Page 5 of Precious Legacy
“What were you guys talking about before?” I quiz Alvaro.
Alvaro scoffs, lifting a finger to the bartender to order another round. “She was just telling me how much she hates you,” he laughs.
“Maybe you guys should just fuck and get it out of your systems,” Haldon jests, sliding another shot glass to me. “There’s so much sexual tension between you both that I’m surprised you haven’t done it already.”
I shoot him a glare because I don’t need to be reminded of the past, of the current distance between Alanis and me. I know I walked in on some private conversation earlier tonight because Alvaro couldn’t wait to leave. Either that, or Alanis’ signature mood swings were enough of a deterrent for him. Not me, though. I thrive on her stubbornness. I get off on her defiance because I know she won’t admit how she truly feels. I enjoy the push and pull because deep down, Alanis is just like me.
My eyes narrow on her from across the bar. But she’s too busy pushing the same guy away to pay attention to me. Unease and anger is written all over her face and it only takes me a few seconds to make a decision.
There’s no way I’m going to stand and watch another man try and touch something that belongs to me, so I throw back the rest of my beer before slamming it on the counter. “Be right back,” I snap at the guys before pushing away from the bar and making my way to the deviant little vixen. I vaguely hear Alvaro and Haldon making comments about being pussy whipped, but I don’t pay attention. If it were anyone else, they’d have my fist in their face, but I can’t even deny how much Alanis has me under her thumb.
My eyes latch onto her like a heat-seeking missile and when I’m only two steps from her, I yank the leech off her back by his neck.
“Hey!” The guy protests, but the glare I cut him tells him to back off before he gets hurt. I open my suit jacket and flash mydesert eagle for good measure. Boys don’t play with the likes of me. I could have his brains splattered out across this dance floor in less than two seconds and wouldn’t even bat an eye.
Slowly, the kid raises his palms in silent surrender, backing away with a shake of his head. He’s not so tough now he’s recognized who I am.
Good. The asshole better run before I break his hands for merely touching my girl. Nobody touches her, and the sooner she knows that, the better.
My hands slide down her waist, pulling her against me so I can feel every delicious curve of her body beneath my touch. She doesn’t fight me, just loses herself in the music, our soundtrack ‘Happiness’ by Alexis Jordan playing.
“I don’t need to you to fight my battles, Roman,” she throws over her shoulder, her arm wrapping behind my neck as she loses herself to the music. She sways her hips, her ass rubbing against my dick.
“Nobody touches what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours.”
“We both know you’re lying,” I growl in her ear. Alanis could never hate me, because that would mean she felt something, and that’s one thing she’ll never admit to.
Her nails dig into my scalp, a warning not to push her. But I’ve never been a fan of listening to those. If anything, it makes me want to push her more.
“I told you to go bother someone else,” she reminds me, spinning so she can look me dead in the eye. She keeps her gaze locked on me, even as I lean forward and brush my lips against hers.
“And I told you you’re the only person I want to bother,” I smirk.
“This isn’t a game,” she snaps, her eyes scolding me. The anger in them is palpable, but I’ve always loved Alanis’ fire.She’s an inferno I could get lost in. I’d happily burn for her because she’s worth the pain.
“Who said I was playing?” I trail my hand over the curve of her ass, getting a handful that makes me groan painfully. My cock is practically begging to be freed, to slam into her and give her a taste of the frustration she offers me whenever we see each other. I want to make her scream my name until her throat scratches. I want to cover her in my marks so she knows who she belongs to, and even then, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Just leave me alone, Roman,” she glowers. The daggers she sends my way in that one look is painful, like it’s cutting through the very depths of my soul. It’s the first time in five years I’ve seen the real anger she harbors, the hatred tethering her to me.
“What’s the matter? Embarrassed to be seen with me?”
She scoffs loudly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other impatiently as she folds her arms across her chest. “Actually, yeah, I am.”
Her words leave me stunned, so much so that it isn't until she pushes away from me that I actually react. She marches off the dance floor, making a beeline for the corridor that leads to the bathrooms. If she thinks that’s the end of this conversation, though, she doesn’t know me as well as I thought. There’s no way I’m letting her walk away now. We’ve been dancing this dance for the last five years. It’s about time we sorted our shit out, like Alvaro said.
Or maybe fucking the frustration out is a better option.
I catch up to Alanis in less than four steps, grabbing her by the wrist and swinging her around. She counters my move expertly, and I have to give Aunt Lexie props for her tutoring, because Alanis has me pinned against the wall outside the bathrooms, my face pressing against the lime green wallpaper, without even breaking a sweat.
“I like this new you,” I comment huskily.
Her hot breath suddenly skates past my cheek as she leans in. “Don’t get used to it,” she whispers. The way she has my arm pinned behind my back doesn’t make it easy to maneuver out of. Aunt Lexie might have taught Alanis self-defense, but I’m the offense and I know exactly how to get out of the bind.
With one easy twist of my wrist, I grip hers and spin her around, slamming her against the wall as I step between her thighs. The breath whooshes out of her, hitting me square in the face. It’s laced with tequila and Alanis’ signature brand of rage.
“When are you going to stop fighting this?” I growl, stubbornness and defeat bleeding into my words. As much as I love the push and pull, it was never like this before. It’s like my pursuit to build this empire is my own undoing. Our futures have been paved by our parents for so long that it was only a matter of time before sacrifices had to be made.
