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“I asked to come as a plus one with one of my friends who’s in the movie. I had to see you. We need to talk, Reign, please. You won’t answer your phone—”
“There’s a reason why,” I scoff, stopping my attempts to get around him when he moves closer. Panic claws at me when I see the intent in his eyes and smell the alcohol on his breath. “Are you drunk?”
“A little. Please, baby, I miss you.”
“Step away from Miss Harrow,” comes a sharp command.
I almost slump in relief at Raff’s voice. I look over to see they are all there and they look furious. “Sir, I asked you to step away from Miss Harrow.”
“We are busy, muscle,” Tucker snaps, looking back at Raff. “Watch our backs, won’t you?” He tries to grab me, but I duck under him. Dal pulls me behind them, and they form a shield between him and me.
“Are you okay?” Raff asks.
I nod, glancing at Tucker to see him glaring at Raff. “What the fuck, man?” he starts.
“She doesn’t want to talk. You were cornering her—”
“Do you know who I am?” Tucker demands.
“Yes, and I don’t care. Our job is to see to Miss Harrow’s well-being, and that includes every part of her, including her happiness,” Raffiel growls, getting in Tucker’s face, and I realize Raff is both taller and bigger than my ex. He’s also scarier and sexier. “You threatened that. If you come near her again, we will have a problem. Do we understand each other?”
“What the fuck, Rey?” Tucker barks, ignoring Raff.
“Let’s go,” I say, tugging on Raff’s sleeve. He’s tense and ready to throw down right here with Tucker. “Please, I don’t want a scene.”
“You’re lucky she’s here,” Raffiel warns. “Next time, she might not be. Heed that warning, Mr. Tucker. Fame and fortune have no bearing on me or my actions. Yes, I know who you are. Now let me tell you who I am. I’m the person with the gun. I’m the person with the training and a file so blacked out by your government that you wouldn’t even know where to start.” He steps closer as Tucker steps back. “I’m the man at her back, so remember that.”
Holy fuck.
THIRTEEN
Raffiel glares at Tucker for a moment longer before taking my arm and leading me out of the corridor, away from him. I smile at the partygoers still lingering about, but Raff steers me away. Instead, we go upstairs to the box we are using for the night. I showed him where it was earlier, and no doubt they all checked it out. I keep my relief from my face until we are in the box, and he helps me into one of the five seats. There are two in the very front, facing the screen, the velvet, dramatically draped curtains held back to give us some privacy. Three walls protect us from prying eyes on either side. Those below can see our heads and shoulders and not much else, with the wall before us preventing it. They shut the curtains quickly and turn me in the chair to face them so everyone else has my back.
“Are you okay?” Cillian demands, serious for once.
“I’m fine. Thank you for the save,” I murmur.
“It’s our job,” Raff snaps. “I’m sorry we left you alone. We got caught between the door and the crowd. It won’t happen again.”
I nod, leaning into him, taking comfort from him for a moment. He opens his arms, allowing me more contact, as he takes off his suit jacket and quickly wraps it around my shoulders, rubbing my back, and then I realize I’m shivering.
“Let’s get out of here,” he suggests quietly.
I want to give in to the promise in his eyes, but I told myself I would never walk away because of a man again, not even Raffiel.
“No, we’ll stay for the movie. I’ll be okay, I promise.” I will be okay now that they are here.
It was just the shock of seeing Tucker. I’m okay when I’m prepared, but seeing him practically beg? Yeah, it hurt.
Once, that would have been everything I wanted. Once, I would have given in, even knowing we were doomed to experience the same toxic cycles.
He relents, letting me turn back to the screen as everyone starts to take their seats. As time goes on, I begin to shuffle, inhaling his scent on his jacket. An uncomfortable desire pours through me as his scent wraps me up like I wish he would. The dark only makes it that much more intense. He protected me; he faced off with my very famous ex. I know it is his job, but it felt like more.
It felt personal. There was a flash of possessiveness in his eyes when he stepped up to Tucker.
And that? Yeah, it’s hot as hell and leaves me wet and wanting. I always get what I want, and usually I flirt and we fuck. With this, with him, I flirted and he drew the line, but fuck if I don’t want to cross it. Maybe it’s because I know he’s off-limits, or maybe it’s just because he is sexy as hell and powerful and so unlike every other man I have been with. Raffiel is real. There are no pretenses, lies, or carefully practiced PR speeches. Clearing my suddenly dry throat, I focus on the movie. There will be a speech after, and I almost groan out loud. I need to go home or find someone to fuck to get this desire out so I can think clearly again.
I feel my neck burning from their stares and hunch, wondering if they know just how badly I want to fuck them. They are attractive, but it’s more than that. It is the power they wield, the way they carry themselves, and the way they barged into my life and seem to fit so perfectly. It’s the way I laugh when I’m with them, and the way I feel with them looking at me.
