Page 59 of Desired By you (Always & Forever #3)

Chapter Fifty

Gabriella

Cassidy James, is he serious? Of all the women he could get involved with, he chooses her?

Do I have a right to be pissed, no. But am I?

Hell yeah. Here was me thinking we could rekindle something once I shake Patrick.

I was going to tell him everything, how my relationship with Patrick is fake, but if he is entertaining her, then I’m not sure how we can ever find a way back together.

I know I am being unfair here, but there’s nothing going on between me and Patrick, absolutely zilch.

I wouldn’t piss on the man if he were on fire, but I get that Brad doesn’t know that.

Ugh, this is a fucking mess.

Patrick took me by surprise when I pulled up in my cab and he was standing outside waiting, declaring he was attending as my date. I didn’t have it in me to argue, and knowing Brad would be here with Cassidy, I thought, why not, let’s add to the chaos.

“Hey, are we excited for the show?” Ali sing songs, standing next to Harry. She’s dressed in a white robe and her hair in rollers.

“So excited,” Kate squeals. “How’s my sister doing back there? Is she doing as she’s told?”

Ali laughs. “Kennedy’s doing great. She’s a natural assistant.”

Kate smiles proudly, clearly happy with Ali’s reply. Kate’s little sister has started interning at the magazine, and Ali has taken her under her wing.

“I shouldn’t be out here, but I wanted to come see you all before the show started. Thank you for being here. I reserved you all seats in the front row.”

“We wouldn’t miss it,” I say, giving her a wink.

“Okay, I’ve got to go. But when you hear the song “Queen of the Night” I’ll be walking.”

‘I’m just going to wish her luck.” Harry says with a wink, and follows Ali.

“Yeah, we all know what that’s code for.” Jack jokes.

“Could you get me a drink?” I say sweetly to Patrick.

He huffs but does as I ask and heads over to the bar. Seriously, who raised this man and taught him how to treat women?

“I’m going to visit the ladies,” Cassidy says, pressing a kiss to Brad’s cheek and waltzing off. I have to physically bite my tongue.

Jack and Ria are busy with their conversation so don’t notice when Brad leans in, placing his hand on my lower back, my skin instantly tingles under his touch.

“You look incredible.”

I inhale sharply. “Thank you.” Did I wear this dress on purpose, knowing he’d be here and it’s his favorite color?

Yes, I did. I’m done with hiding, being the shrinking violet.

I’m going to finally do what I want, and that begins with Patrick.

After tonight I have to end this thing with him.

He keeps moving the goalposts, has me over a barrel, and I can’t live like it anymore.

“I need to talk to you,” Brad whispers into my hair, his hot breath in my ear making crave it elsewhere on my body.

“I don’t think your girlfriend would like that.” The words taste sour in my mouth.

He spits out a sarcastic laugh. “She’s not my girlfriend, Gabriella, and that’s a little rich coming from you when you’re the one parading around your boyfriend.”

I get ready to bark back a reply but Patrick comes up beside me, handing me a glass of I don’t know what. I don’t even care at this point, and I toss it down my throat, wincing when the taste of bourbon hits my tongue.

I give him a what the fuck look and he shrugs his shoulder.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats in the main room. The fashion show will begin in twenty minutes.” The announcement floods the speakers, and everyone begins making their way through the archway to the large room where a catwalk takes center stage and chairs line either side.

It looks incredible, and I can’t wait to watch Ali walk. I know this is a big deal for her, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. We find our seats in the front row. Patrick sits on one side and Brad on the other. Dear God, this won’t be awkward at all.

“Hey, is that Beckett Taylor?” Jack asks, pointing to a man dressed in black with an earpiece, talking to a group of men dressed similarly.

“Yeah, looks like him,” Brad confirms.

“Who’s Beckett?” Ria asks.

“We served with him. He left not long after us, set up a security firm. We use him for stuff at the club, but he has some big clients now. Celebrities, people like that, I heard his company is doing the security for the current Miss New York Darling. I think she’s here tonight,” Jack explains.

“Oh, yeah, she is the pageant queen,” Ria says, and Jack nods in confirmation.

“Beckett is hot.” Kate swoons.

Harry returns, sitting two seats down from me, a wicked grin on his face.

“Where the hell have you been?” Jack asks.

“Just giving Ali a good luck kiss.”

“We can see that. You have her lip gloss all over your face,” Ria says and reaches to wipe his face the way a mother would with her small child.

Harry chuckles. “Who said it was her lip gloss?”

Everyone groans in disgust.

I busy myself reading the magazine that was left on our seats. Patrick gets up without a word and walks off; I really couldn’t care where he’s off too. Hopefully, in a cab home.

“Well, things look like they are going really well between you and Patrick.” I slam the magazine closed and slap it down on my lap.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m just commenting on what I see,” Brad smirks and I want to swipe it off his rugged face.

“Well, you can keep your observations to yourself.” I lean over and point at the empty chair.

“Where’s your date? Instead of commenting on mine, why don’t you go and find her? Maybe she got lost.”

He leans in closer. “You are so wrong about all of this, it’s almost funny.”

“Well, I’m glad I’m providing some entertainment. Cassidy doesn’t strike me as someone who can hold a conversation for very long.” There’s venom in my voice and I know I sound like a bitch, but I can’t help it.

“Oof, jealously looks hot on you.” His voice sends a shiver up my spine.

“I’m not jealous. Don’t flatter yourself,” I protest.

“I’d lose the attitude, baby girl, before I make it drip out of you.” His words have my clit throbbing and I cross my legs to suppress the ache. It’s been so long since he touched me. He smirks when he notices.

Dammit.

Before I can say another word, a waitress walks down our row, handing us glasses of champagne. I take one and drink the entire thing, welcoming the cold fizz into my dry mouth.

Brad hands me his glass. “Please, take mine too. I’ll look forward to carrying you to bed later.” He winks, his lip quirks up, and I toy with the idea of kissing him or slapping him. Both sound good right about now.

It’s a stupid move, but clearly, I’m not myself tonight, so I take the drink and down it in one. I give him a sarcastic smile and hand him back the empty glass.

He leans into my ear. “Excuse yourself in one minute and meet me near the bathrooms.” I don’t get to respond. He’s up and out of his seat, disappearing into the crowd. I internally count to thirty and decide to go find him.

“I’m just going to use the ladies before it starts,” I say to our friends.

I leave my purse on my seat and push through the crowd.

I follow the signs for the bathroom, and I find Brad leaning against the wall near reception.

I reach him and he immediately takes me by the hand, dragging me down a corridor and through a door that says, ‘staff only’.

“Where are we going?” I pant, trying to keep up with him.

He looks over his shoulder, opening a door and looking inside. He pulls me in, and we are in a storage closet.

“What are you do—” He swallows my words when his mouth comes down on mine. My back hits the wall and I whimper.

But I don’t fight it. He steals my breath and I willingly let him.

I melt into him and kiss him back with as much passion as he kisses me.

Our hot breaths collide, and he kisses me with a primal need.

This, this is passion. It’s raw and reckless, but that’s how he makes me feel.

Reckless in the most delicious way. Being with him is addictive and though it may be wrong to the outside world, it feels so right.

He lifts me and I wrap my legs around his waist; my dress rides up over my hips then he's placing me down, my skin hits the cold metal of the table.

“I fucking missed you,” he murmurs against my lips.

His confession only makes me need him more, because I’ve missed him too. He slides a hand up my thigh, is fingers stroking the hem of my dress.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I murmur.

“Well, then we’ve got a problem, baby girl, because I can’t stop doing this.”

“Brad… I…” I struggle to find the words.

“End it with him Gabriella.” He says as sucks on the sensitive flesh of my neck where my pulse thumps erratically.

“ I…” my words are cut short when his hands glide down my waist and he tugs me closer.

“Brad, please I’m handling it, I….”

He pulls me up to standing, gripping my chin.

“I’m a patient man Gabriella, but even I have my limits. Loose him.”

My chest heaves against his as he looks down at me, with a wildness in his eyes, a possessiveness I’ve not seen before.

I should give him a straight answer. End this game of push and pull that we`ve been playing for what feels like months, maybe years now.

But for just a moment I want to be selfish and take what I want from him and give him what he needs.

I will tell him. But not now.

“And what if I don’t?’ I challenge him.

He lets out a frustrated laugh. “Do you really expect me to believe that he’s the one you want, Mia cara?”

I lick my lips and do my best to steady my breathing.

He dusts the backs of his knuckles down my cheek and my eyes flutter shut.

“I know what you want, what you need, does he…?”

My body trembles in anticipation of his next move. The faint sound of the MC announcing the start of the show can be heard.

In a moment of bravery or utter stupidity I goad him.

“Then prove it.”

Like a predator catching his prey, he spins me. My hands plant the cool metal table