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I gasp when his teeth nip my ear.

He moves away, and I turn around. Everyone is still talking, so no one is paying attention to us. I slip away from the bar and blindly follow Brad into a corridor where the faint sound of the music can be heard.

“Look, I don’t know what you want me to—”

My words are cut off when he pins me to the wall, covering my body with his.

“Tell me I mean nothing to you, that what we had meant nothing, and that Patrick is the one and I’ll back off.”

I gulp, my head feeling light and dizzy. “I…”

“Tell me. Tell me he’s the one that can give you everything you want.”

“Brad, I…”

“Tell me.” His tone is firm as he pushes his thigh between my legs. I fist his shirt in frustration. I want, need him. It’s been months since I felt his hands on me properly, his lips on mine, and I feel like I’ve been holding on for dear life, trying to get through each day, carrying the weight of my secrets and longing for him.

“I didn’t think so,” he murmurs. Pulling back, he looks me up and down, a pained expression on his face, and then he walks back toward the club. I sink to the floor and cradle my legs, balancing on my heels in a vain attempt to make myself feel as small as I feel.

Congratulations, Gabriella, your life is a fucking mess, and it’s all your own doing.

Chapter Forty

Brad

I slam the glass down on my kitchen island so firmly I’m shocked it doesn’t shatter. It’s my third one, and I have no intentions of stopping. Thirty-five, and I still don’t know when to stop. But I need it. I need something to mask this pain I’ve felt since she left. Since I pushed her away. I still don’t know how I’m supposed to get my dad out of prison. I’ve not heard a thing from him since I saw him and that puts me on edge. He won’t go quietly. It’s only a matter of time till he’s calling again. I just need to think of a way that doesn’t involve Gabriella. I lift the whiskey bottle to pour my next drink when a knock sounds at the door. I look at the clock; it’s nearly 2 am. I make my way to the door, opening it half expecting someone related to my dad to come barging in, but when I see Gabriella standing in my doorway, a flicker of firein her eyes and it takes me a second to question if she’s really here.

“You’re right.” I back up, letting her in. “I don’t want him.”

I clear my throat, my heart hammering wildly. I go to speak, but she continues.

“When I’m with him, all I think of is you. Is that what you want to hear?” She jabs her index finger into my chest angrily. “My biggest mistake was picking him. Is that what you want to hear, Brad?” She’s yelling now, and I’ve never seen her this angry.

“But you pushed me away. You told me to be with him.” My nostrils flare. She’s right, and it’s a decision I have regretted every day.

“I know,” I whisper.

Her eyes swirl with a mixture of hate and desire, and I want to take her in my arms and never let go. She might be someone else’s, but right now, I don’t care.

“What do you want, Gabriella?”

Indecision flickers across her face.

“What do you want, Gabriella?” I repeat, closing what little space there was between us.

“You,” she says breathlessly, and that one word is all it takes for our restraint to snap. I’m on her. I lift her, and her legs wrap around my waist and our mouths crash together in a bruising kiss.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” I moan against her lips.

“Me too,” she gasps between kisses. “I want you to be rough with me.”

“Oh, I plan to be. My bedroom. Now.” I put her down, and take her by the hand, dragging her towards my bedroom, the blood pumping around my body at an alarming rate in anticipation of what I plan to do to her.

“Strip, leave the heels on,” I command, and she does. I watch in fascination as she tugs at the side zipper on her dress and letsit fall to the ground and it's then I realize she has no bra on. Her heated gaze meets mine, and I point to her panties.

“Lose the lace.” She pulls them down and steps out, standing there like a goddess, naked in her heels that drive me wild. I slowly unbutton my shirt as I circle her, watching as her chest rises and falls in anticipation of my next move. I toss the shirt, foregoing my usual routine. No, tonight all the rules have gone out the window. I come up behind her and press my mouth to her shoulder, smoothing my hand down her stomach till it reaches her clit and I circle it with the pads of my fingers. Her head falls back against my chest, and just when I feel her breathing rate pick up, I stop.

“Hands on the edge on the bed and bend over. I’m going to drive you wild, baby girl.” I nip her ear, and she whimpers. She does as I ask her, ass in the air, round and perky and I grind my teeth, fighting the urge to take her now, the way I want her. But no, I want to have some fun first.