Chapter 41 He Was Jealous
Lucian's POV
The moment Briar disappeared through the archway leading to the restrooms, the remaining guests had given up all pretense of conversation and were staring down at their dessert plates with intense focus.
Julian leaned back in his chair, one hand coming up to wipe at the corner of his mouth where he'd kissed Briar's collarbone, the gesture slow and deliberate. He caught me watching and his lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "You're practically vibrating with rage. Does it kill you, knowing she's mine?"
I set my wine glass down and said ironically, "Yours?" The word came out flat and cold. "That's an interesting way to describe someone you have to blackmail into staying with you."
Julian's smile didn't waver but something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "She stays because she wants to. Because she knows where she belongs."
"She stays because you've given her no other choice." I leaned forward slightly, my voice dropping even lower. "But that's about to change. You can feel it slipping away from you, the control you think you have over her. That's why you're so desperate to mark your territory in public."
For a moment I thought he might actually lose control completely, might shift right there in the middle of the wine tasting. His hand curled into a fist on the table, his breathing going shallow and rapid, and I could see the muscles in his jaw working as he fought to contain whatever violence was building inside him.
Then he stood abruptly, his chair scraping back with a harsh sound that made everyone in the immediate vicinity flinch. "James," he called out, and his assistant materialized from somewhere near the entrance, "we're leaving."
He didn't wait for a response, just turned and walked toward the exit with long strides, his shoulders rigid with barely contained fury. I watched him go and felt something dark and satisfied curl through my chest.
I stayed in my seat, reaching for the wine bottle again and finding it finally, completely empty. The sommelier appeared at my elbow with a fresh one before I could signal.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to find a message from Kai lighting up the screen: [DID YOU SERIOUSLY SIGN "BRIAR VANCE" ON THE WESTBROOK MERGER DOCS??? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU???]
I stared at the message for a long moment, my alcohol-fogged brain trying to remember when exactly I'd done that, and came up blank.
Kai: [This is ridiculous. I'm sending them back for correction but seriously, Lucian, get it together.]
I typed out a response: [Just made a mistake. Wasn't paying attention.]
Kai: [You NEVER make mistakes like this. What's going on with you?]
Instead of answering, I switched to a new message: [Do a full investment due diligence on Vance Botanicals. I want everything.]
The reply came back almost immediately. [Are you INSANE? You want to invest in HER company?]
I didn't respond, just locked my phone and slipped it back into my pocket. Reginald was making his way toward me through the scattered tables, and I forced myself to straighten up and arrange my face into something approaching professional interest.
"That was quite the show," Reginald said when he reached me. "I haven't seen Julian that worked up in years."
We talked for a few more minutes about nothing importan. I nodded in the right places and made appropriate comments, but my attention kept drifting toward the archway where Briar had disappeared.
I stood up, the room tilting slightly before settling back into place, and nodded to Reginald. "Excuse me."
I made my way through the thinning crowd toward the restrooms.
---
Briar's POV
I took my time washing my hands, letting the cold water run over my wrists longer than necessary, trying to calm my racing pulse. The restroom was empty except for me, and I stared at my reflection in the ornate mirror and barely recognized the woman looking back.
My lipstick was smudged slightly at the corner, probably from when Julian had grabbed me, and there was a faint red mark on my collarbone where his mouth had pressed too hard. I wiped at the lipstick with a damp paper towel and tried not to think about the way Lucian's eyes had gone molten gold when he'd seen Julian kiss me.
I dried my hands and smoothed down my dress, checking my reflection one more time before pulling open the heavy door and stepping out into the corridor. The flickering light from the fake torches made shadows dance along the walls, and it took my eyes a moment to adjust.
That's when I saw him.
Lucian was leaning against the opposite wall, half-hidden in the alcove between two of the sconces, his tall frame unmistakable even in the dim light. My heart did something complicated in my chest and I forced myself to keep walking as if I hadn't seen him at all.
I gathered my skirt slightly and moved past him with quick steps, my eyes fixed on the archway at the end of the corridor. I could feel Lucian's gaze on me, heavy and intent, but I kept my face carefully neutral.
I'd made it maybe three steps when I felt his fingers hook into the silk ribbon tied at my back, the one that secured the bow holding the entire back of my dress together. The gentle tug stopped me in my tracks, and I turned my head slightly to look at him over my shoulder. "Let go."
"Julian's definitely waiting for you at the door," Lucian said, his voice low and rough with alcohol, and I could smell the wine on his breath as he moved closer.
"Then you should let me go." I tried to pull away but his grip on the ribbon tightened.
He moved then, faster than I could react, crowding me back against the wall with his body, one hand still tangled in the silk at my back while the other braced against the stone beside my head. The position trapped me completely, his face close enough that I could see the gold still flickering in his eyes.
"Lucian—" I started, but whatever I'd been about to say died in my throat as his hand slid up from the ribbon, his fingers tracing the curve of my waist with deliberate slowness, following the line of my ribs in a way that was almost reverent.
I gasped, my hands coming up to push against his chest, but he was already moving, his fingers finding the knot at my back and pulling sharply.
The silk gave way with a soft tearing sound and I felt the ribbon come loose, the bow that had been holding the back of my dress together unraveling completely. Cool air hit my exposed skin and I made a small sound of protest, pushing harder against him, but he just caught the last remaining ribbon in his hand.
"You want to go?" His voice was rough, and he lowered his head until his lips were nearly brushing my ear, his fingers wrapping around the silk. "Still want to run back to him?"
"You're drunk," I managed, my voice shaking, and I felt him smile against my temple.
"Are you going to leave?" He tugged gently on the ribbon, not hard enough to tear it but enough to make me acutely aware of how little was holding my dress together.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared up at him, seeing something raw and desperate in his eyes. He was jealous, actually jealous, and the knowledge sent a thrill through me that I had no business feeling. This wasn't just some game or manipulation, he actually felt something for me, something real enough to make him lose control like this.
But then why had he rejected me? Why push me away if he wanted me? Was this just some kind of power play, some male ego thing where he needed to prove he could have me even if he didn't actually want anything real?
"You're insane," I said, forcing the words out past the confusion swirling in my head, and pushed against his chest with both hands, hard enough to create some space between us. "I don't know what game you're playing but I'm not interested. The ribbon's broken, so what? I can still walk out."
I tried to move past him but he caught my shoulder, spinning me back. Before I could protest, he lowered his head to my collarbone and pressed his mouth against my skin with possessive force. His teeth scraped lightly, sending heat flooding through me.
I froze, shock overriding thought. My hands braced against his chest but no longer pushed. The rational part of my brain screamed to pull away, but my body refused to listen as he marked me, a small ache spreading where his mouth claimed my skin.