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His deep voice chilled me to the bones. Hunter only called meGraciewhen he was drunk. He walked forward, somewhat confident on his feet, yet swaying. I looked around the empty gardens. If someone saw him like this with me, I’d be ruined.
He removed the Phantom mask from his face and pulled his fingers through his hair. On a sober night, the move was sexy. Tonight, not so much. The vodka stench finally reached me, and I recoiled.
“What are you doing here? You were supposed to stay home.”
“I’m here to replace your date.”
Fuck.
He stepped closer, rocking back and forth, and I stepped back.
“You’re drunk. You need to go home.”
“Come on, Gracie. The night is still young.” He moved forward and took me by the arm, but I pulled away.
His brows drew together. “You’d rather sit beside an escort?”
“Xavier’s a friend.”
He burst out in laughter. Part of me hoped someone would hear him and escort him out. He stumbled forward but regained his balance as I took him by his arm. God, how he stank!
“I don’t like it when you’re like this.”
“I’m like this when you treat me like I’m nothing.”
I let go of his arm and poked my finger into his chest. “Don’t you fucking blame your drinking on me.” The force in my whisper surprised me.
“I drink because you’re ashamed of me. Say it isn’t so, Gracie.”
“It isn’t so. I won’t be the scapegoat for your problem. We had a deal. You promised—”
“You made a promise as well, Gracie. Remember when I had my tongue in your pussy?”
He stepped closer. Suddenly, that same vodka breath I despised warmed the side of my neck, and I quivered.
“Or all the times I fucked you in your beautiful gardens, similar to these? Was that not a promise to cherish you? Did I suck you wrong?”
He didn’t. The lump in my throat tightened into an unbearable knot. In bed, Hunter Silver outdid every man I’d ever been with. I’d taught him well, but he’d needed little teaching and enjoyed listening to my instruction. Then he fucking outperformed in every way.
“Do I not deserve a spot at your table, Gracie?”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
“Or did Xavier fuck you much better?”
I yanked myself away and swung my hand to slap him, but he caught my wrist in mid-air. I focused on his tight grip and my shaking hand before my gaze drifted slowly to his, and my mouth opened in shock.
He let go and stepped backward, toward the dining area, looking at me like I’d made the biggest mistake of my life. I breathed through my nose, desperate to salvage the situation and get him out of here.
“Hunter? Whatever you’re thinking of doing, don’t. Please.”
“Are you embarrassed to introduce your boyfriend to your guests, Gracie?”
I quickened my pace, but I was already too late. He turned on his heel and headed straight for the stage, where he tapped on the microphone. The echo brought everyone’s attention center-stage. The lighting technician flashed a beam Hunter’s way.
“Oh, no.” I covered my mouth with my hand, afraid to walk back to my table. Instead, I stood near the stage stairs, staring at the man I loved like he was my worst enemy.
“Don’t do it, Hunter. Don’t ruin this,” I whispered, breathing to the beat of my heart and still afraid I’d run out of air as soon as he sucked it out of the room.
