AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m staying,” he cemented, not pulling his gaze from her.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re killing my tips, you know. It’s not like we’re exclusive. I could be fucking someone else for all you know,” she teased, turning her back to him.
She managed only one step before his arm encircled her waist, and he pulled her into the booth right onto his lap. Her back pressed into his hard chest as his arm acted as a restraint, not allowing her to move away from him.
Sure, she’d been pulled into men’s laps a handful of times, but she’d never felt the flutter in the pit of her stomach. Her breath had never increased in tempo at the contact.
His breath tickled her ear, and Kiera’s back arched at the feeling as she clutched his perspiring glass in her hand. “Are you fucking someone else, Kiera?”
“And what if I was,” she taunted. She’d never gotten a thrill from being dominated by a man, but as he held her in his lap, she wanted him to claim her on the table in front of all the patrons inside the restaurant.
His teeth grazed her earlobe, and she gasped, a chill going down her spine. “If you’re fucking another man,” he started, his voice low in her ear, “I hope he’s been trained as well as I have because I fight for what’s mine.”
“Am I yours?” she asked.
“Are you?” His other hand trailed around her and rested atop her thigh. Her eyes darted to the other men around the restaurant, all of their eyes resting firmly on her. Some looked away out of respect, but some didn’t bother. Vincent demanded attention, and with her in his lap, she’d become part of the spectacle. Even the bouncer—who ensured all the servers remained safe while doing their jobs—didn’t dare step between them.
“I’m not an object to be had,” she told him. That hand—that damn hand that rested too close to the bundle of nerves that throbbed at his proximity—stroked an easy circle around her upper thigh. He could undoubtedly feel the way her body reacted to him.
“I’m aware,” he whispered. “And that’s why I’ve been here every night since learning your name. Nobody will touch you without your explicit permission.”
“That rule doesn’t seem to apply to you,” she countered.
“Tell me to stop,” he demanded.
She didn’t speak.
“Tell me to let you go.”
Her heart beat faster at the words, and she decided instead to change the subject, not wanting to lose the contact of his skin. “And you’re doing this because I’m yours?” she asked.
His finger brushed that bundle of nerves with a single sweep of his long finger. Kiera jerked at the touch, gasping as he released her and allowed her to stand on trembling legs.
His voice came across louder, almost as if he expected everyone in the restaurant to be listening. And as he spoke, they seemed to do just that. “You are mine. Not an object, but mine nonetheless.”
Kiera only looked over her shoulder at him—at his serious expression and hard eyes. He’d put on a show for everyone, and she wondered if it was to send a message. Or had he done it because of a lack of control—the same lack of control that she felt each moment she spent with him?
Kiera made a show of walking steadily toward the back of the house, finally allowing herself to slouch once she reached the fountain drinks. Out of sight of the customers, she leaned against the wall and deeply breathed. The bustle of the kitchen distracted her from her thoughts as they called orders and propped food in the warm window, another server grabbing each dish and comparing it to the food on her notepad.
When Talia came stumbling toward the back of the house, wide-eyed and pale, Kiera righted herself and approached her friend.
“What’s wrong?” Kiera asked as Talia began shakily entering her most recent order into the computer system.
She shook her head and cleared her throat. “It’s Ross,” she whispered. It took Kiera a moment to recognize the name. It was the ex who wouldn’t take a hint.
“And?”
“He’s out there. He requested my section.” A tear slid down her face.
“Tal, you’ve never let something like that bother you,” Kiera said. Her problems and uncertainty no longer felt relevant as she spoke to Talia.
Talia brushed a wisp of hair out of her face. “He said if I didn’t go home with him…” she paused, trembling. “…if I didn’t go home with him, he’dforce meto go home with him.”
Everything in Kiera stiffened. Her attention honed in on Talia's words as she leaned over the computer, sniffling. Kiera saw red.
“What table?” Kiera demanded.
Talia swirled, vigorously shaking her head. “No, you’re not getting in the middle of this. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
