Playing Favorites

ROXANNE'S P.O.V

I turned slowly to Florian. My hair fell on both sides of my face, so I was hoping he wouldn't see the glances I was stealing. His eyes were focused fully on the road, his hand, adorned with two rings, rested between his thigh and mine.

His other hand navigated the steering wheel, his hair falling prettily on his face. I held my breath as my eyes took him in. I remembered just how I had always seen him at least one tier above every other man around. He was that beautiful. He had the stainless charisma that turned girls his way.

That's how I knew I didn't have a chance.

I shook my head and turned, my knees trembling a little as if to remind me of the very thing I didn't want to be reminded of. I wasn't even completely sure how it had happened, but I knew I wouldn't forget it.

I had never expected that I had been waiting so long despite all the times I had come close, only to finally be taken by Florian. Florian. That one man I never thought I would ever be good enough for.

"Are you looking at me because you are surprised I let myself be used or because you are wondering if you can pull it again?"

I froze at his voice, my eyes immediately leaving his face and landing on my feet.

For a while, I didn't say anything, and he didn't bother to. He just let his eyes dart between my face and the road, and every time I felt him turn to me, I felt my heart immediately race.

"I...." I trailed off, my chest heaving. "What do you want? An apology?"

He turned briefly, his eyes meeting mine in an electrifying gaze. "Will you really give me what I want?"

"Florian..."

"More," he said, the car slowing down as we took a turn to the penthouse. My chest was heaving with the anticipation of what would happen in there, what my mum, what my dad, what everyone would say, and my heart was thumping with what Florian was asking of me.

If, for the first time in my life, I would allow myself to really state what I want, I know last night would be on the very top of it. Him above me, his heat, his body, the contrast of his skin, and the tattoo that went on the left side of his chest, the veins in his hands as they roamed down my body...

I shook my head and turned away. Not Florian. But why? I am not sure. Just not Florian. It just can't be Florian.

"I know you too much, Roxanne. You want more, too. You don't want to go in there and pledge loyalty to a lesser man."

I met Florian's eyes, and he gave a small smile as the car slowly came to a stop. I felt my heart keeping me bound to the chair, so that even when he leaned to slowly run the back of his right hand against my face, all I could do was close my eyes and feel the tremors taking over my mind.

His fingers gently moved and took my chin between his index and thumb, and he leaned forward, till I could feel the tip of his nose brushing mine.

"You have always been my favourite little princess, Rox. For you, I can be generous enough to offer myself to be used twice."

My eyes lifted to his, my lashes brushing his from how close he was to me. His eyes carried darkness that made me feel like despite his words about being used, despite his words about putting me in control, he really was the one who held the strings, and I was a marionette in his hands.

I bit down on my lips, and he moved his thumb to press down on the small part of my lips remaining under my teeth.

I leaned a bit forward, purely guided by forces stronger than my rationality. His fingers snaked up my back till he was cupping the nape of my neck, putting me in a position that offered more of me than I would ever be able to give on my own.

"You know you crave this too. You know you don't want to tell me to stop. You know you want to find out how much farther we can go. How nasty I can get when I am not considering that some bastard dared to hurt you."

"I... I need to go."

He gave a small chuckle. "Sure. My offer stays open."

Something about his tone made me feel like I would be running right back to him in no time.

"Roxanne!" Came a sudden yell.

I turned, my lips parting in a gasp. Damien was standing in the front porch, dressed up in his suit, his eyes wide.

"Damien?" I said, my voice low.

But it wasn't just him. My mother was standing there too, and she was hardly keeping herself together. My father was holding on to her as she broke down into tears, while my father glared daggers through the glass.

"Looks like you are in a pickle, Roxanne."

I turned to Florian, and he had a small one-sided smile, his eyes thin. He was still so close, his breath fanning my face, his heat warming me up in more ways than one.

"Florian!" Came my brother's voice, and he pushed through the front porch and started to stomp down towards Florian's parked car.

I immediately forced myself away and got out, running to stop my brother from hurting Florian.

"Stop!" I yelled, my hands open on either side of me, my hair dishevelled both from last night, and this sudden jog too.

"What the hell, Roxanne? How fucking dare you?!" Damien had come down now to join my brother, and I could hardly get a word out.

"Roxanne. Tell me. Did you fuck him?"

"How can you even ask me that? You..."

"Did you fuck him?!" Damien yelled, pushing my brother so he was facing me squarely.

I swallowed hard, meeting his eyes. He cheated first. He had no right to treat me like a slut.

"Yes," I breathed, my chest heaving. "I fucked him. And?"

His eyes widened and reddened, and suddenly, he raised his hand, a small yell leaving his lips. I closed my eyes, my chest heaving, but the impact of Damien's anger never came.

I opened my eyes, and Florian was holding his hand mid-air, his height towering above Damien. Slowly, he held my hand with his free hand and pulled me behind him, shielding me with his body.

"Dare hurt her in my presence, and I will fucking end you."