Chapter 20 Hold Me
"This man put something in your drink!" The words sounded like a blur in Grace's ears, her breath coming fast and uneven.
Who were they referring to? What man? Surely, they didn’t mean Maddox?
"No," she said, her voice cracking. "You're lying!"
The woman didn’t meet her gaze, eyes too focused on Maddox. "Then let him drink it."
Silence dropped between them, Grace could feel many pairs of eyes watching now.
Maddox's shoulders sagged as the woman grabbed my glass and stretched it. He did not reach for the glass and said nothing to deny the accusation or defend himself. He only shook his head once, slowly, using one hand to block it from reaching his lips.
Grace looked at him, "Go on, tell her it isn't true," her eyes were pleading.
He didn’t reply, couldn’t even look her in the eye.
“Mad? Hey, Maddox!”
"I'm sorry," he finally blurted out.
Grace felt the room tilt.
"Sorry for what?" she asked. "Why would you even say that? She's lying just say she is, I promise I'll believe you."
He swallowed, jaw tightening. "I'm really sorry, Grace..."
Grace rose abruptly and staggered a step back, "What?"
"Your father said it was the only way."
Her chest seized.
"What way?" she whispered.
Maddox looked away. "Vance wants you pregnant."
The words landed like a slap.
Grace staggered back again, her hand knocking against the glass that sat on the bar causing it to fall and shatter. The woman reached for her but Grace was already turning, already running.
"Grace!" Maddox called.
Hands immediately grabbed him. Voices rose as someone cursed him, and someone else shoved him hard enough that he stumbled.
And the next thing he felt was a fist, slamming hard into the side of his face.
"Get away from her, you sick bastard."
Maddox fought the instinct to tear them apart. His muscles burned with restraint. He could feel it under his skin, the pull, the rage, the wolf screaming to chase her.
But he didn't, he let the hands slap and toss him about as he felt he deserved it.
Grace burst through the bar doors, tears blinding her as she ran into the lobby.
Everything hurt.
Her chest. Her head. Her heart.
To think that the one person in the world she trusted the most would try to drug her into sleeping with Vance. Into losing her virginity to that sick bastard.
She didn't see where she was going until she slammed into something solid.
"Oh my God, I'm so—"
She wiped the tears away from her eyes.
The man she had collided with stood tall and still, dressed in a dark suit that looked like it had been tailored onto him. Two older men flanked him, mid-conversation, now silent.
Grace looked up.
Enzo.
Her breath hitched. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up, something in her chest twisted sharp and hot. The air around him smelled different, it was sweet and almost heavy. Like sugar and musk.
She took a step back.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, already turning away and hoping he didn’t recognise her..
Enzo's hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist.
The moment he touched her, something snapped into place. Her scent hit him like a punch, Candy. That was the only word to describe it.
His eyes widened in disbelief. To think that this woman of all people was his mate..
"Wait," he said.
His escorts moved immediately. "Sir, she's a stranger—"
"No further," Enzo ordered.
They hesitated, then stepped back.
Grace's pulse roared in her ears, knowing she should pull away or scream. She should do anything except stand there staring at him like he was the only real person in the building.
"Where are you going?" Enzo asked.
Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
"What happened?" he pressed.
Her lips trembled causing fresh tears to spill over.
"I... I can't..." she whispered.
She didn't understand what she was feeling, only that it was sudden and overwhelming and terrifying. Her body leaned into his without permission, and she suddenly felt a crazy longing towards this man, wanting to be held and comforted.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his jacket as she needed him to stay upright.
Enzo stiffened.
Then her hands came up to his face.
The lobby disappeared.
Her tears smeared against his skin as she pressed her mouth to his, desperate and clumsy and full of pain. The sound she made was broken, raw.
The escorts swore.
Enzo inhaled sharply, his grip tightened. The bond roared to life, loud and undeniable.
"Cancel the meeting," he said without looking away from her. "Postpone everything."
"Sir—"
"Now." He interrupted.
They obeyed.
Enzo scooped Grace up before she could slip to the floor. Her arms clung around his neck instinctively, she felt her skin was burning and she was sweating so much, her breath coming in short gasps.
"Enzo," she whispered, not even knowing why she said his name.
He carried her down the hallway, past doors and soft lighting, his jaw clenched tight.
"It shouldn't be you," he muttered. "Of all people..."
She barely heard him.
Her head lolled against his shoulder, everything felt too much, it was too loud, too hot, and her thoughts tangled. All she knew was that she didn't want to be alone and she didn't want to go back.
And, she would rather give her virginity away to someone who wasn't named Vance.
Enzo kicked the door to his suite open and set her down inside the room, closing it behind them.
Grace swayed, Enzo caught her before she fell.
"Easy," he said.
Her fingers fisted in his shirt. He saw how hot her face seemed and he swallowed hard, trying not to want her.
"Please," she whispered. "Don't let me go."
He stilled.
"You don't know what you're asking," he said.
"I don't care," she said, tears streaking her cheeks. "I just know I want you, I don't want to feel any of these problems right now."
Her hands slid higher.
Enzo sucked in a breath through his teeth.
"Damn," he murmured. "I didn't know you wanted me this badly."
Her response was desperate, wordless. Her body pressed closer, heat bleeding through fabric.
He hesitated.
Then he lifted her again and laid her gently on the bed.
Immediately, Grace latched onto him and began kissing him, it was sloppy but she didn't care.
Enzo chuckled, "Have a little patience, princess." He raised his head from her and pulled his tie, Grace followed, whining when she didn't feel his lips anymore she tugged at his shirt effectively popping a few buttons to the amusement of Enzo. He watched her scramble to get his shirt off whilst trying to contain his own desires.
Her desperate whimpering was enough to push him over the edge and with a swift motion lifted her and made her straddle him as he knelt over the bed.
Grace looked so innocent as she stared at him with wide pleading eyes and a school uniform in complete disarray.
And without another word, he swooped down, capturing her mouth with his.