Page 66 of Devious Love

Teeth gritted, I home in on Mia. Fuck, I want to bend her over my lap and spank her. What the hell was she thinking?

I step forward, closing the remaining distance. The guy’s carefully curated smirk falters for a second, but I catch it. Putting on a brave face is one thing, but actually standing your ground is much more challenging. Fortunately, I excel at that.

“Let me explain something, since there seems to be a misunderstanding.” My voice is low but stern. “Accepting a drink is not an invitation. There’s no contract involved. She doesn’t owe you anything.”

He scoffs. “Are you fucking serious?”

His friend grabs his arm, but the mustached man brushes his hand away.

I tilt my head, looking him up and down. “You don’t look stupid, so I’ll assume you’ve just had too much to drink.” I angle in closer, letting him know I mean business. “Now, I’m gonna give you a choice. Either apologize for bothering them and leave, or…”

I let the sentence hang in the air, clenching and unclenching my fists. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, his attention lowering to my fists. Then, he glances at his friend, who nods toward the exit.

I arch a brow. “Well?”

He steps away from me, hands held out in front of him, and looks at Mia and Chiara. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

With that, he and his friend are gone.

Chiara breaks into a wide smile. “Okay, that was hot.”

“Thanks. I’m a sucker for the whole damsel-in-distress thing.” I smirk and pin my attention on Mia.

For the first time tonight, I take her in, andfuck, does she look good. She’s wearing a short, bright-pink dress that emphasizes her full tits in a way that makes my mouth water. Her jet-black hair is down and straight, and a few strands of glitter tinsel sparkle in the flashing lights of the dance floor. And the makeup? The sharp black lines on her eyelids make her dark blue eyes pop.

A muscle in her jaw ticks, and she lowers her head, avoiding my gaze. Behind her, the drink that dude was talking about sits on the bar, the glass beaded with sweat.

“I’m not a kid. I can handle myself,” she grits out, her eyes narrowed and set on me now.

“I know you can.” I nod. “But I don’t like watching idiots try their luck.”

She scoffs, skirting me.

Before she can walk away, I wrap my hand around her wrist and steer her toward the table where Matt and Miles sit. The moment Matt sees her, he moves away from the girl he’s been chatting with and frowns at Mia.

“What are you two doing here?” he asks.

She props her free hand on her hip and glares. “I’m having fun.”

“But you’re eighteen!” he snaps. “You shouldn’t be here.”

She flinches, as if his words were a physical blow. “Oh, please. As if you weren’t out at clubs when you were my age.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

She shakes her head. “Have fun,” she hisses and storms off.

Matt jumps to his feet, and Chiara turns like she’s going to follow, but I step in front of them both.

“Wait here. I’ll bring her back.”

Matt frowns, his gaze flicking to his sister’s retreating form, but eventually, he sags and nods. “Thanks, Dom.”

Without another word, I rush after her, catching up just as she pushes open the door to a dimly lit hallway leading to the restrooms.

“Stop,” I demand. “You’re acting like a brat.”

“I’m not a fucking kid, Dominic,” she huffs, “but you and Matt can’t seem to get that through your heads. I’m tired of it.”