"Do you feel how hard I am for you, Mary?" The way he said her name was so hot, so heated, that she could have had an orgasm by that alone. "Answer me." The way he phrased those two words was so dominant, like he expected compliance immediately, had her licking her lips and nodding. "No, I want to hear you say the words."
God, what was wrong with him? Did he get off on embarrassing her further?
"Yes, I feel you, Alex." Even her voice sounded weak, but she watched in surprise as he briefly closed his eyes, as if her words pained him almost.
"The way you stiffened in my arms, I knew you were about to bolt, and I should let you, but you need to know something." He opened his eyes, and they seemed more green than brown now. "Make no mistake that I want you." He emphasized his point by grinding his erection into her, which had a shocked cry leaving her. He felt so hard, so big, that she had no doubts he knew exactly how to use the heavy length between his thighs. He took his hand and slowly moved it down to rest on her hip. "Like right now I bet your pussy is soaked." His mouth was by her ear again, and the gentle, almost erotic feel of his lips against that suddenly erogenous zone lit her on fire. She was wet, unbelievably so, and his coarse presentation of pointing it out should have offended her, but all it did was make her want more of it. "I also know if I slipped my hand between your legs you'd let me."
He was so cocky, but so right in everything he said. Mary couldn't speak, couldn't even think clearly as he started moving his fingers in a slow glide over her hipbone. He moved it around her body so he was touching her bare back, and a surge of disappointment went through her that he hadn't followed through with what he said.
"But also don't mistake who I am." His words confused her, but that might also have something to do with the fact he was so damn close that if she leaned forward just an inch she would be kissing him. "I was going to ignore the voice in my head telling me to leave you the fuck alone, because I wanted you too fucking bad, Mary." His eyes were on her lips, and she licked them, not because she tried to attract his attention, but because everything inside of her was on autopilot now. "You're so much better than this, than me, and the fact you want me just as I want you makes this even harder." He placed his hands on either side of her head, creating a wall of thickly corded muscle. "I've fucked a lot of women, Mary. A lot." His words were like ice water being thrown on her. She snapped her eyes to his and saw steely determination in the brown/green depths. He was either being the biggest asshole imaginable, or he was trying to push her away because he really did think she was too good for him. "That's what I like to do, and that's what I'm good at. I don't do flowers and candy. I don't go home and meet the parents, and I sure as fuck don't do relationships." She flinched, but he stayed stoic. "Do you understand me?"
She did, but her mouth had suddenly gone so dry she couldn't form a word. What had she been thinking, going after him, and thinking Alex-fucking-Sheppard would give her more than one night with her?
"Yeah, you get it now." He took a small step back but still kept her caged in. "Now, if you just want a night of hard fucking, that I can give you." He let his eyes travel down her body, and she shivered from the coldness of it all. Standing in front of her wasn't the guy she had just tutored a few hours ago, or the one she met at the sandwich shop, or even the one she had wanted to desperately know. This guy was a Grade A asshole, and looked at her like she was some kind of piece of meat. "If you're looking for something more meaningful, like you're special or something, you're looking in the wrong fucking place, baby."
Her hands became fists at her sides, and her anger rose. Her whole body shook from the force of his words, from the way he made her feel like something cheap, dirty, and not worthy. She couldn't control herself, didn't even try to stop herself from uncurling her hand and lifting it to slap the shit out of him. His head cocked to the right, and she saw his jaw clench. For several long moments she did nothing but stand there, and when he turned back and looked at her, there was regret in his gaze. No fucking way was he going to feel sorry. He had already spoken his mind, and it couldn't be taken back.
"Fuck you, Alex." She shoved at his chest, and fortunately he moved away from her. Her hand stung and felt hot from the blood rushing to the surface, but her tears were hotter as they slid down her cheek. She was a damn fool, but she knew the consequences of going after a bad boy like Alex. She was just glad he had showed his true colors now. And right now her whole fucking body was covered in flames, but it was no one's fault but hers, and she deserved every painful, humiliating moment of it.
****
Alex had gone too far, he knew that with every fiber of his being, but things between him and Mary had gone from nonexistent to explosive in a matter of a week, hell, in a matter of hours if he was being honest. He had wanted her since he first saw her, and seeing her on the dance floor had his control snapping. His self-control had gone down the shitter after that, and once his hands had been on her he was fucking lost.
But then everything had gone down the shitter because she had challenged him, tried to take control, and he had wanted to show her that he was the one that held the reins. Even now he thought back to her pressed against the wall, her breathing short and fast, and her breasts right there for the taking. She would have let him touch her pussy, of that he had no doubt, but as much as he wanted her, taking her against the filthy wall at Tainted was beneath her. He also didn't want any of the cloying effects of liquor blinding her judgment.
Then something in him had snapped when she made a reference to him and the other girls, and he had known right then he had to put a stop to everything. Alex didn't have to go as far as he did, and certainly didn't have to say the things he did, but he had, and she had reacted exactly how he wanted her to. The slap was a surprise, because honestly he hadn't thought she had it in her, but he deserved it. Even now his cheek stung like a bitch.
Alex turned and watched Mary storm away. Her ass looked fucking fine as hell as she pushed through the dancing people and stopped in front of her friend. The fact she was angry at him was like gas to the already raging fire inside of him. He kept to the shadows, and even though she knew where he was, he also knew she couldn't see him. Mary and the blonde turned in his direction, and both women wore scornful scowls. He leaned against the wall and kept his gaze solely on Mary. He'd offended her, most likely made her feel like she was a whore. And although that was the last thing he thought about her, and the very last thing he wanted to make her feel like, that had been the only thing he could think of to douse this intensity that sparked between them.
The blonde looked back at Mary, but she kept her eyes on him, as if she truly could see him through the shadows. He was the worst kind of bastard, and he would have ruined her. This was for the best. He could get another tutor, but of course it wouldn't be her, and after only that one session he wanted more. Fuck, he was an idiot and needed another drink, preferably enough to have him passed out by the end of the night.
Chapter Ten
Darcy had been pissed when Mary all but dragged her out of the club, but that was the least of her worries. After they had gotten back home she had lain in bed for a good portion of the night just staring at her ceiling. God, she had been a fool to want anything to do with Alex, and she had certainly paid the price for it. He was an asshole and had made her feel so damn cheap. He was gorgeous and lethal, and everything inside of her had wanted to submit to him. Damn him for being such a good looking prick, and still causing her to want him. For hours all she had done was lie in the dark, cursing her body for still being so wet, so needy for … him.
She had finally fallen asleep at four in the morning, and now it was eight and she was wide awake. She also had no idea what she was going to do. It was clear she would no longer be tutoring Alex, and after only one session she should have been grateful. If that had been his true self back at the club than she didn't want any part of that, but what if it hadn't been his real self? It was possible he said those things to push her away. She had certainly thought as much after he said them. Mary thought of that look she had seen in his eyes when they had sat side-by-side on his bed, and when they had been pressed so closely together that there hadn't been an inch between them. It hadn't just been her imagination, not when he made her feel things that no other guy had.