Page 25 of Damaged Mogul

This woman is fucking with my head. That explains why I couldn’t stop staring at her as she floated around the venue with the grace of a ballerina.

In an effort not to be rude, I allowed my peers to pull me into different circles of conversation.

Lily was engaged in an animated conversation with two guys—a Puerto Rican-video-producer-duo. Afterwards, she was talking with a blonde wearing an outrageous outfit I wouldn’t even attempt to describe. The next thing I knew, she was gone.

Worried, I’d set off to find her.

She was nowhere to be found.

It’s like she vanished into thin air.

I lucked out when I stopped a waiter who had noticed her whereabouts.

And now, I turn the corner and arrive at a quiet area of the building. I spot a flash of soft pink and shoes in the same soft shade I’ve committed to memory, and a man hoveringover Lily.

Fucking Cadoc Cork Phallusburg.

No other man at the event is walking around in a purple suit, so spotting him is as easy as spotting an elephant in a swimming pool.

He can’t be taller than five-nine, short compared to my own six-four, but a giant intimidating Lily, who’s probably no more than five-two.

My hackles raise so fast, it’s a miracle I don’t bare my claws and fangs like a damn werewolf. The thought of Lily being harassed by a man with the reputation for preying on women young enough to be his granddaughters, makes me want to tear the asshole’s head off his shoulders.

I march on up to the sordid old creep, clamp a strong hand on his shoulder and yank him away from Lily, forcing him to take several steps back.

His orange complexion turns dark purple as he winces.

I’ve made my point.

I let go of my vice grip on his shoulder, and approach Lily.

“There you are.” I lace a possessive arm around her slender waist, pulling her body into the shelter of mine. The heat emanating from her seeps through me and it’s so good, I want to?—

“You found me.” Her voice is higher by several octaves.

“I did.” My words come out in a rough rumble.

We stare at each other for a long beat.

“Gage, I didn’t know you were here tonight.” The bumbling idiot reminds us of his presence.

I swing my gaze in his direction.

Cadoc massages his shoulder, his face contorted in pain.

“I see you’ve met my girl.”

Where did that come from?

What the fuck am I doing claiming her?

You’re delusional, Hollingsworth.

A pulse of surprise goes through her body and into mine. Her head whips up in my direction and she almost drops the plate she’s holding.

From my peripheral vision, I catch her beguiling eyes widening so much, they practically take over her beautiful face.

I keep my focus on the predator standing in front of me instead of fixating on where our bodiesjoin.