Seth (Damage Control 3)

After a moment’s hesitation, Fred shrugs and walks away, vanishing among the people.

And when I turn back around, Seth is gone, too.

Chapter Nine

Seth

Goddammit. I had a buzz going on, but it’s fading fast.

Can’t take this any longer. Scraps, okay. I said I’ll take them. Fucking said so. Take whatever I’m allowed to take, but this… Watching her with her boyfriend, watch as they hold each other and banter and make plans… No fucking way.

That’s pure masochism and dammit, I’ve got enough aches to go around without hurting myself on purpose, too.

Hurting inside my chest. Feels like there’s a band of steel tightening around my heart, pressing deep. Which is stupid. Makes no sense. I just want her, her tits, her ass, her long legs, her tight pussy. Her mouth wrapped around my dick. That’s all there is to my desire for her.

Okay, Seffers? We good? All clear?

Fuck, yeah. Just waiting for the ache in my chest to ease, for my lungs to expand and let in some air. For the urge to bash her boyfriend’s face in to pass.

Shit. I’ve left my walking stick somewhere in my rush to put distance between them and myself and now I’m staggering like a drunkard, my knee shooting warning twinges up my leg as I head toward the exit.

Too many people. As I push between them, a guy shoves back. I stumble, almost lose my footing and faceplant, catching myself in the last second. Pain shoots up my legs, both of them, and my head throbs just as badly as my chest.

It infuriates me even more. It’s the last straw to this evening from hell. I’m drowning, can’t take any more. I need a goddamn break.

Fuck it.

I barrel into the guy, grab him as much for balance as for anything else, and he crashes into the couple behind him. We both crash, ’cuz he takes me down with him, flailing, and I land on top of him.

More pain. More fucking pain, and I can’t take it any longer. I draw my fist back to punch his face, and I’m vaguely aware I’ve totally lost it. Given in to the craziness holding my whole existence in its grip, as it all comes crashing down on top of me—my mother returning from the dead, my injuries old and new, and Manon… Manon.

My moment of hesitation proves a mistake. The guy ain’t amused. He throws me off him and I land awkwardly, rolling on my side. He’s instantly on top of me, but I manage to catch his fist before it rearranges my face. He leans in, panting and glaring, and chaos erupts around us as the guests finally realize there’s a fist fight happening.

Right in the middle of the Damage Control Expansion party. Rafe and Zane will have my balls on a fucking plate for this.

The guy manages to land in a weak punch with his other hand, and I twist my hips, throwing him off me. Guess Rafe’s self-defense lessons are paying off, I think, and swing my fist into his face, landing a good one.

“Stop! Seth, stop.” A hand on my shoulder, tugging me backward, a voice that hooks right into my brain and eases the strange ache in my chest. “What are you doing?”

I let her pull me back, still hooked on the sound of her voice, unable to answer, ’cuz there is no real answer. I’m not sure what I’m doing—haven’t been sure since ever. Just coasting along, trying to keep afloat. To keep from sinking.

Nobody is keeping the other guy from coming after me, though, and he scrambles up and after me.

Someone stops him, inserting himself between us, a solid wall of a man, and I stare at Asher’s back in shock. He’s been working out all right. He barely flexes a muscle as he keeps the enraged guy in check and calmly turns toward me.

“You okay, buddy?” He gives me a quick once-over, pale wolf-eyes dark with anger. “What the hell was this about?”

Fucking embarrassing, it’s what this is, so distracted that I need rescuing.

“Nothing,” I mutter, the warmth of Manon’s small hand searing through the thin cotton of my T-shirt, branding my shoulder. Why is she still here? I thought her long gone by now, with her boyfriend.

The word is like a splinter in my mind.

Ash nods, turns back to the guy who’s being dragged back by his own friends and stares until they back away.

Need to practice a glare like Ash’s.

Also need to fix my knee, manage to walk without a limp and regain some of my strength, because frankly this is ridiculous. Need to turn things about, find a job, finish my training, get well… get over her.