flashes me a wicked grin. “You learn to know which laws are okay to break. Besides, it’s a bar and grill. You’ll be fine. No one is going to chase you out of there. If they try, I’ll fuck them up.”
I snort out a laugh. “Why does it get me hot when you go all alpha badass?”
“Everything I do gets you hot.”
Rolling my eyes at him, I climb out of the car and head toward the doors. Before I can open the door, he reaches past me to grab it. He pulls it open for me and then slaps my ass like the caveman he is. I shoot him a death glare and he simply smirks.
“Sit anywhere,” the guy from behind the bar says.
August grabs my hand and guides me to a high-backed booth. He ushers me onto one side before sliding in next to me. His arm wraps around me and he draws me close. I slink against him, closing my eyes and inhaling his comforting scent while he pretends to look at the menu. The bartender comes by to take our order, but I don’t pay attention to what he orders. Once we’re alone again, he kisses the top of my head.
“What did she say?” he demands.
“Stupid, untrue things.”
“Tell me, Winter.”
I let out a heavy sigh. I’m embarrassed to repeat her words.
He’ll get tired of sleeping with you and then he’ll be on to the next woman! You’re not special, sweetheart. You’re not special!
“She thinks I’m trying to destroy Callie through you. And then she warned me that I’m essentially your winter fling and you’ll soon move on to someone else.” I swallow down the bitterness burning my throat. “She said I’m not special.”
His fingers slide into my hair and he grips me tight. Gently, he tilts my head up so that I’m looking at him. “Winter, I want you to listen to me.”
I blink rapidly at him so I don’t get emotional in front of him. Again. “Okay.”
“You. Are. Fucking. Special.”
Tears leak out against my will, burning hot lines down my cheeks. He kisses the wetness on my skin and then leans his forehead against mine.
“I would never hurt Callie,” I mutter.
He pulls away and scowls. “You know this. I know this. Callie knows this. Stop letting that bitch get inside your head. Promise me you will just ignore her, babe. You’re stronger than any woman I know and you’re letting the weakest one I know get to you.” He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear. “You’re untouchable, Winter. And that’s why she can’t stand you. You’re everything she’s not.”
August
“Try it,” she huffs, holding up the suspiciously dark and hard cookie.
“Pass,” I grunt.
She rolls her eyes. “It’s good.”
I watch in amusement as she bites into the cookie and crunches loudly. It’s burnt to shit, but she’s been trying her hand at baking on her winter break. So far, she sucks.
“Tastes good, hmm?” I tease.
“Fabulous,” she lies. “You’re really missing out.”
“Did you chip a tooth?”
She flips me off. “No, asshole, it’s not that hard.”
My brows lift as I prowl over to her and pin her against the kitchen counter, my hips pressing against her. “I beg to differ. It seems pretty damn hard to me.”
“Eat my cookie and then you can eat me,” she challenges, a wicked smirk on her lips.
“You’re evil.”
She shrugs. “The cookie tastes good,” she murmurs, licking away some crumbs. “But I taste better.”
I shove the damn cookie in my mouth, my eyes burning into hers. It tastes better than her last batch and nobody dies unlike the last time when I thought I would. I call that improvement. As soon as I swallow down the last of it, I attack her throat with my teeth.
“Stop!” she yells, swatting at me. “We have that New Year’s party tonight at your firm. Do not leave hickies on me, August Miller!”
“That’s what makeup is for, baby. I’m marking what’s mine.”
“I want to make a good impression,” she whines but then tilts her head to the side to offer her sweet, pale throat to me.
I suck on her lovely flesh. “You will in that hot-as-fuck dress you bought. No one will be looking at your neck.”
She moans. “It is pretty hot.”
“Red hot, Winter. You’ll give every old man in that place an erection. Who needs Viagra when you have a sexy woman with perfect tits in a tight, slinky dress?”
“You’re disgusting,” she groans but spreads her legs when I lift her.
“You’re disgusting for liking someone