Page 55 of Fireball
Not bothering to look up from his screen he shrugs. “No problem. I’ll chip you like Pete.”
The mention of his name perks up my dog’s ears. He leisurely stretches on the cushion before jumping off the sofa next to me and meandering over to Titan. Traitor.
Titan pauses typing and strokes over Pete’s head a few times. He’s grown to love him too.
I shake my head refusing to be distracted by them bonding. “I amnota dog.”
Titan slowly lifts his head. Dark eyes scan me from my face to my chest to my crossed legs to my feet. Heat burns me every place his gaze touches upon.
“No angel, you certainly aren’t.”
Zero humor vibrates in his tone now. All the comicality is gone from his perusal of my body.
Instantly, he morphs into stalking mode, purposefully rising from his huge black leather chair and prowling toward me. Deliberate and calculated, he growls when he reaches me and palms the couch on both sides of my head. He’s like a hypnotist, mesmerizing me into a trance, drawn to his handsome face as he stares down at me.
“You, Fireball, are the kind of woman every man wants.”
Tug of war yanks back and forth in my brain. Push him away. Pull him closer. “No man wants me.”
Annoyed with myself, I sink backward. I should be ashamed of fishing for compliments. I can’t help myself. I need to feel something other than doubt sometimes.
He snarls. “I already know of four. Devin. Greyson. That bastard trying to dance with you at the club.”
A low growl rumbles in his broad chest. “And me.”
His hands move to my throat. He thumbs my sprinting pulse. A slight squeeze steals my breath, and I don’t resist his power over me as he draws me up. Somehow, he doesn’t choke me as I hang in the air under his mercy.
“No one will ever have you except me. Know that.”
The certainty overwhelms me, and I close my eyes. Dangling in his grip I shouldn’t feel safe, yet I do.
“It kills me that I hurt you.”
Me too.
“Sorry boss but you wanted me to let you know when they were on their way back. She’s crying and asking for Addie.”
All the sensual sensations evaporate from hearing a bodyguard’s voice as well as his words. Now I’m pissed. I can’t believe Maxim would upset Chelsea. Titan lays me back gently while his head whips toward the messenger.
“Motherfucker. Did he touch her?”
“No sir. Miquel stationed himself outside the door exactly like you ordered. All they did was talk.”
I push off the sofa and race into the foyer, reaching the tile just as the door blows open and Chelsea bursts inside.
Enormous tears stream from her puffy eyes down her hot red cheeks. Pete howls along with her while she sobs. I don’t know what happened except that she’s devastated. I’m heartbroken for her and wrap her in a tight embrace.
“You were right. He’s not a DJ.”
Oh no! I didn’t think she’d care about his profession, but obviously she does. I should have given her more credit. She’s not stupid. No one appreciates being deceived. Especially by the man you love. “I’m so sorry.”
“He s-said he d-didn’t say he w-was. He j-just never said he wasn’t. That’s just s-semantics for a lie!”
“I agree. He should’ve been honest.”
My agreement makes her weep harder. That’s not my intention. I mean what I say but there’s always more to the situation. “But I really don’t think he was trying to trick you.”
“You don’t?”