Page 28 of Ruining Hattie
“Yup.” I jolt up out of my seat, eager to get back to the club so I can confront Bastion. Once I’m standing, I wobble a bit and have to grip the edge of the table.
“Whoa, girl. I think those drinks might have gone right to your head.” Paige comes around the table and grips my elbow.
“I’ve never really drank before.” I grin at them, then devolve into a fit of giggles.
I think they share a look before Renee says, “You’ve never had alcohol before?”
“Nope.” I pop the “p” on the word.
“Oh boy. If I’d known that, I would’ve slowed you down.” Renee leads the way out of the restaurant.
Paige and I follow, her supporting me by my elbow.
Once we’re outside, Paige says to me, “Are you okay to walk on your own?”
“Of course.” I pull my elbow from her grip and head in the direction of the club.
“Do you want us to take you home?” Renee asks.
“No!” The two of them look at me from my panicked reply, but I can’t let them know I live with Bastion. “I’m going back to the club. There’s something I have to do there.” I start walking again.
Renee comes up alongside me. “I’m not sure you’re in the best shape to work right now. Bastion might have a fit if he sees you.”
“This won’t take long. He won’t be the wiser.” The more I walk, the easier it gets. I can totally do this.
“Hattie, I—” Paige starts, but I cut her off when I raise my hand.
“It’s fine, really. You guys worry too much.” Then I laugh, though I’m not even sure why.
It doesn’t take us long to reach the club, and when we enter, I see that it’s busier than when we left. I say a quick goodbye to the girls as they peel off to enter the changing room, and I continue down the hall to Bastion’s— our office.
The door is open, and he’s in there, leaning against the side of his desk, looking at his phone in his hand. He looks up when he hears me close the door, and I waste no time walking straight over to him.
“I want you to show me what I’ve been missing.”
He says nothing, setting his phone on the desk beside him. “Is that so?”
“Are you fucking Steph?” I put my hand over my mouth, surprised about the swear word that came out of it.
Bastion’s eyes widen. “Not presently. Right now, I’m here with you.”
My hands fist at my sides. “But you have.”
He doesn’t skirt his gaze away when he answers. “Many times.”
A sound akin to a growl escapes my throat.
“Are you jealous?”
I ignore his question. “I thought that you didn’t sleep with the women who work for you?”
He shrugs, and something about the casual rebuff makes my blood burn. “I don’t sleep with the dancers. Steph is different.”
I step closer to him. “Because you care about her?”
He straightens up from the desk, and I arch my head back to look up at him. “Because I don’t, and she understands that I never will.”
I’m not sure whether to like or dislike his statement. “Is that how it would be with us?” I move even closer to him, my chest brushing his with each intake of breath.
“You tell me.” His eyes devour me, and I love that they do.
“It would be safest.”
“Is that what you want? Safe?” Bastion brings his hand up to rest on the curve of my waist, and my nipples pebble in my bra.
“It used to be what I wanted.” I’d do anything to avoid the pain I felt after Rich. But do I really think I can mess around with Bastion and not develop feelings for him? I’m still unsure.
“And now?”
“Now I just want you.” I wrap my arms around Bastion’s neck, and he brings his lips down to mine.
He slips his tongue along the seam of my lips, and I open to him, wanting more than anything to taste him. I melt into him and experience a kiss I never have before. I’m lost in the bliss of him. His scent, his moans, his strength—until two strong hands grip my upper arms and push me away.
It takes a moment for my alcohol-soaked brain to catch up. “What?”
“You’ve been drinking.” Disapproval shines in his formerly lust-filled eyes.
A scowl forms on my face. “So what? You’re judging me?”
“Not at all. But I’m not going to take this any further with you inebriated. I need to know that this is really what you want. You need to know it’s what you want.”
“Yes, so you’ve said a few times. Do you want me to beg?” I drop to my knees harder than intended, clasping my hands in front of me. “There, are you happy? I’m on my knees, begging you.”
He blows out a breath and pushes a hand through his hair. “In all the times I pictured you on your knees in front of me, Hattie, it was never like this. Jesus.” He hauls me up under the arms. “Come on, I’m taking you home to sleep this off. We can talk about this tomorrow night.”
I pout and intend to argue, but my head feels a little fuzzy as he leads me toward the door.
“Where were you drinking anyway?” He pulls the door open and leads me down the hall with one hand on my upper arm.
“At dinner with Renee and Paige,” I say cheerily.
“I’ll be sure to thank them.” I can just make out the note of disapproval in his tone over the music as we make our way out to the main part of the club.
“Please don’t get them in trouble. They’re my only friends here. They didn’t know that I’ve never drank before.” I stop and spin around, reaching for the lapel of Bastion’s suit. “Please, promise me.”
He studies me for a moment, and in the dim light, his face bathed in the glow of the neon lights, he looks like a god. Not my God, but one that promises damnation rather than salvation.
Bastion holds my stare for a minute, then gives me a curt nod. I drop my hands from his suit jacket, and he spins me around to continue toward the door. The entire walk back to the condo, he doesn’t say a word to me. I can’t tell if it’s because he’s angry with me or what.
But once we’re inside the condo, he says, “Go get changed for bed.”
I don’t know why I don’t argue with him, but the thought doesn’t even occur to me. I’m not in my bed more than a minute before I’m out.