I fight to regulate my breathing while I try to ignore the beauty of the man before me, his nervous temperament weirdly even more attractive than any of his other dispositions. He’s hesitant, twitchy, and his face is a picture of uncertainty. He looks vulnerable. It’s the most endearing thing I’ve ever seen.

He lowers to his chair slowly and places his tie on the desk. ‘How much trouble am I in?’ He gives me a nervous smile that I shoot down with one filthy look. ‘Yikes. A lot, huh?’

‘You’ve just dashed any hope I had of keeping my job.’

He drops his gaze, hiding his ashamed face from me. It’s ridiculous, but his remorse offers me some relief in my turmoil. At least he appreciates the shitstorm he’s caused. At least he isn’t being a pigheaded idiot. ‘You’re being wronged. I can’t allow that,’ he says feebly, vainly searching for a justification. ‘I spared Sugden the punishment he deserved – one I so wanted to give – because your happiness is important to me. Your job makes you happy.’

‘And then you wasted all that effort,’ I say, because I appreciate it was a massive effort for Theo to hold back from annihilating Sugden. ‘You charged into my boss’s office and wreaked havoc.’

He shoots forward in his chair, yet I remain in place, unperturbed by his fast move. ‘There was no havoc until the security guard touched me.’

‘You frightened Susan out of her skin.’

‘I was stating facts.’

‘You were shouting facts!’ I yell, tossing a hand out and sending a pile of paperwork on his desk gusting into the air. It’s either that or smack him one, and we all know I can’t fucking do that. ‘It may have escaped your notice, big man,’ I hiss, standing and planting my palms on the wood of his desk, leaning over until he’s forced to retreat in his chair, ‘but you’re a fucking huge beast and most people are pretty fucking wary of you. When you start ranting and raving like you did, you’re likely to scare them to death, Theo.’

‘He shouldn’t have touched me,’ he murmurs, rolling his shoulders, like the sensation is still lingering. ‘I’m sorry.’

His increasing sorrow cuts me deep. He doesn’t regret throwing his weight around. He only regrets upsetting me. But one thing I know for sure is that he can’t control himself if someone touches him when he’s unprepared. He acts on an instinct I am yet to understand, but I know it’s something he can’t stop. He needs therapy. Help.

‘You need to make me understand,’ I say, my quiet words immediately winning back his attention. Granted, his actions could be considered gallant, but it’s hard to see past the damaging repercussions when I don’t understand what makes this man tick.

‘I don’t like people touching me. What’s so hard to understand?’

I shake my head with a sardonic laugh. I can see this conversation is going to get me nowhere, except a one-way ticket to Frustrationville. ‘I need a drink,’ I declare, pivoting and walking away. He doesn’t come after me, probably because he knows damn well there’s no one to take me home, and no way on earth I’ll break free from his grounds without raising the alarms.

I head for the Playground, making my way down the corridor, through the office, and past the last hallway before using the code Theo gave me and letting myself into the club. This time the space is less busy, probably due to the early hour. Penny is the only dancer. She clocks me, offering a small, discreet wave, but frowns when I give her an obviously forced smile. I land at the bar, order a chardonnay, and the barman smiles at me knowingly as he pours, before sliding it across the bar and telling me to enjoy.

‘I will,’ I grumble, savouring the cool, sweet liquid as it trickles down my throat.

‘Tough day?’ he asks as he polishes glasses and loads them on to the shelf. He’s short and cute, his red hair spiky, his freckles dark.

‘Putting it mildly.’

He smiles and tosses his towel over his shoulder. ‘So, you’re Mr Kane’s . . .’ He fades off, putting some glasses in the washer. ‘Girlfriend?’

I study him as I take more wine. ‘Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.’

‘Troy.’ He offers his hand across the bar, and I shake it. ‘Nice to meet you, Izzy.’

I flash him a wry smile. ‘I see you already know my name.’

He chuckles, pointing to my glass. ‘Top-up?’ I nod, and he gets to it quickly. ‘Everyone knows your name. You’re the only person who dares go near him without the worry of having your head ripped off.’ He shudders. ‘I’m sure you’ve seen him in action.’

‘Yes, he was just in action tonight at my place of work,’ I mutter, holding up my glass to Troy in a sarcastic toast. ‘I’m pretty sure he’s just lost me my job.’

Tags: Jodi Ellen Malpas Erotic
Source: readsnovelonline.net