For the first time in my life, I can’t take a chance on hurting someone. Hell, I can’t take a chance on hurting her and losing her . Fucking around would send the message that I’m a player and, based on what Lukyan uncovered in the background check, she’d probably do what she always does when she’s hurt or scared—run.
The party’s already in full swing with a busy dance floor and people in corners conversing. I note my father isn’t here yet. It’s his normal practice to be fashionably late. Like everything he does, it serves a purpose. As Pakhan, his arrival is always anticipated and my father knows how to use it to his benefit. The man is a genius when it comes to psychological warfare. I learned from the best.
Normally I would work the room but tonight I’m focused on Logan and, by necessity, her little hacker friend. According to Lukyan, Gilbert was seated at a table with strict instructions not to move. I place my hand on her lower back as I escort Logan to the darkened corner where Gilbert is alone at the table, his back pressed against the seat like he’s trying to blend in with the wallpaper. Looks like we arrived just in time, the poor guy doesn’t need to be left alone with my family—they’ll eat him alive as the evening’s entertainment. I have to admit a sadistic streak runs deep and wide in our family when it comes to outsiders. It’s the nature of the beast. He perks up as soon as he sees Logan, and his eyes widen when she’s close enough for him to see the whole package.
“Wow, Logan. Look at you, you’re beautiful. I’m so glad to see you,” he says, practically hyperventilating, and Logan looks over at me, obviously thinking her friend has been, at the very least, tortured. “I was basically dropped off and put in a room with a woman I don’t know—that horrible beautician woman,” Gilbert says dramatically. “You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through! She – she – that woman waxed me!” he hisses in horror, pointing to the slightly pink skin between his eyebrows. “Then they found this table for me and I’ve been here ever since.” The poor guy’s already scared and he hasn’t even seen how crazy shit can get—yet.
“Yes,” Logan murmurs soothingly, “but look at the make-over you got. You look so handsome, Gilbert.”
“That’s enough,” I growl in her ear. Though I speak in a tone low enough for Gilbert not to hear what I’m saying, my tone is serious. Fuck if I want to hear her tell another man how good he looks, even if it is Gilbert. I do have to admit, though, he looks like a different guy. His dark blonde hair has been styled with a little hair product in a way that actually makes him look decent -- or a hacker geek, anyway. With the suit he’s wearing and the fact that he’s not wearing glasses, our little geek boy might just get some action tonight. Hey, now, that’s a thought -- he needs something to keep him occupied and God knows the boy needs to relax. I look around the room to see if I can find a reliable, quality blowjob for our boy when I see one of the waiters headed in our direction. I grab a glass of champagne and hand it to Logan and I take a shot of vodka from the tray, tossing it back.
The room is suddenly hushed. I look toward the staircase and see my father descending the stairs with my mother on his arm, and I swear his eyes are locked on to me. Another glass of champagne seems like a good idea so I grab one more. Logan isn’t the only who needs to take the edge off. She leans in to whisper in my ear, “I want one.” I smirk as I grab another glass and tell the waiter to give Gilbert a shot and some Dom Perignon.
I can’t fucking resist, so I lean in, whispering low so no one but Logan can hear me. “You better watch it. I’ll get your ass drunk, take you back up to my room, and fuck you until you don’t know your own name.”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me.” The blush on her face tells me she
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