AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He knows this woman—I’m sure of it.
Who is she?
The question has barely materialized in my mind when their foreheads inch close together—as if whatever they’re saying is too important to be overheard.
And why is she touching his arm?
Dread slithers through my gut, shooting icy fear through me, and I forget all about Axel’s unsettling advances.
I tell myself it’s nothing. My mind is being unfair, giving in to a knee-jerk reaction. An unnecessary dose of panic. But that’s the problem with fear—left unchecked, it takes on the form of paranoia.
And now that paranoia rises in my throat, tasting of vomit and insecurity. What happened in Tatum’s bedroom last night springs to the forefront of my mind with sickening clarity.
Every lick of his tongue.
Every cry of pleasure from my treacherous lips.
Every moan.
Sebastian had reservations—massive ones he tried to ignore by pounding his hurt and anger into my ass.
And I have the audacity to fall apart at the sight of him talking to another woman?
Needing a moment to gather my thoughts, I excuse myself from Axel and his group of important people. Tears threaten, but I hold them back as I make my way into the quiet foyer. A couple heads my way, so I loiter in the shadows behind a statue of some formidable figurehead and wait for them to pass.
But I can’t hide forever.
I can’t hide from what I’ve done. My shame is so hot it might as well brand a scarlet letter on my forehead, a burned carving of self sabotage. Shuttering my eyes, I pull in long breaths and let them out, willing my racing thoughts to subside.
“You look like you could use this.” A male voice startles me, and when I lift my lids, I find Axel standing in the shadows with me, his eyes cast in sympathy as he holds out a flute of champagne. “Looks like he got sidetracked and forgot about you.”
“You don’t know him very well.”
With a shrug, Axel leans against the wall next to me, and we face the statue. That larger-than-life piece of art shields us from view of the party, though the collective din floats to my ears.
“Want to talk about it?” he asks.
To hide my nervousness, I take a long gulp of the bubbly, wrinkling my nose at the bitter taste. “Nothing to talk about.”
He raises a brow.
“It’s complicated,” I say, relenting. “I’m overreacting. It’s been a long day, and I think the stress is getting to me.”
He waves at my empty glass. “That should help.”
Mouth suddenly dry, I lick my lips. “Shouldn’t have finished it so fast.” I lean my head against the wall, waiting for the foyer to stop spinning. A minute passes. Maybe two. “I need to get back. He’s probably looking for me.” I take a step away from Axel, but he grips my arm.
“He’s busy talking to someone else, remember?”
“But…” My eyelids droop, and his form doubles in my vision, swaying to the left. “I’m not feeling so well.”
“No? Maybe you need a minute.”
I crash into his hard chest, and he winds his arms around me.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” His words wash over me, deep like the darkest part of the ocean, and his warm fingers take the empty glass from my heavy hand.
“Sebastian.” It’s a croak of a cry, weak like me.
