CHAPTER 16
1041 Words
ZACH’S POV
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, man, but don’t you think you’re taking it too far?”
“Can you stop questioning everything I do?” I said.
“It’s literally my job. I’m your vice president,” Victor replied.
Just then, my phone pinged. A message from Mabel. She was at the party now and wanted to know where I was. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and scanned the entrance. It didn’t take long to spot her.
Beautiful red-haired goddess in a green dress that made her eyes pop. The fabric flowed to the ground, but a dangerous slit ran high up her thigh, revealing just enough to make my pulse stutter. I already knew she had killer curves, but seeing them wrapped in that dress? Damn near lethal. She looked flawless. It was hard as hell to resist the way she affected me—my body reacted instantly, my c**k twitching with interest.
Instead of walking over, I stayed put, watching her from the shadows. She typed something into her phone, and mine vibrated again, confirming she was looking for me. I should’ve gone to her. But something held me back. Maybe I wanted to see how she’d handle an unfamiliar environment. Or maybe I simply enjoyed watching her from afar.
She closed her eyes, and her shoulders relaxed. When she opened them again, she had a completely different aura. She didn’t need me to teach her how to be confident. She already had it in her. She just needed to trust herself a little more.
I watched her catwalk toward the bar. I could already tell she’d caught the attention of several men, but she seemed completely oblivious to it.
Leaning against the wall, hidden by the darkness, I watched her smile sweetly at the bartender. Less than a minute later, a man approached her, placing his filthy hand on what was mine.
I wanted to rush over there and snap his fingers, but I swallowed down the urge.
Mabel definitely looked uncomfortable with the interaction, but she was too gentle to tell him to f**k off.
I decided to stroll toward her.
She was reaching for her glass of whiskey when I wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned down to her neck. I inhaled her scent, mostly out of habit. It was one of the sweetest combinations of scents I had ever smelled. It was so intoxicating that it took everything in me not to bite her.
A mate’s scent was always strongest around the neck. It was calming, and despite knowing I would never mark her, I always found myself indulging in it. I made excuses just to steal another breath, another sufficient dose of her scent.
It was one of the few sinful indulgences I allowed myself.
My fingers stroked against her waist. “Sorry for keeping you waiting, love.”
Then I turned to the man who was still standing beside her and glared at him. He hurriedly looked away.
Mabel turned to me with a frown. “Why haven’t you been replying to my messages?”
“Do I have to?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes. “That’s how messaging works.”
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I’ll do better next time,” I said with a smirk.
She raised an eyebrow before sighing. “So, what is this event about, and why am I here?”
I turned to face the crowd. “To immerse yourself in my world. You wanted to be part of it, so here we are.”
“Oh… okay,” she said, sounding a little unsure of her decision. “So what am I supposed to do?”
“Nothing. Just dance and flirt with them. I want to see how well you can hold your own in front of these men.”
She chewed on her lip, batting her lashes at me.
My heart hammered violently against my chest.
Was she purposely flirting with me?
“Are you going to leave me again?” she asked innocently.
My voice came out rough, almost gravelly. “I’ll be right here watching.”
She nodded, then turned toward the crowd, tucking her hair behind her ear. The movement gave me a perfect view of her side profile, those soft pink lips parting slightly and the elegant line of her neck.
“You are beautiful,”
I realized I’d said it out loud when Mabel whipped around with wide eyes.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and stared straight ahead, avoiding those big, pleading puppy-green eyes. “Just thought you needed the boost of confidence.”
She nodded and looked away.
Mabel didn’t have to search for a partner. One of the men—a beta—walked straight up to us. He gave me a brief, respectful nod before devouring her with his eyes. “Can I have your first dance?”
She glanced at me. I gave a curt nod, even though everything in me screamed to pull her back against my chest and keep her there.
She took his hand and let him lead her onto the dance floor. The moment his arm slid around her waist, a vicious surge of jealousy ripped through me. That should be my hand on her. My body pressed close to hers. The sight of another man touching what was mine made my blood boil.
I snatched a glass of whiskey and downed it in one burning swallow. It did nothing to cool the fire raging under my skin. I hated her. I hated her father. I was supposed to hate her. Yet here I was, fighting the urge to storm across the floor, rip her out of his arms, and claim her right in front of everyone.
I turned toward Victor, but he was busy with two girls. With a heavy sigh, I poured another drink. That’s when another text lit up my phone.
I glanced at Mabel again. She seemed to be handling herself, laughing at something the beta said, her body moving gracefully with his. The jealousy twisted deeper, hot and ugly.
Fuck.
I couldn’t ignore the message. Hopefully she could take care of herself
- Writer
