Page 56 of Consumed By You

“And you were going to tell me thiswhen?” he exclaims, tugging on my hand. “I don’t care what you say. You have to tell me everything. Leave nothing out!”

***

Exhausted, I drop my purse on my bed and shuffle over to the fridge. It’s only a couple of steps. Taking the chilled bottle of wine from the bottom drawer, I remember Benjamin doing the same thing more than a month ago. The day we first kissed.

The perfect first kiss.

His lips crushed to mine with such vigor that my knees became weak. His hands traveled down my body, pushing me into his long, toned abdomen, making me brutally aware of his increasing desire. I remember the moment I felt his thick girth harden against my baggy sweats as he dazzled me with his tongue, licking and stroking mine with unparalleled experience.

My hand is wrapped around my throat; my throat is dry and my cheeks feverish from remembrance. Snapping myself out of the daydream, realizing I’ve dozed off into a dark place in my memories, I grab a glass, pouring a decent amount of wine into it.

After a healthy swig, I set the glass down and start undressing. I’m dying to get out of this skirt. Why anyone makes clothing out of leather is beyond me. It’s incredibly uncomfortable.

After putting on my new favorite article of clothing, a lavender satin nightgown that cost me a small fortune, I drift to my bookshelf and close my eyes. Scanning the different covers with my fingers, I fish out a book at random. When I open them, I frown when I see my old tattered copy ofPride and Prejudicein my hands.

Stuffing it quickly back into the shelf, I climb my bed and scoot under the covers with a huff.

Fucking asshole is a Mr. Wickham.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Kevin! Two scotches on the rocks!” I shout over the deafening crowd in the bar. Friday night is always the worst, but at least the tips are good.

He sets the drinks on the bar, his expression a calm mask of tranquility. He’s been doing this a lot longer than I have. Kevin has been blessed with the gift of a great poker face. The only reason I know he hates crowds as much as I do is because he told me. Otherwise, I would have never known.

I hurry the scotches to the table and head to another. The entire night consists of running around. It’s only during rushes like this that I miss a desk job. There’s only so much groping you can handle from drunk idiots before your night goes to complete shit.

Tonight is one of those nights.

“Doll face, you look stressed. Let me buy you a drink. Sit.”

Who calls someone, “doll face”?

This guy, I guess. Young, sporting the look of a privileged frat boy. Judging by the mob of replicas around him, I’m guessing I hit the nail on the head.

“I’m working.”

He grins. “Five minutes couldn’t hurt.”

His sweaty hand hikes up my skirt. I shove his groping paw away and back up. “Keep your hands to yourself, dick.”

“Aw, I’m sorry! We can wait till later if you want!” He laughs as I storm away, reining in my simmering temper.

Goddamn assholes.

Not even thirty seconds later, I hear a commotion. Kevin is shouting to our bodyguard to break it up. Shit,not another fight.

It’s the blond frat boy. He’s on the floor and there’s a guy on top of him, swinging away at his face.

Wait.

I rush over to the crowd to get a better look. Our bodyguard, Tim, grabs the man on top.

My heart lurches to my stomach.

“Ben!” I shout, shoving my way through the crowd, but he can’t hear me. Tim pushes both of them violently toward the door. “Tim,wait!”

The frat boy is sobbing, his face a bloody mess, and Benjamin is huffing next to him, still being restrained by Tim.