I was convinced something was wrong with me. Again, this kind of behavior wasn’t normal. It shouldn’t cause an aching desire deep inside my core or my soul to tremble with passion.
Once the drink was finished, Kairus tucked me into his side, as if he was daring someone to look my way too long, hiding me from anyone else who dared approach me. Again I could feel eyes on us, but this time I couldn’t find it within myself to care.
I couldn’t get out the hall we were in fast enough. I had never been a people person nor did I care for social events like that one we just attended, but it was necessary to make myself seen tonight. In order to have the kind of hold I had, and to stay off the radar like I did, there were times I had to rub elbows with people that mattered. The police commissioner and chief were my main two interests tonight and the check I wrote for the department made sure to keep them off my back.
I might not have been by her side the whole night, but I always had eyes on Azeira, whether she noticed or not. As soon as I saw the man approach her, I cut the conversation I was in the middle of short and made my way to her. When his lips touched her skin, my left eye twitched and I imagined how he would look down a hand and lips.
We sat silently in the back of the truck. Rock was in the front seat driving us back to my house. I knew Azeira would look good on my arm tonight. Most of the time I went to these things alone, but tonight I had the urge to show her off. Due to her workingfor Elite I knew she was used to social events and would carry herself accordingly.
“I googled you,” Azeira blurted after a while.
My eyes left my phone and landed on her. She stared up at me with flushed cheeks. I knew she had three drinks tonight because I made sure to keep count. She wasn’t drunk, but I could tell she had a small buzz.
“And what did you find out?” I raised a brow, unbuttoning my suit jacket.
“Well…” She licked her lips and ran her hand down her dress that looked like it was made specifically for her. The champagne color against her caramel skin sent sparks through my body. Fire heated my blood. My skin buzzed like bees were flying under it. It was hard not to keep her locked away from prying eyes, knowing she would steal the attention the moment she walked in the room. I was aware that eyes were on her and men ogled her the moment we stepped in the ballroom and I was away from her side. No one would be bold enough to approach her knowing she was with me, but I loved knowing she was desired by them at the same time.
“I read about your parents.” My body tensed and a dark haze filled my vision. She cleared her throat and dragged her tongue over her lips again. “It said your mother killed your dad then killed herself andyoufound them.”
Suddenly it felt like cement covered my muscles. I bit the inside of my jaw.
Azeira’s eyes softened and her hand landed on my thigh. “I’m sorry you went through that. Nobody, especially a kid, should have to see their parents like that.”
Cutting my eyes into slits, I grabbed her wrist tightly. She winced some but kept her eyes on me.
“My mother killing my father was the only good thing she ever did for me since the moment she pushed me out. If she wasn’t the one to take him out then I would have.”
I could tell my words caught her off guard. She opened her mouth but snapped it back closed just as quickly.
A crude smile split my face. “Did you think I would be affected by it? Was your reason for googling me to find out why I act like I do?” I tilted my head to the side.
She scraped her bottom lip with her teeth and nodded slowly. “I don’t believe people are just born cruel, I mean unless you’re a psychopath or something, but I don’t think you are.”
“And what makes you believe that?”
Moving my hand up, I brushed over the goosebumps forming on her arms. “I don’t know, I just do. I also read your dad was just as cruel, if not worse than you. It said he was feared and vicious to everyone. If I had to grow up with someone like that I probably would have turned out the same way too.” Her words grew quieter and softened. “I think you were a kid who became a product of your surroundings.”
My jaw ticked.
Maybe it was the liquor that made her chattier. Knowing she was digging into my past, learning things I didn’t particularly care for her to know, caused an uncomfortable sensation in my chest.
“You shouldn’t try to overanalyze me, Azeira. I’m a man that handles business like I do because if I show weakness then people will walk all over me. My business has gotten to where it’s at because people know they can’t fuck me over without consequences.”
“And killing people?”
“A means to an end.” Her hand brushed higher on my thigh. My dick was aware of the gesture and pushed against my slacks. “Want to know what I think, however?”
Her eyes flashed when I yanked her body closer to mine. “I think you like the cruel part of me. It turns you on knowing I’m not a nice guy, doesn’t it?”
She swallowed hard and her body shivered. “No, killing someone doesn’t turn me on.”
“Mhm. Maybe not the killing, but you don’t think I’ve missed how dilated and heated your eyes become when I threaten to do what I want to this body. The way you squirmed under me when I left my teeth imprinted on your breast. Even after making you stab a man, you came on my fingers just hours later. You might not understand or want to like it, but you get excited with how I am.” I moved in closer, lowering my head so my mouth was just inches from her ear. “I bet if I wrapped my hand around that pretty little neck and squeezed until you nearly passed out that pussy would leak for me like a faucet. Or maybe if I took my knife out and fucked you roughly with the handle, how would you like that?”
She inhaled a sharp breath and her fingers dug into my thigh. When I pulled back, lust danced around her eyes, searing into me so much it almost burned my skin.
I ran my tongue up her neck and sucked roughly on it. Her body shook.
Chuckling lowly, I pulled back and straightened my back. “You’re not as vanilla as you seem.”
