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I could see her, through a gap in the crowd, but she was frowning. She pulled her arm away, and I saw her mouth something politely.
But in her eyes, there was fear and uncertainty.
She was visibly uncomfortable, and as I saw the back of the guy standing in front of her, I noticed that he was getting a little friendly, putting out his arm and trying to make physical contact with her.
The green-eyed monster of jealousy reared up in me, and before I knew it, I’d excused myself and was stepping through the crowd, dodging guests and the waiters who passed with trays of champagne and drinks. I ducked beneath a silver platter of glasses and came up right next to Lena. As I did, I swatted away the guy as he went to touch her arm.
“That’s enough!” I growled, and I could feel my voice, deep and dark, aggressive, unsuited to the convivial atmosphere of the party.
The guy turned around and sneered as if he was about to say something. But when he saw it was me, Mark Patterson went white as a sheet.
“Oh. Hi, Alex,” he said. “Lena was just telling me …”
“I don’t care,” I said and fixed him with a disapproving look. Then, I turned my head and beheld Lena. She looked unbearably beautiful, her dark brown tresses falling loosely over her shoulders, her eyes wide.
“Come with me,” I said and reached out a hand.
To my surprise, Lena took it.
“Ihaveagoodmind to fire him,” I snarled as I paced the terrace steps. We’d gone deep into the grounds of the hotel, where no one could find us. Around me, the neatly trimmed hedges and bushes rustled softly. It was getting dark now, and the party was moving inside.
“It was nothing,” said Lena, but I’d been able to see it wasn’t nothing.
“That’s not true,” I said. “Whatever he did, he made you feel uncomfortable.”
“I don’t need saving at every opportunity!” said Lena. “Goddamit, Alex. I’ve been working in this industry for nearly ten years. You think this doesn’t happen all the time?”
“Well, it shouldn’t!” I barked, wheeling on her. My body was tense with anger.
“Don’t say anything to Mark,” said Lena. “Honestly, I think you scared him stiff back there.”
“I tend to have that effect on people,” I said, my words thick with emotion. I just couldn’t stand the thought of anyone hurting Lena.
But it wasn’t just that.
I also couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else laying a finger on her. Already, the bond between us was back. Like an invisible string running between my beating heart, and hers: connecting me to her, our breaths rising and falling like sympathetic resonance.
“You don’t scare me,” she said and smiled.
Suddenly, I felt a little bashful. I avoided her eyes, staring deep into the greenery all around us.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, looking into her eyes.
For a moment, I had a chance to tell her all the feelings I’d harbored that night. I could explain to her how I felt, how I wanted her, and how it was different from the way I’d wanted any woman before. How wanting her made me realize that I’d never wanted any woman at all. That Lena revised wanting for me, that she’d changed the way my body and mind responded.
But for some reason, I didn’t. I stepped toward her, and she stepped to me and flung her arms around me.
“Thanks, though,” she said. “I do appreciate having you around.”
I looked into her eyes. I wanted to kiss her again, wanted to press my lips up against hers, and I did, while the beast within growled with pleasure. Not angry now, but contented, pleased with itself to no end.
“Where did you go, anyway?” said Lena, in the soft, light voice I knew meant she trusted me, that she wanted me.
“I was just on the phone with my brother Jared. Do you know any other girls who moved out here from LA to do modeling? He’s asking me about this ex of his … anyway, doesn’t matter. Lena?”
But Lena didn’t say anything. Her cheeks paled and lost the flush from our passionate kiss.
“Lena?” I said, nervously. “What is it?”
