Landon eyes Hudson, waiting for him to back up.
“Look, man, I paid—”
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave now, Hudson.” Landon’s eyes burn with a brightness that has Hudson clenching his jaw.
“Yeah, sure, man,” Hudson finally replies, running his hand over the back of his neck. You can tell he’s intimidated by Landon. I can relate. The way Landon walks in a room and just instantly takes charge without having to say a word, it can be overwhelming.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I clip.
“Dance with me,” Landon insists, his eyes hooded.
“No,” I snap stubbornly, crossing my arms.
“Yes,” he commands, grabbing me by the hips and turning me to where my back is to his front. He deepens his hold on my waist and slams my backside against his groin. His cock is hard, poking me with its excitement. I glance over my shoulder at Landon. The corners of his mouth curl into a smirk, and my heart skips a beat. It’s impossible for me to stay away from him. I’ll never become immune to his charm.
He shifts his hips side to side, the smell of him filling my lungs. My body ignites, feeling the heat from Landon’s chest on my back.
I lift my arm, placing my hand on the nape of his neck, and loll my head back on his hard chest. My brown eyes exploring his emerald ones, he peers down at me. The way he looks at me, it’s as if he can see past the scars and walls I’ve put up. Like he sees the real me. Which is unnerving, because I don’t even know who I really am. He trails his fingers down my arm, the touch tickling the sensitive flesh under my arm.
I roll my hips against him, lowering myself then sliding back up, my ass teasing his already-hard length. He brushes the side of my temple with his nose, the sound of him taking a deep breath making me smirk.
“You’re incredibly sexy,” Landon rasps, his tone raw. “You only dance with me like this, Charlie. Your body is mine, for me to feel, for me to take. Mine,” he growls in my ear, pushing his hips hard into my backside. My name slips from his mouth like a prayer, and I moan in response. “I’m not usually a jealous man, but you’ve made me one.” He presses his fingers into my hips harshly. “I don’t like it,” he growls again, jerking me from my lust-filled state.
“Landon!” I open my eyes and see a pale Roman standing in front of me. He looks like he’s seen a ghost, staring at Landon with wide eyes. I grimace, not sure why Roman is looking at Landon in such a way.
“A word.” Romans lifts a brow before walking off.
The song suddenly ends, and Landon lets go of me. My body weeps for his warmth and touch. I turn and find Landon looking out at the crowd, his jaw ticking.
“Go to your room, Charlie,” he demands, his tone suddenly harsh.
“What?” I ask, shocked. “You can’t just send me to my room like some child!” I yell, not caring who hears me. Damn it, I did it again. I let myself become consumed in his charm. I’m so weak.
Landon turns, leaning down to where our faces are mere inches from each other.
“I can, and I will. Now go to your room,” he whispers seriously, his breath hot against my face.
“Fuck you,” I grit, my jaw clenched with anger, my chest lifting and rising from my harsh breathing.
“Do as you’re told, Charlie, or I will personally escort you to your room and lock you in there myself,” he threatens, his brows narrowed. I stare off into the ballroom and find Jayden with Roman.
“I will make it to where you don’t see her for a while if you don’t go peacefully,” he continues.
I close my eyes and sigh. This feeling in my chest, is it admiration or hate toward Landon? Either way, it’s painful.
“Fine,” I whisper.
I head toward a laughing Jayden and Roman. I smile at Roman and pull Jayden by her elbow toward me.
“Hey, I’m going to go to bed. I’m not feeling well,” I tell her, lying through my teeth. But if I tell her the truth, she’ll cause a scene and Landon may not let me see her again. As much as I hate this, I’m in Landon’s house, and he has the cards.
“You sick?” Jayden questions, looking me over.
“The food’s just not settling well. I’m going to go to bed.” My eyes drift to Roman, nervously brushing his hair back with his hands and adjusting his shirt. I cock a brow and grab Jayden by her elbow, pulling her into our own little circle.
“What are you doing with him?” I whisper. She looks over her shoulder and grins wildly before looking back at me with bright eyes.
“He’s perfect. Laid-back, sloppy, and sexy to boot. Plus, he really seems to be into me.”
“He’s Landon’s brother,” I inform her, letting her know the sin he’s capable of.
She smiles even wider, her cheeks flushing against her tan skin. “That must be where the confidence comes from. Blackwell.”
I shake my head. My friend is gone. She’s been love-struck. I glower toward Roman, telling him everything I can’t say out loud with my stare. A ‘you hurt her and I’ll kill you’ kind of stare.
“We’ll talk about this later.” I kiss her cheek and hug her hard before pulling away and making my way toward my prison.
NINETEEN
LANDON
My jaw is clenched so tightly, I’m nearly crushing my teeth. Seeing Hudson all over her, seeing her kiss him, it fucking unleashed a surge of jealousy. Realizing my choices, I decide I can’t do this anymore. My mother would tell me to go for Charlie if she were still here. I can still hold my promise to her. I can have the estate and Charlie, make her the madam of the estate. My father wrote the rules of not being with our escorts, but I’m in charge now.
I look over, watching Charlie explain why she’s leaving to Jayden. I hated being a prick to her and sending her to her room, but I can’t control myself around her. I feel accusing eyes stare at me from the side. Looking over, I see my father glare at me, an eyebrow arched and his arms crossed. He pats a client’s shoulder and heads my way.
“Fuck,” I whisper. I know he witnessed me sending Hudson on his way and nearly dry-fucking Charlie on the dance floor.
“Landon,” my father greets. He jerks his chin toward the patio, silently telling me to follow. I blow out a breath of annoyance and do as requested. Stepping outside, I hear the bugs of the night singing, and the heat instantly makes me sweat. “Why did Hudson leave, and where is Charlie going?” he questions, digging a hand in his pocket.
I swallow hard, not sure if I should tell him the truth.
“I don’t like the way you look at that girl. You know the rules. No sleeping with the girls. She needs to go,” he states sternly.
My head whips in his direction. “That is for me to decide,” I inform him. “And why aren’t we allowed to be with the girls again? Oh, that’s right—”
“This is my estate. I worked hard for it, and I will not watch it burn to the ground over some whore!” he yells, blood vessels protruding on his forehead. I grind my teeth, infuriated that he called Charlie a whore.
“You worked hard for it? What exactly did you do?” I roar back, stepping up to him. He opens his mouth to speak but shuts it quickly.
“You were just given the throne. Your father didn’t even test if you were worthy. Daddy’s little boy,” I sneer.
“Have you been drinking, Landon?” He tries to change the subject.
“But me, what did I do? What did I have to do to show I was worthy?” My hands are clenched with anger.
“I needed to know that—”
“That what? I was as fucked-up as you were?” I interrupt. His eyes go wide, and his chest lifts with a heavy breath.
“What is going on out here? Everyone can hear everything you two are saying,” Roman explains, walking outside, Jayden by his side.
“Party’s over,” I clip, pushing past my father. This, right here, between my father and I, couldn’t have made things clearer for me.