We were in a dark office, air cold of air-conditioning and his strong scent of mint, male and musk. It sank into my lungs and clear the liquor fog from my mind.

"You know," I said, back pressed against the door as I watched every step he took deeper into the room, "you're the very meaning of hypocrisy, Mr. Black."

He stopped in front of the wide glass window one that looked down into the club and VIP floor below. Strobe lights flickered against the right side of his face, illuminating the jagged scar.

It was darker in the shadow. More suggestive.
My thighs clenched involuntarily.

"Say's the same woman who calls me another man's name during sex then has the audacity to come to my club and dance on another man."

Before I could breathe, he moved into my space.

His arms caged me in, palms flat on either side of my head. He craned his neck down, his frame swallowing the light.

"Then what does that make you, hmm?" he murmured, his breath brushing my cheek, "The woman who keeps crawling back to it?"
His hand grabbed around my jaw, forcing my lips into a pout.

He dragged his mouth slowly from my jaw... to the corner of my lips... and finished in a whisper. "You're the whole dictionary of bullshit, Cara..."

"You're contradiction wrapped in perfume and bad decisions."

His eyes dared me to break but I didn't. I only smiled small.

"Please," I breathed, tilting my head just enough to slip from his grip, "if I'm a contradiction... it's only because you confuse the fuck out of me."

His brows twitched and I stepped closer, chest brushing his.

"And if I'm wrapped in bad decisions?" My fingers slid up the side of his throat, resting there. "Then you're the worst one I keep choosing."

His jaw flexed, my voice dropped into a whisper, warm against his cheek.

"So tell me, Mr. Black... if I'm crawling back, why are you always waiting for me?"

His breath stilled and his pupils blew wide. The tension thickened.

His tone dropped darkly with angry. "You keep talking about hypocrisy, but all I see is you... testing me, using me. Fucking me to get rid of that fuckboy you can't seem to let go of, thinking it clears your conscience. You push every limit, Cara. Do you even realize what it costs to care for someone like you?"

He grabbed my wrist firm, tight enough to make me flinch. "Someone tied to her past. Stop pretending this is just a game."

I pressed my palm against his chest, trying to create space, but he didn't budge. His dark eyes drilled into me, sharp and furious.

"You moaned his name. During our fuck," he growled, voice low and dangerous. "Do you even realize what that means? What that does to me?" His jaw sharp and I saw how much this hurt him.

I swallowed hard, tears burning behind my eyes. I knew I messed up. I shouldn't have done it. For the first time since knowing him I flickered my eyes to the floor, trying to steady my pounding heart. "Lorenzo... it wasn't you. It wasn't about you."

His jaw clenched and he grabbed my jaw and tilt my face up, lips hovering over mine, my head pressed on the wall. "Wasn't about me?" His fingers dug into my jaw, holding me still. "You fuck me... and called his name. Tell me you weren't thinking about him!"