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I’d never seen him so intense and focused. Whatever scene was happening in front of me, my body reacted to it like a live wire. I was instantly amped up and turned on. Protective River was sexy as hell, especially when I was the one he was defending. I’d never had a man stand up for me before. I wanted to jump on his back and ride him up to my room.
“She can speak for herself. Can’t you, Sky? Come on, baby. Just one night. No one told you to stay away from me. They only told you to stay away from him. He’s off-limits. I’m not.”
Chad tried to shove River out of the way but failed. River was almost a foot taller and was definitely stronger. The only way he’d get past River and reach me was if River allowed it.
And that definitely wasn’t happening.
River glanced over his shoulder, and his deep blue eyes looked almost pained, like he hated being put in this position. He was probably pissed that he was being forced to defend my honor.
“Touch Sky and you’ll regret it. Do you hear me? Are you listening?” River was questioning Chad, who kept trying to get around him. “Leave her the fuck alone, or we’re going to have a problem. Tell me you understand what I’m saying to you.” River was making a mockery of the guy, treating him like a little child, but honestly, Chad deserved it.
“What if she wants me to touch her?” Chad asked, his words still slurring.
“She doesn’t,” River answered for me.
“She hates you. Not me,” Chad continued to argue.
“She doesn’t hate me,” River snapped, and I huffed before being distracted by Raul.
He placed an empty to-go container in front of me, and I shoved my extra slices inside as quickly as I could.
“I’m going to head upstairs and call it a night,” I announced, desperate to get away from this situation.
I couldn’t leave the bar fast enough.
“I’ll walk you up,” River said forcefully.
It wasn’t a request, and I did not have a say in the matter.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Chad was trying to whisper to Carmella, but he was loud and too drunk to have any real volume control.
“That we should all go to bed?” she asked, and he laughed, patting her forearm with his hand as he sat back down in his chair.
“You’re funny,” he said with a grin. “But no. Those two are going to hook up and then lie to our faces about it tomorrow. If she’s not fucking me tonight, she’s definitely fucking him.”
My mouth dropped open, and my eyes instantly shot to River. I’d never seen him look so angry. His hands were balled into fists, and his jaw was clenched so tight that I thought I heard his teeth grinding. He was going to kill Chad. And I wasn’t sure that I’d blame him for it.
“Chad, I’ll politely ask you one time to shut your fucking mouth. I’m giving you a pass because you’re hammered, but it’s the only one you’ll get. Talk about Sky again, and it will be the last thing you do for this airline.”
“You can’t do that,” Chad huffed, his face turning even redder than before.
“I can. And I will,” River threatened before taking a menacing step toward Chad. “I dare you to fucking test me.”
River hovered, making sure that Chad didn’t move a muscle in my direction, before he added, “And you owe Sky an apology.”
Before I could argue or say it wasn’t necessary, Chad was stuttering, his words affected by the alcohol, his anger, and his embarrassment. He didn’t want to give me anything, least of all an apology.
“I’m sorry, Sky,” he said, his tone filled with anything but remorse.
He wasn’t sorry. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to get away from him. Chad’s level of drunkenness and behavior was unacceptable from a professional standpoint. If I wanted to, I could report him to management and make sure we never crossed paths again. He could get in a lot of trouble. Not for the drinking, but for the harassment. Our airline took that stuff very seriously.
“Let’s go.” River grabbed me by the arm and started to lead me away.
I shook out of his grip. “You don’t need to manhandle me.” I balanced the pizza in my other hand, trying not to drop it.
“Sorry,” he grumbled, and I could tell that he wasn’t even remotely okay with everything that had just occurred. He pressed the elevator button before facing me, his expression pained. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. I just…” So many thoughts were crashing together in my head, and even though I’d always hated River, the very last thing I was feeling right now was animosity. I was grateful he had been there.
