Lusting after you.

Natasha’s POV

I watched as the man walked away, his elegance astonishing, yet annoying. The fact that he couldn’t even bother to peek back at me made my blood boil. 

“And he is currently…” my father continued to ramble on. While I nodded my head, my mind was far away from whatever it was that the man was saying.

All I wanted was to run after Mr. ‘Wilde and unbothered’, so I could ask him why he suddenly decided that I was a beast that he didn’t want to be caught in her clutches. 

“Is that clear?” My father asked, tapping me lightly on the shoulder. 

I gasped softly, my body reacting to the shock of being struck, but I quickly regained my composure. “Yes,” I answered, even though I didn’t know what I was answering the yes to. My eyes darted across the room, still searching for that elusive lost man. I soon found him making his way out to the foyer. 

I turned quickly to face my father. “If that will be all?” I asked. My gaze searched back to the corner again, trying to be sure my target went in the right direction. 

“Okay?” The man was obviously confused about my new trait. 

I didn’t wait for anything else he might want to say. Instead, I raced in the direction, only stopping briefly to grab a drink from the tray of a waiter who was walking about, ready to serve anyone who needed him. 

“Thank you,” I said to him even as I was half-running and half-walking away. 

I stepped into the foyer and looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the man who brought me there. The place was empty, except for the few flowers scattered around to give the place some serenity and peace. 

“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath. I downed half of the content of the glass in my hand. My throat burned and my eyes watered as I forced the content down. I took the glass close to my nose and inhaled. I cursed silently the moment the alcohol assaulted my sense of smell. 

What a great day for me. 

I found someone who made me wet my pants with just a look, but suddenly was racing away from me. And then I am now turning myself into an alcoholic. 

Just perfect. 

I turned, ready to go back inside and force myself to smile while socializing with people I would rather blog scandals about. 

And there he was… standing in all his glory… his eyes eating me up, slowly and blatantly. 

A pulse of energy shot into my fingers and up my arms, making the glass in my hand tremble. I licked my lower lips, trying to quell the nerves churning my stomach. His eyes moved slowly up until they settled on mine. I couldn’t tear my gaze away. I went weak in the knees, traitorous warmth invading my body. I ran my tongue over my suddenly dry lips. 

That broke the spell. 

Dougal Wilde hissed as he inched closer to me. “I take it that you like playing with fire, Miss Natasha?” His voice was cracked. 

“Only if it’s you trying to burn me,” I teased. I licked my lips in a nervous gesture that—inexcusably—turned him on. The bulge in his trousers was the testament to that. 

He closed his eyes, breathing in and out every few seconds. By the time he opened them, irritation sparkled in them—just like when my father had introduced me to him. 

“I am sorry, Miss Natasha, but whatever game you are trying to play, I do not wish to be a party to it.” He stage-whispered. The naked hostility in his expression could not be missed. 

My polite facade tilted. 

Games? He thought we were playing games? Was that what he has been doing to me since we met?

“Good you pointed it out,” I breathed, trying to be icy. And failing. My body betrayed the emotions I was trying to keep at bay. I still wanted him despite his coldness toward me. 

What was wrong with me? Why was I acting like I have never been with a man before?

I needed to douse this flame of attraction. 

“I am sorry,” I muttered. I stole one last glance at him. “For crossing the limit.”

For a moment, he looked utterly exposed, a stark expression building in his eyes. He shook his head and moved an inch closer to me. 

“Do you know who I am?” He asked. 

I shook my head. 

“Didn't your father warn you about me?” He asked again. 

Again, I shook my head. Why would my father warn me about him?

“Why should he? Are you a killer?” The questions rushed out before I could stop them. 

He faked a crestfallen look. “Of all things?” He chuckled, lighting the tension in the air. Then, he turned serious again. “I am not the kind of man you should want to be involved in.” He said, staring at me. He sighed before continuing. 

“How old are you?” He asked. 

“22,” I said proudly. 

“I am 40.” He let out the bombshell. 

I opened my mouth to say something but no words came out. I blinked rapidly, trying to see if I was dreaming but the man didn’t disappear from my vision. I waited fir a few seconds, expecting him to laugh, letting me know tgat he was onl6 prancing me all along.

“H-how?” I muttered. He didn’t look to be a day over 28. How could he look so young? 

“And I am married.” He said calmly. 

That was what broke the camel’s back for me. I let out a gasp and moved a step backward, and then another, and then another. Disbelieve clouded me. 

“M-married?” My body raked with shock as I waited for him to refute his words. No sound came from him. Instead, he just kept staring at me, almost as if he was daring me. I shook my head vehemently as I kept moving back from him. 

“Just as I thought,” Dougal hissed at me when I took another step backward. 

I didn’t care. I turned and took to my heels. The glass of alcohol in my hand spilled as I raced away. There was no way I would be getting myself involved with a man who was almost the same age as my father.