Page 96 of Promises in the Dark

“So, are you from around here?” the man asks, chuckling like a complete imbecile. “I could have sworn I’ve seen your face before.”

Charlotte looks past him and straight at me, her eyes connecting with mine.

The idiota standing beside her finally notices where she’s looking. He glances over his shoulder, his face paling as recognition crosses his features. “A-Alessandro,” he stutters like a damn fool. He quickly turns to face me, taking an instinctive step backward.

I stop close enough to him that he has to tilt his head back to meet my eyes. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I ask calmly, my voice not betraying an ounce of the fury I feel simmering beneath my skin.

“I was just…” He swallows hard. “Sorry. I didn’t realize—”

“I think you did.” I gesture toward the crowd surrounding us. “Everyone else seemed smart enough to keep their distance.” His breathing becomes noticeably faster. “So what made you think you were different?”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t mean any disrespect. She just looked familiar to me, and I thought—”

“You thought wrong.” Sweat beads along his temple. “If I ever see you near her again, it will be the last mistake you ever make. Have I made myself clear?”

“Y-yes.”

I hold his gaze for another second, enjoying the fear coating his eyes. “Good. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”

The man is fast. I’ll give him that.

He scurries off, exiting the front door just as everyone looks away, returning to what they were doing before.

I look down at Charlotte, my anger swiftly vanishing as I take in her face. “Are you okay?”

She swallows, looking up at me with wide eyes, her lips parting, but no words come out.

I rest my palm against her cheek. “What is it? Did he hurt you?” I didn’t see him touch her, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss something.

“No.” She shakes her head, biting down on her bottom lip. “I was just wondering if there is…” Her eyes move around the room, taking in every person here who pretends not to notice us. “Is there somewhere we could be alone?”

Every muscle in my body stills, locking into place.

Her eyes meet mine, and the look in them fills me with an unbearable need that shoots straight to my cock.

Taking her hand, I lace our fingers together as I lead her off the floor, directly toward the back where the private staircase for our office resides.

I don’t stop until we’re inside the room with the door shut and locked behind us, my pulse pounding wildly.

And for the first time all night, we’re finally alone.

Our chests pant as we stare at each other, standing only inches apart, but she feels too out of reach. I step toward her, eager to wrap her up in my arms and devour her whole. To pleasure her until satisfaction courses through her veins.

“Wait.” She holds up her hand to stop me.

I freeze. “Do you not want this?”

She swallows hard, dropping her hands to her sides. “I do, but what I really want…” She inhales deeply and steps toward me, her chest pressing against mine as she looks up at me, the green in her eyes sparkling beneath the low-lit overhead lights. “Is you.”

The insinuation in her words has my cock hardening painfully against my pants as every cell in my body thrums to life with excitement.

The thought of finally claiming her…

Of feeling her tight pussy clenching around me…

Fuck, I think this is the most aroused I’ve ever felt.

I inhale deeply, taming the wild beast inside me trying to claw its way out to play. Lowering my head, I brush my lips against hers. “And just so we’re clear, when you say you want me, you mean…?”