Rush

as Mia lay nestled
     in the crook of his arm. He knew she was awake. She hadn’t yet settled into the soft
     breathing and limp body he associated with her rest. But she lay there quietly, curled
     into his side, almost as though she were processing everything that had occurred.
    He was a bastard. He knew it. Suffered some regret. But he knew he wouldn’t stop.
     He’d broken every promise he’d made to her so far, and yet he knew he’d continue to
     break them. There was no easing her into his lifestyle. No gentleness. No patience.
     She made him crazy. She unhinged him.
    He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He owed her an explanation for tonight
     and yet his pride wouldn’t allow him to tell her why. It pissed him off that she’d
     walked out in a huff, and yet at the same time, it amused him and he felt pride that
     she’d basically said
fuck you
to him and left.
    If it were any other guy she was involved with, a stunt like he pulled tonight would
     be grounds for him to cheer her actions. He’d be the first one to tell her to run
     far, far away as fast as she could. Then he’d want to kick the bastard’s ass who used
     her in such a fashion.
    But if she tried to walk away from him, he knew damn well hewouldn’t let her escape. He’d go after her with everything he had, and short of tying
     her to his bed and holding her captive, he wasn’t letting her go. Not yet.
    “Tonight wasn’t what you thought,” he said, surprising himself when the statement
     slipped from his lips.
    Goddamn it. He didn’t want to get into this with her. Not any time. If she couldn’t
     stick around long enough to see for herself what happened, then why should he have
     to explain it?
    Because she’s different. You’ve been a dick. You owe this to her.
    Mia stirred against him, lifted herself up to her elbow, her hair falling in a curtain
     over her shoulder. He reached for the lamp, his urge to see her nagging at him. The
     soft glow illuminated her features and her dusky skin shone in the low light.
    She was beautiful. There was no other word for it. There was a sweetness to her that
     inspired a physical ache. Except maybe when she was pissed off at him, but he had
     to admit, he’d been hugely turned-on when she got all scornful and puffed up like
     a ticked-off kitten. He’d wanted to fuck her right then and there and let her use
     those claws on his back.
    “I thought it was pretty obvious what was going on,” Mia said, her eyes narrowing.
     “Blondie cornered me in the bathroom and made it plain she’d prefer the younger, richer
     Hamilton over the older, less wealthy version, and she wanted pointers on how to get
     you in her bed. Next thing I know, the two of you are glued together on the dance
     floor and your hand’s on her ass, not to mention a few other places.”
    She paused and took in a deep breath. He could tell she was getting angry all over
     again, but he admired that she put it out there. She wasn’t afraid of him, and he
     liked that. He didn’t want a meek mouse, no matter that he wanted someone utterly
     submissive. There was a difference between submissive and spineless.
    He wanted a strong woman with a mind of her own, but one who wouldn’t chafe under
     his dominance. Mia may well bethe perfect match for him, and he wasn’t sure what to make of that.
    “I know our relationship isn’t public. I get that I was there in a professional capacity.
     No one knows about us. There should have been no embarrassment involved for me. But
     I was humiliated and there was nothing I could do about it. I wanted to crawl under
     a table and die because I kept thinking, we have a contract. I belong to him, but
     damn it, if I belong to him then he goddamn well belongs to me too, and there you
     were all cozy and touchy-feely with Blondie. You
smiled
at her, Gabe. And you don’t smile at
anyone
.”
    His chest twisted at the edge of pain in her voice. At the accusation in her tone.
    “It pissed me off and it humiliated me because all I could think was that you weren’t
     satisfied with me and that I wasn’t woman enough for you. We’ve been together, what,
     a few times and you’re already shopping for your next contract?”
    “That’s bullshit,” Gabe said, angry that she’d been hurt by his actions. “Complete
     and utter bullshit. Look, I danced with her. I let her make her play for me because
     I wanted my father to see what he was tangled up in. She wasn’t subtle at all