Continued...
My hand flew before I could stop it, palm meeting his cheek with a resounding crack.
I can think of the consequences of getting physical in a verbal fight later.
Right now the satisfying burn in my palm from smacking him right across the face was reminding me that he wont be getting this close to me and insulting me without worrying for his face ever again.
The room seemed to hold its breath. My chest heaved, my nails biting into my palms. By now there has been a gathering of quite a few on-lookers at the bathroom door.
My eyes burned, but I refused to let the tears fall. I wouldn't give him that satisfaction.
Not now. Not ever. I may have gotten slightly even with him on this one, it still doesn't change the fact that he treated me lowly and his words stung me.
Rome's head remained turned to the side, his expression unreadable. His jaw tightened, his hands twitching at his sides.
For a moment panic rose in my guts as I thought he was gonna strike back with the way his hands were shaking in pure fury.
But then a slow, dangerous chuckle rumbled from his throat before he finally turned back to face me.
His gaze was unreadable, burning with something I couldn't decipher. Or maybe I can: with the thoughts of putting me through a meat grinder- which he probably doesn't even need, he does the grinding with his teeth just as well enough.
When he didn't react as violently as I had imagined he would. I played my hand further.
"Not everyone's a sorry-ass gigolo like you," I bit out, my voice hoarse with barely restrained emotion.
And then I turned on my heel and walked away—no, speed walked—before I could catch whatever reaction flickered through those piercing whitish-blue eyes of his.
I didn't stop until I was outside, shoving past bodies and ignoring the curious glances thrown my way.
My lungs burned, my vision blurred, and my heart pounded so violently I thought it might burst right out of my chest.
Why? Why the hell did this affect me so much?
He was nothing but a pestering stranger—an arrogant, insufferable bastard who had no right to get under my skin.
Yet, my soul burned with a rage I couldn't explain.
A hand landed on my shoulder, and I flinched, spinning around.
Leo.
His face softened when he saw the state I was in, his brows knitting together in concern. "Rose—"
Warmth engulfed me as Leo pulled me against his chest, his arms tightening protectively around me.
I didn't hug him back. I couldn't. My arms remained limp at my sides, my hands still trembling from the encounter.
Part from still being so angry I could go back in there and shove my fist down his throat and say 'You enjoy things down your throat so much huh, so take my fist you asshole!'.
And part from- well part from feeling utterly humiliated.
No one had ever spoken to me like that before. No one had ever looked at me the way Dracken did—as if he wanted to break me into pieces and devour the remains.
His words replayed in my mind like a cruel echo, slicing through me like a blade.
Some people were bad. Others were worse.
But Rome Dracken?
He was something else entirely. He was pure fucking evil.