Rush

I
like
myself right now. But I can’t stop. God, even if it makes you hate me, I can’t stop.
     I won’t stop. My need for you consumes me and it’s not going away.”
    Shocked by the frank admission, she could only stare up at him, her heart pounding
     at the implications. He touched her cheek with a gentle caress, regret still a shadow
     in his blue eyes.
    “Go now and get dressed for tonight. We won’t stay too long and then we’ll go out
     for a late dinner.”

chapter fifteen
    Gabe was silent and brooding as they rode to a jazz club in the Village where the
     cocktail party was being hosted. Mia kept sending him seeking glances, and he could
     see the uncertainty in her eyes, but he couldn’t bring himself to offer her reassurance.
     How could he?
    He was unhinged. It embarrassed him how little control he exerted around her. With
     no other woman had he ever shown such a lack of restraint. His actions and responses
     were always precise. With Mia, he had none of the calm and distance that had been
     a part of his life since he was a teenager.
    Hell, he’d all but mauled her. He’d raped her mouth, for God’s sake. He’d hurried
     her into his apartment, shoved her onto her knees and then forced himself down her
     throat. His self-loathing knew no bounds, and yet he couldn’t regret it. Worse, he
     knew he’d do it again. And again. He was already itching to get home later so he could
     have her in his bed, underneath him.
    He’d been furious over the lack of respect shown to Mia in the office by the other
     employees, but he was a huge hypocrite. He’d shown her a far greater lack of respect
     by treating her like the whore she feared she was. Not that he ever, even
once
, considered her any such thing. But his actions hadn’t mimicked his thoughts so far.
     His dick was doing all his thinking for him andit didn’t give a fuck that he wanted to slow down and not overwhelm her from the start.
     His dick wanted more. His hands and mouth wanted more. His lust for her was all consuming
     and it hadn’t shown any sign of waning thus far. If anything, it increased every time
     he made love to her.
    Made love
. He wanted to laugh. That was a much softer term for what he’d done. Maybe he thought
     it in an attempt to make himself feel better. He’d fucked her senseless. He’d danced
     a very thin line in brutalizing her, and yet for all the remorse he felt, he knew
     that next time wouldn’t be any different no matter his intentions. He could say one
     thing all he wanted, but he was a damn liar and he knew it.
    “We’re here, Gabe,” Mia said, softly touching his arm.
    He pulled himself from his thoughts to see they were parked at the corner by the club.
     Recovering quickly, he got out and then went around to open Mia’s door and helped
     her from the car.
    She looked fucking amazing, and he had a sinking feeling that no matter the fact he’d
     chosen clothing for her that was purposely unrevealing, there would be no less attention
     than if she’d shown up in the dress she’d worn to the grand opening.
    Mia was a beautiful woman, and there was something special about her that drew people
     to her. She’d even stand out in a crowd wearing a burlap sack.
    Cupping her elbow in a casual manner, he guided her toward the entrance. It took every
     bit of his restraint not to haul her into his side and put his stamp of possession
     on her for the world to see, but he wouldn’t embarrass her, and he wouldn’t threaten
     her relationship—or his—with Jace. Knowing she was his behind closed doors was enough.
     But he’d be damned if he watched other men fawn over Mia tonight either.
    As they reached the entrance to the room reserved for the cocktail party, Gabe put
     a respectable distance between himself and Mia. Every instinct screamed to have her
     close, to put theinvisible
hands off
to any other man, but he forced himself to remain cool and distanced. She was here
     in a business capacity. Nothing else. She wasn’t here as his date, his lover, his
     woman. Even if they both knew differently.
    As soon as they walked in, Mitch Johnson saw them through the crowd and nodded before
     making his way toward where Gabe and Mia stood.
    “Showtime,” Gabe murmured.
    Mia did a quick survey of the crowd and then focused in on Mitch, who was nearly to
     them. She put a genuine smile on her face and stood attentively at Gabe’s side as
     they waited.
    “Gabe, glad you could make it on such