Don’t do it.
Just then, one of the men moved his hand a little too close to her tit and Gabriel lost it.
As he left his office, his men knew to keep their distance from him. He made his way downstairs, going through to the main dance floor. The moment people saw him, they kept a wide berth.
Good.
He was likely to shoot now and ask questions later. Anyone who dared to stand in his way, he shoved them hard, not even caring.
When he got to Claire, Rhianna was a few steps in front of her.
“Don’t,” she said, yelling to be heard over the noise.
He grabbed his sister’s arms and moved her out of the way, being careful not to hurt her. Then he grabbed the man behind her and slammed his fist into the guy’s face. Screams and cries sounded, but he didn’t care as he knocked the other man unconscious. Grabbing Claire’s hand, he pulled, but she fought him. She slapped him hard as he moved into her space. Bending down, he lifted her up over his shoulder. She screamed.
“Rhianna, please!” She yelled for her friend, but if Rhianna knew what was good for her, she’d stay well clear of him, especially now. He wasn’t in the mood to argue.
People watched and he didn’t care. The damage was already done.
One of his men held the doors open and he slid on through, making his way up to his office.
“I will bite your ass. Leave me alone. I can dance with whoever I want. Damn it, Gabriel. This isn’t funny. Let me go.” She pummeled his ass but she didn’t sink her teeth into him. It was a shame. He intended to sink his teeth into her ass just as soon as he’d put her in her place.
He got to his office and dumped her on the sofa. She made to get up but he grabbed her hands, pinning them either side of her head, locking her in place. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You are the biggest fucking pain in my ass!” He growled the words.
“Takes one to know one. You’re a monster. Get off me.”
“No, I rather like it when you wriggle a little more.”
She screamed and continued to get away.
“You don’t get it, do you? I’m not yours to do this with anymore. I’m a free woman.”
“You stopped being free the moment I had my first taste of you.”
“Oh, so now you can just come and take me off the shelf when you feel like it? I don’t think so. It doesn’t work that way. Let me go.” She growled, screamed, and finally collapsed back. “I hate you.”
He got into her face and yelled back. “And I fucking love you!”
He pulled back to stare into her face, at her drawn brows and pursed lips.
“Wait? What? No, you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, Claire.”
“No, this is a trick.”
“No trick.”
“I, I’m confused.”
“You and me both.”
“You don’t want me.”
He laughed. “You think so, don’t you? I lied.”
Her frown deepened. “I … I really don’t know what to say right now.”
“You were only supposed to be an easy fuck, Claire. I wasn’t supposed to care. I’ve been with so many women. They all want the same thing.”
“Yeah, perfect. Keep on telling me how many women you’ve been with. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.” She sniffled.
“I don’t mean to upset you. What I’m trying to say is I thought you were like other women, but you’re not. You didn’t take my money. You never sought to be by my side or make me fall in love with you. When I’m with you, I know you want me for me.” He let go of her hands and she didn’t move. He moved down toward her hips, touching her. “I made a mistake.”
“What? Is this where you send me back to the party?”
“No, I won’t send you back.” He stroked her cheek. “You know what I am. You know what I’m capable of. The men that tried to kill you, all of them are dead. There will be men who’ll try to take you from me because they saw weakness. You’re my weakness. The thought of anything happening to you kills me.”
“You dumped me to save me?”
He nodded and he saw the tears in her eyes.
“I’m not used to being weak. I care about Rhianna and I know she’s safe, but you. Knowing what you did, how you would die for her, I can’t, you’re too fucking precious but I can’t do it.”
“What can’t you do?”
“I can’t allow you to be with someone else. I’m a selfish bastard. I want you, Claire. I love you. I can’t promise you it’s always going to be easy. I know it’s not. It’s going to be hard and painful, but I fucking love you more than anything else.” He touched her cheek. “So much, and I don’t want another man to know how amazing you are. I can’t even stand the sight of someone dancing with you. I don’t want to see you given to anyone else but me.”