Savior

When his drink was slid across the bar, he finally spoke up. “Hey, I’m gonna head back to the table,” he said cautiously.

Alexandra gave me one last hard glare before a devious smile slowly stretched her lips.

She turned to face Wyatt and stepped into him, pressing her hand to his chest. My fingers curled into fists against the bar to keep from ripping her hand away.

“Thank you, Wyatt, for the dance.”

He smiled, confident about himself now that she was pressed to him. “Sure. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

Alexandra cast a side glance my way before winding a hand up into his hair and pulling him down for a deep kiss, moaning for effect.

Barely holding back a growl, I snaked my hand around her elbow and walked away. She stumbled but didn’t fight me until we pushed through the doors. Once we were on the street, she jerked out of my grip and stormed off in the wrong direction.

“You’re such a dick,” she yelled over her shoulder.

“I said no fucking the interns. And the car is over here.”

She didn’t answer, just kept walking.

“Alexandra, I will toss you over my shoulder if I have to.”

That got her to stop. People around us were staring but I didn’t care. Fire raged through me and I needed a strong drink and to lock her in a closed off room away from everyone, including me.

She whirled around and stomped over but didn’t look up. She didn’t look at me the whole drive home. I was completely fine with that.

When we got home, she escaped to her room without a word and slammed the door.

I poured myself a full glass of scotch and fell back on the couch. Maybe if I drank enough I’d be able to shut down my brain from thinking of all the reasons I behaved like a caveman tonight.

You’re jealous.

The words whispered through my mind, but I didn’t want to believe them. I downed the contents and left the glass behind, instead grabbing the bottle to take to my room.

The guilt that had been hounding me all week vanished, anger taking its place. She wanted to get back at me for rubbing that woman in her face. She wanted to be defiant and go to a bar without telling me and making out with some boy toy.

Too bad for her, because I played the game better than anyone and she would learn that if she lashed out, I would lash out harder.

17

Alexandra

“How was dinner with the boys last night?” Laura asked.

Despite the way the night ended, I smiled. “It was good. I had a lot of fun.”

“I’m glad you ran into them in the lobby.”

We’d been on our way to the garage when Wyatt had called my name. I’d turned to find him and two other Abercrombie and Fitch models with him. He’d invited me to head out with them and the thought of going back to the apartment alone had me agreeing before he’d even finished asking.

He’d been so polite and handsome and kind. When we’d been standing at the bar and he’d leaned over to kiss me, my stomach had flipped and I’d held still for him. I wasn’t sure what I’d feel when his lips touched mine, but my mind had immediately conjured the only other man I’ve kissed. I compared Wyatt’s soft tentative pressure to the way Erik had held me in place and consumed me. I compared the way small flutters tickled in my stomach to the way Erik’s kiss had caused me to feel lost in a storm. I’d even put more effort into the kiss hoping I’d feel more.

As if my mind had conjured the man himself, he’d growled in my ear. I’d been shocked at first which quickly shifted to embarrassment. My blood had heated to a boil and everything in me raged at the man who plagued me. I’d seen the jealousy in his eyes and it had only served to piss me off more. He didn’t want to have me, but no one else could have me either.

I’d remembered catching him with his hand up that woman’s skirt and I’d decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. He’d reacted about as well as I’d expected when I’d attacked Wyatt, but it hadn’t brought me any joy in my revenge.

“They’re good boys,” Laura said, bringing me back to the present.

Erik walked past, a scowl firmly in place, obviously having come in at the perfect time.

“Yeah, I may go out with them again. Wyatt is pretty cute.”

He glared and I refused to look away. His jaw ticked and I forced a smile just to poke the bear.

“Laura, can you make copies of the Emerson files, please?”

“I was just about to head to lunch, but if it can’t wait, I can do it now.”