always worry about me, but I didn't want him preparing to start murdering people whenever I went to the restroom. It was no way to live. And as much as I could tell I was never going to be seen as normal by him or anyone else, I could be seen as capable.
I took my phone from my clutch, shooting him a text.
Winter:
Look up.
I watched eagerly as he took his phone out of his pocket so fast that he nearly elbowed Sloan in the face beside him.
I laughed as his eyes shot up, immediately finding me where I stood in the glass box. I hadn't yet drawn any attention from others in the restaurant, but anyone could glance my way at any given moment. A wild idea came to me which made my heart pound and as I held Nicoli's gaze, I leaned down, reaching under the short red dress and pulling my panties down. I knew it was reckless, but that was what we were. And I wanted to remind him I was still the savage girl from the mountain. That I still didn't play to the same rules that everyone else did. I would always be dancing to my own tune.
I slid them over my bare feet, standing and dangling them on one finger in an offering.
He rose from his seat in an instant, fury lining his features and my heart tripped over itself as he started marching away from the table without an explanation.
I bit my lip as I watched him make it to the stairs and out of sight then I turned back to the maze of potted trees with adrenaline filling me up. He was coming for me. And I liked being hunted by him, but tonight, I wasn't the prey. He was.
I hung my panties on a branch just behind where I'd been standing then darted down another path, running deep into the heated jungle. The door sounded and heavy footfalls thumped inside.
"Winter!" Nicoli barked. "Come out here."
I laughed, my voice no doubt carrying to him as I slid behind a large palm tree and pressed my back to it.
"Someone could have seen you," he growled.
"Someone did see me," I called, taunting him. "And he's come to find me."
"You're in trouble."
"I like being bad, good is so boring. Do you really want me to be good?" I asked sweetly.
"I like you just as you are, baby doll. But you’re trying to bait me and now I'm angry."
I laughed, my heart thumping against the base of my throat.
"Fuck," he snarled somewhere to my right and I had a feeling he'd just located my panties. "What if someone else had found these?"
"There's no one in here but us," I pointed out, my breathing coming heavier. "Don't you like them?"
"They're wet," he growled, a heat to his tone that got my thighs clenching together.
"For you," I said breathily. "Only you."
He groaned like that pleased him and a smile quirked up one corner of my mouth. His footsteps drew closer and I slipped away again, padding down another path and arriving beside a little rock pool before the glass wall of the balcony. A few trees and bushes gave cover from the restaurant, but I only had to lean past them to see back downstairs. I pressed my back to the widest tree in front of the window, hiding myself from view, but close enough to being visible that it got my skin flushing hot.
Nicoli stalked into the clearing the same moment I put my hand up my dress, dipping my fingers between my thighs and tipping my head back against the trunk.
His eyes darted to the restaurant behind me and back to me with his shoulders tense. "Stop," he demanded. "If someone sees you-"
"They won't see," I panted, circling my fingers over my clit in the same way Nicoli always did to me. "Come here."
He had my panties clutched in his grip and his eyes darkened as he watched me. As my gaze roamed down him, I realised he was already hard for me, his cock straining against his fly. I smiled at the sight, moving to step toward him, but he held up a hand.
"Don't you dare move," he warned and I laughed lightly. He was always so jealous, wanting to keep me as his, but he didn't understand that he never needed to worry about me straying from him. I didn't care if the whole world saw me naked, my flesh was his.