Curse And Craving

12

I searched his chestnut eyes and wondered if I’d overreacted. He hadn’t given me any real reason not to trust him, aside from getting a little handsy. We’d both been drinking. I wouldn’t want someone to write me off because of my drunken actions, so I shouldn’t do that to him. But then again, being cautious had always served me well. “You know where you can find me. Let’s just keep it at that for now.” I offered a small smile, hoping to soften the blow. A flash of emotion flitted across his eyes. “Of course. I’ll stop by for lunch again sometime soon.” He placed a small kiss on the back of my hand. “Good night, Rebecca.” His warm eyes held mine intently before he turned to walk back into the club. I took in a lungful of air, not realizing I had been holding my breath, and continued to the restroom to collect myself. Consistent with the rest of the club, the restroom was decked out like a retro-Hollywood dressing room with feather boas and bare-bulb vanity lighting. I felt like I should be wearing a feather boa and garters holding up silken hose. Whoever had designed the place had done an outstanding job transporting visitors to another age. Once I finished my business, I exited the restroom with the intent to round up Ashley, but I slammed into a hard body just beyond the doorway. Before I could fall on my ass, large hands grasped my arms and pulled me forward to press firmly against a hard chest. “I’m so sorry,” I blurted. “I didn’t see … it’s you!” My words faded to a whisper when I looked up into the eyes of my stalker. The man who had been lingering outside my window the night before. Had he followed me? Did he plan to hurt me? If I didn’t know better, the parting of his lips and raised brow would indicate he was just as surprised to run into me as I was him, but the coincidence would be too great. He had to have known I was here. “What do you want with me? Why are you following me?” Frustration and alcohol blended to form a powerful cocktail in my veins. One that successfully diluted the fear that would have otherwise had me quivering and speechless. Instead, my words grew forceful and accusatory. Sober me might even have been a little proud. The man grabbed my hand and yanked me into a room. Slamming the door behind us, he pressed me up against the back of it with my hands firmly pinned beside my head. Our chests touched, both rising and falling with heavy breaths as we held each other’s eyes. Turbulent cerulean eyes almost too bright for the dimly lit room. Dear God, who was this man? I knew I should run screaming and get the hell out of there, but his actions had stunned my already dulled senses. All I could muster was a fiery indignation and enough morbid curiosity to keep me from thrashing against him. As with our previous encounter, his face was expressionless except for the slightest tick in his jaw. Up close and in better light, I could see that his right eyebrow had a scar running through it, and his lips were full, though currently pressed firmly together. Oh God, I’m staring at his lips. This is bad. “Following you? That’s rich, considering you’re the one in my club.” His deep timbre resonated through my body and stoked an unwelcome ache deep in my center. I shook off the feeling and concentrated on his words. His club? “You own the Huntsman?” I blurted, confused. “I do, along with several others.” “I didn’t know. If I had…” My eyes fell to his lips again. His eyes narrowed. “If you had…? You wouldn’t have come?” My lips clamped shut, not sure I wanted to know my own answer to that question. “I saw you outside my window.” My words were nothing but a whisper as a tendril of fear finally made itself known. As if sensing my growing unease, his grip on my wrists softened. “I don’t know why you’re here, but you don’t belong. Surely, you must know that much.” Despite the calm presentation of his words, they packed a devastating blow. This man should have meant nothing to me. I shouldn’t have cared if he wanted me around or not, yet his condemning words twisted a knife deep in my chest. “f**k you,” I hissed, displaying more hurt than I would have liked. He allowed me to wriggle free of him, watching my every move with a predatory eye. I rubbed my wrists and glared at him. “No need to worry. I won’t be back here again.” I reached for the doorknob when he spoke again. “Did Ronan invite you?” I paused, recalling that Ronan had said his boss owned the place. Was this man his boss? “Yes, he did.” I peered over my shoulder curiously. “You’d be wise to stay away from him.” “Doesn’t he work for you?” “He does, but that doesn’t make us friends.” The softly spoken words of warning hung in the air, the hum of pulsing bass vibrating around us. Once my heart rate matched the frantic beat, I opened the door and fled the room.

“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?” Ashley rushed to my side as I crossed the dance floor. “I was looking everywhere for you!” “It doesn’t matter. Let’s get out of here,” I muttered as we neared the elevator. She pressed the button for the ground floor, and I leaned back against the elevator wall, eyes cast upward unseeing. “I thought we were having fun. What happened?” I could see the concern in her eyes, but I was too worn down to detail all the events with Ronan and my stalker. “Just these stupid Irish men—I think I may have to become a nun while I’m here. I’d say a lesbian, but I just don’t think I can swing that way.” We both burst out laughing, and Ash put her arm around me. She was more buzzed than me, but I could still feel the dizzying effects of the alcohol pulsing through my system now that the confrontation was over. The world seemed to lag when my gaze moved from one direction to another. It was definitely time to go home. Once outside, we set off in the direction of a busy cross-street where we could see cabs lined up in the distance. The side street we were on wasn’t totally abandoned, but most of the bustling activity of the Belfast nightlife kept to the main thoroughfares. I told Ashley about Ronan. She offered to knee him in the groin for me. I assured her that wasn’t necessary but giggled at the thought. Before I had a chance to tell her about seeing my stalker again, something grabbed my arm and yanked me into the shadows of an alley. Ashley called out my name and came running to my side as we both stared in horror at the hideous creature with my arm in its grasp.