Book 1 - Page 94 (1/2)

”What are you doing?” he murmured.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw him watching me. Then I watched his gaze lift as Dr. Lucas stood behind me. Gideon's gaze noticeably cooled.

”She's going to alleviate the boredom of being ignored, Cross,” Terry said, setting his hands on the back of my chair, ”by spending time with someone who's more than happy to pay attention to such a beautiful woman.”

I was immediately uncomfortable, aware of the crackling animosity between the two men. I tugged on his hand, but Gideon wouldn't release me.

”Walk away, Terry,” Gideon warned.

”You've been so preoccupied with Mrs. Giroux, you didn't even notice when I sat at your table.” Terry's smile took on an edge. ”Eva. Shall we?”

”Don't move, Eva.”

I s.h.i.+vered at the ice in Gideon's voice, but felt stung enough to say, ”It's not his fault he has a point.”

Gideon's grip tightened painfully. ”Not now.”

Terry's gaze moved to my face. ”You don't have to tolerate him talking to you that way. All the money in the world doesn't give anyone the right to order you around.”

Infuriated and horribly embarra.s.sed, I looked at Gideon. ”Crossfire.”

I wasn't sure I could use the safeword outside of the bedroom, but he released me as if I'd burned him. I shoved my chair back and threw my napkin onto my plate. ”Excuse me. Both of you.”

With my clutch in hand, I walked away from the table, my stride easy and smooth. I made a beeline toward the restrooms, intending to freshen my makeup and collect myself, but then I saw the lighted exit sign and went with my urge to bail.

I pulled out my smartphone when I hit the sidewalk and texted Gideon; Not running. Just leaving.

I managed to hail a pa.s.sing cab, and headed home to nurse my anger.

I was jonesing for a hot bath and a bottle of wine when I reached my apartment. Shoving my key into the lock, I turned the k.n.o.b and stepped into a  p**n  video.

In the few shocked seconds it took for my brain to register what I was seeing, I stood riveted on the threshold, flooding the hallway behind me with blaring technopop. There were so many body parts involved, I had time to hastily slam the door behind me before I pieced them all together. One woman was spread-eagled on the floor. Another woman's face was in her crotch. Cary was banging the h.e.l.l out of her while another man was drilling him in the a.s.s.

I threw my head back and screamed b.l.o.o.d.y murder, completely fed up with everyone in my life. And because I was competing with the sound system, I ripped off one of my heels and threw it in that direction. The CD skipped, which jolted the menage a quatre in progress on my living room floor into awareness of my presence. I limped over and shut off the volume; then faced the lot of them.

”Get the f**k out of my house,” I snapped. ”Right now.”

”Who the h.e.l.l is that?” the redhead at the bottom of the pile asked. ”Your wife?”

There was a brief flash of embarra.s.sment and guilt on Cary's face, and then he shot me a c.o.c.ky smile. ”My roommate. There's room for more, baby girl.”