But his hatred for me is everlasting. He can’t let go of the past. So how am I supposed to get on his good side and keep Stella happy when he won’t even look in my direction.
I clench my fists under the table. I wish I could just throw him aside and be done with it. I could carry Stella off into the sunset and forget all about him. But even as my possessive need flows through my veins, I know I’m going to have to do this the hard way.
As the wine arrives, I pick up my glass, ready for an impromptu toast.
“Well...here’s to old friends finding one another again,” I growl. I’m not sure I sound sincere, but at least I’m trying. “And cheers to meeting new people along the way. Here’s a toast to good fortune, good company...and finding love in the most unexpected places.”
Stella blushes. She knows that part was for her. I think Sam knows it too. He practically has steam coming out of his ears and he doesn’t even bother raising his glass, diving straight in with his glass of red. Looks like I screwed up that speech a little. I just want Stella to know how I feel about her. After all, this isn’t just some crush. The things I’m feeling for her could drive a man to insanity. I love her, even if I haven’t told her directly. Part of me is worried that this is the only chance I’ll get to let her know. If her father keeps me from seeing her, then I might lose her forever. We found each other here by utter chance, but I’m not sure that kind of luck will come my way twice.
But there’s still time. I have tonight to make my move. I’ll find her in her hotel room if I have to. I’ll throw her down on the silky sheets here and make passionate love to her all night long. It’s crazy that I’m in love with a girl I only met yesterday, but stranger things have happened. And I’m not going to let this feeling go for anything.
I force myself to focus on getting through dinner. It’s like Stella is the prize for getting through this meal without any disasters. And even though it’s nearly impossible to stop myself from flirting with her, or even looking at her with overwhelming lust, I keep to it. I ask Sam questions about his life and he reluctantly answers, though he doesn’t try to ask me about myself again. In some ways, it’s good to hear that he’s doing well, but things are still so sour between us. He knows what I want from his daughter, I can tell. I want what he doesn’t want me to have, so how can I even consider being his friend again, really? We’re destined to be on warring sides forever.
Dinner ends without disaster. I can tell I’m not the only one desperate to leave the table. Stella rises from her seat first, glancing in my direction with lust in her eyes. It seems like an invitation. She wants me to follow her upstairs.
“Goodnight to you both,” she says, even as she continues looking at me. “Maybe you two should spend a little more time together. It’s been so long since you saw one another.”
I grit my teeth. She wants me to play nice with Sam. Well, if that’s what it takes to make her happy, I’ll do it. She walks away without another word and I prepare myself for another round of stiff conversation. I tell myself it’ll be worth it for when I follow Stella upstairs. I open my mouth to speak, but Sam leans across the table.
“Stop. You don’t have to keep up this stupid game anymore,” he hisses. “I don’t know what the hell you’re up to or why you keep trying to make nice with me, but stay the hell away from my daughter. I saw the way you looked at her, she’s not yours to have Jaxson and she never will be. She’ll find someone good enough for her in time. But newsflash, it isn’t you.”
I can feel fury rising inside me, but I don’t take the bait. He wants me to be the one to start something. But his little outburst has given me nothing, but further drive to go after what I want. I’ll never get his approval so I’m not going to chase it anymore. I tried. If he doesn’t want me to have Stella, then that’s his problem, not mine.
Because now that I’ve set my sights on her, there’s no chance I’m letting her slip away.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Stella
Waiting for Jaxson to show up after dinner is a new form of torture I’ve never before experienced. On one hand, I want him to get along with my dad downstairs, paving the way to a happy future between us.
And on the other hand, I want him here, right now, ready to rip my clothes off.
I pace the room, feeling anxious. I want him to make love to me so badly, but maybe he won’t even show up. I know it’s going to be a complicated relationship if we decide to go for it, but isn’t it worth it? I’ve never known chemistry like this. It’s the kind of thing you see in movies and read about in books. It always seemed unattainable to me until now, but now that I’ve felt it, I never want to let it go. If I do, I’m scared I’ll never feel it again.
I’ll find a way to make it work and keep my dad happy. I’ll find a way to please everyone. But for now, the only pleasure I want to focus on is mine and Jaxson’s. I want him here, for him to hold me in his arms, so we can explore the fantasies
