JEREMY
The need to pummel something into the ground reddens my vision.
My fist clenches, but I don’t act on the urges.
Or impulses.
In fact, I’m calculative to a fault and only take action once I’ve predicted all the possible outcomes of a certain situation.
Apparently, that principle doesn’t apply to the infuriating girl who just left the room.
I stay behind for a few minutes, not only to expel all impulsive thoughts, but also to put my cock to fucking sleep.
It doesn’t matter that I was inside her not ten minutes ago; there’s always this primal need to claw deep into her skin and never stop.
But either I calm the fuck down or I’ll permanently kidnap her to my lair, where no one will be able to find her, let alone see her.
Or touch her.
The image of those two fuckers putting their hands on her sends a new wave of rage—definitely not the image to have in my futile attempts to relax.
I’m not worried that she’ll get away. I’m acquainted with the club’s owner, a new guy trying to do business with the mafia, and he’ll give me access to security footage if I ask for it. Also, my most efficient guard, Ilya, has explicit orders to watch Cecily in case she turns off her phone like she did earlier or disappears without notice.
It’s how I knew she was here and I followed.
I dial his number, and he answers after two rings.
“Situation,” I say point-blank.
“Miss Knight is trying to carry her friend, who’s drunk enough to laugh while she’s sleeping.”
“Location.”
“The left side of the bar.”
“Shoo away any unwanted attention until I get there.”
“Got it, Boss.”
“What happened to the two from earlier?” I step out of the room, not feeling any calmer in the fucking slightest.
“I got them thrown out of the club.”
“Good.”
“Boss.”
“Yeah?”
“One of them, the blond, said something that made Miss Knight go pale.”
I pause, my finger sliding up and down the back of the phone. Now that I think about it, Cecily looked to be on the verge of her dissociating state. I thought it was because she was surrounded by two guys and might’ve felt threatened in the presence of the opposite sex.
It was a provocation when she said she’d sleep with someone else. I know she can’t, but it still pissed me the fuck off.
“What did he say?” I ask Ilya.
“Something about her being too beautiful to be hidden. As soon as he said those words, it was like something came over her.”
That could be part of her cautious character, but something tells me that’s not the case.
“He’s a student at our university, right?”
“Probably. He and his friend are American.”
“Find him.”
That’s when I’ll know if it’s only a small-time felony for daring to dance with her or something else. And who am I kidding? This might as well be an excuse to cut his dick off for having the audacity to touch her.
After hanging up, I stride to the bar area. Ilya stands on the opposite end, close enough to intervene if anyone pushes their luck, but far enough not to be noticed.
Cecily pulls on a drunk Ava’s hand, only to be tugged down and trip.
She’s wearing heels tonight and a fuck-me dress that’s designed to show off her curves, her slim legs, and her pale shoulders.
My cock twitches at the sight. Again. And I close my eyes for a brief second before I stalk toward them.
“Come on, Ava.” Cecily grabs her friend’s hand. “I told you I can’t carry you when you’re drunk.”
“Cecy!” Ava wraps her in a hug, grinning. “My beautiful bestie.”
Then she sniffs and pulls back. “Why do you smell like male cologne? And sex? Oh my fucking God, did you shag?”
Cecily’s face goes red.
Ava’s mouth opens and then closes before she blurts, “OMG, OMG, you’re not a prude anymore. OMGEEE. Everyone! This girl right here finally got the D!”
“Ava!” Cecily slams a hand on her mouth. “I swear to God, if you don’t get up and help me take you to the car, I’m going to call Eli so he’ll pick us up.”
A glare is all Ava offers before she sluggishly gets up and leans on Cecily.
“You’re a cruel little bitch.” Ava staggers, then falls on her. “How can you threaten me with He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named?”
Cecily tries to half carry her and crumbles every second at her weight. “Ugh, when did you become so heavy?”
“Rude. I’m not heavy…” Ava trails off, and blinks upon seeing me standing behind them. “Oh, hi, Anni’s scary brother. Do you also party here? Good taste, good taste. Also, can you let Anni live a little? Thanks in advance.”
Cecily freezes, then whips her head in my direction. She must loosen her grip from around Ava, because she falls to the floor in a heap of giggles.
“What are you doing here?” Cecily purses her lips. “Go away.”
“Don’t.” I step into her space and she has no room to push back unless she’s willing to step on her friend.
I grab her by the waist and press her front against my chest. “You seem to be developing the habit of defying me just to get on my nerves, but that won’t serve any purpose except for pissing me off. And you know exactly what I become like when I’m mad, so don’t fucking test me.”
She bangs her tiny fists against my chest as if that will somehow hurt me. “Just leave me alone. Me trying to get my friend home has nothing to do with our arrangement, so you shouldn’t even be here.”
“I’ll be the one to decide that.” I release her for no other reason than to control myself.
If I touch her soft skin for one more minute, I’ll need to plow inside her tight heat.
Again.
Cecily crouches down to hold Ava, who’s using the floor as her pillow and is practically sleeping. She nudges her friend and implores her to wake up, but there’s no sign of responsiveness.
I nod at Ilya and he swiftly picks up Ava and carries her in his arms. Cecily’s eyes widen. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a ride home.” I interlink her fingers with mine when she tries to snatch Ava from Ilya.
When he starts toward the back exit, she practically jogs behind him, and only my grip keeps her from physically stopping him.
This is the first time I’ve held her hand and I can’t help feeling that it’s small, soft, and fits perfectly in mine.
“I can call one of our friends,” she tries to tell me, having figured that Ilya won’t listen to her.
“Or you can just go with me,” I say, tightening my hold on her hand when I remember that fucker Landon is one of their friends.
I should’ve really put him in a coma when I had the chance.
I stopped because people romanticize about anyone who’s hurt, and I wasn’t doing the motherfucker the favor.
“Eli will kill me if he finds out about this,” she mutters.
“Why?” I ask.
“I just let another guy carry her.” She throws her free hand in the air. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“He wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on you,” I say matter-of-factly.
She just releases a long breath, and I swear she’s about to smile but stops herself. “You guys are cut from the same cloth.”
When we reach her small car, she beeps it open, and Ilya gives me a glance because the car might as well be a tiny turtle’s nest.
I nod at him to put Ava at the back. As soon as Cecily makes sure her friend is all settled, she opts to drive, but Ilya is already sliding into the driver’s seat after a lot of bending.
When I join him in the front seat, it’s like I’m sitting in a damn toy car.
I have to bend my legs and head, despite pushing back the seat to its maximum capacity.
Cecily stares at us through the window and does a shit job at hiding her smile.
“Get in,” I order. “And this isn’t funny.”
“It actually is. You two would look adorable with one of Anni’s fluffy bandanas.”
“Cecily.”
“Fine, fine. You don’t have to order me around about everything, you know.” She shakes her head but then sits beside her friend and lays Ava’s head on her shoulder.
Thankfully their dorm isn’t far from the club, and we arrive before Ilya or I can get a muscle cramp.
Cecily starts to protest when Ilya carries Ava inside but soon drops it, knowing full well that she can’t do it herself.
I stay in the living room as he takes Ava to her room, with Cecily following behind.
Soon after, he reemerges, and she slams the door shut.
“Find those two from tonight. The one who was with Ava, too.”
He nods and heads out, closing the front door behind him.
I study the living room that Cecily spends some of her time in. Annika always talks about how Cecily and Glyndon want peaceful nights in, while she and Ava prefer to go out.
It’s simple, full of small stuffed rabbits and other animals that I’m sure isn’t her doing.
Her room speaks of her more than this shared space.
I make a swift check of the place in case of a security hazard, but I find nothing suspicious.
For now.
Fifteen minutes later, Cecily reemerges from Ava’s room, holding her heels in her hand and tiptoeing as she slowly closes the door.
I stalk behind her and whisper in her ear, “Why are you acting like a thief?”
She gasps and turns around so fast, she tumbles backward. I grab her by the elbow and steady her. Her shoes end up on the floor, though.
Her throat works with a swallow as she stares at me and whispers, “I thought you left.”
“I’m obviously still here,” I murmur back.
“I heard the front door open and close.”