Page 22 of The Attack Zone
He gives my shoulder a playful squeeze and jumps up the stairs onto the stage. The crowd grows even louder when they see him, and my heart is beating a million miles a minute. It’s because I’m nervous about making my fundraising goal, I’m sure. But it’s unnerving regardless, so I make my way to the back of the room where no one can see me and I can gather my thoughts.
The silent auction announcements and Caleb’s speech go off without a hitch. Mitch and Thomas don’t even have to intervene, they just stand by Caleb with proud grins on their faces as he makes his way through the program.
When everything’s wrapped up and attendees are starting to leave, I scan the room to be sure everything is still going well. That’s when my eyes land on Mitch. He’s with that young philanthropist again, and her hand is on his chest. Suddenly I’m paralyzed. My brain is just fuzz, as if I’velanded on the wrong channel on an old TV. Then, before I know it, my legs are carrying me across the ballroom, directly towards Mitch.
“Hey, love,” I say as I arrive.
“Hey, uh, Stacey,” he says, a confused look falling on his face.
I reach out and place my hand on his forearm. He’s looking at me like he wants to kill me, but I can’t help myself. “Could you come help me with something?” I ask, running my hand up his arm and giving his bicep a squeeze. It’s flirty and sexy and I have no idea what I’m doing.
“Um, sure.” He turns to the donor and says, “would you excuse me?”
She looks between the two of us before nodding and saying, “Of course. Have a good night.” She picks up her purse from the cocktail table and makes her way out of the ballroom doors.
I turn to Mitch to, well, I don’t even know. Explain, maybe? But then his hand is on my wrist and he’s dragging me out of the ballroom. We’re halfway down the hall when I come to and decide to remove my wrist from his grip.
“What are you doing?” I ask, pulling away from him.
“Not. Here,” he says sternly. He points towards an empty, smaller ballroom and I guess I’ve lost any and all free will because I walk through the door before he slams it closed behind us.
“What the hell was that?” he demands.
“What do you mean?” I ask, as if I don’t know exactly what he means.
“Imean, why did you just cockblock me,love?” he says, taking a step towards me.
“I was doing you a favor,” I say, ignoring the slight ping in my chest at the realization that he did really want to hook up with her.
“Oh really? How so?” he asks. He’s breathing heavier nowas he takes another step towards me. I take a step back, but it puts me against the wall.
“There’s no way you’re actually interested in fucking her,” I say, assuming it’s not actually true but trying to hold my own in yet another one of our arguments.
He lets out a grunt—no, a growl—and places a hand on the wall next to my head. I’m in some of my favorite stiletto heels, but he still towers over me as he leans in.
“Well, I’m not getting anywhere with the woman Idowant to fuck, so ...” he says.
My breath hitches in my chest. He’s just inches away from me, and I think he might be staring at my lips again. “And who might that be?” I ask before inadvertently biting into the top of my bottom lip, maybe to keep myself from saying anything else stupid.
He places his other hand next to my head, bracing himself above me. He lets out a sigh and looks up at the ceiling as he says, “Oh, fuck it.”
I start to ask “‘Oh, fuck’ wh—” but then his lips are crashing down on mine.
He takes my mouth with his with ease, tongue playing with mine after only a few seconds. I’m fully pressed against the wall by his broad body, and my hands have somehow wound up tugging at his hair. His hand finds the base of my neck and pulls upward, bringing us even closer together. Every inch of my body feels like it’s on fire, or maybe it just feels alive? I can’t tell because I’m making out with Mitch fucking Greggs and it’s about a million times better than any dream I’ve ever had. I already have an ache low in my abdomen, and that’s before he hikes my leg up with his massive hand and wraps it around his waist. Then, my stomach is doing weird flippy things and his hips are grinding mine into the wall. I let out a soft moan as our lips part just a centimeter for just a moment.
His teeth slide down my neck and he takes a small nip atmy collarbone, which happens to be one of the most sensitive spots on my entire body.
“I thought you said you don’t bite?” I say. It’s breathy and shaky and helpless.
He looks up at me with a devilish grin and says, “I lied.”
Fuck.
Me.
I reach for his hair and tug lightly, bringing his head back up to mine. He’s looking at me with heat in his eyes as his chest rises and falls heavily. And that’s when I realize it.
I want to fuck Mitch Greggs.