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"Seth" I say, giving hiet me the fuck out of here’ expression He nods his head and shuffles toward s her asp What the fuck? Are strippers even allowed to do that? How ive her? Instinctively, I shoot out from underneath her and my hands fly up to cover my mouth She smiles innocently up at me and Jackson and the rest of the tea with it as o ho voice chuckles fro htly I whipDon’s bald head and scruffy jaw "That was quite the shoouldn’tanother"

Seth jumps to his feet and the rest of the team follow him Vivian smiles sweetly and takes her leave Seth’s stare flickers fro in a low tone to Seth, but he doesn’t look like he’s listening to a word he’s saying He’s seething I can see his jaork and clench, his fingers flex at his sides and his chest rises and falls in deep pants I try to step forward, but Don increases his grip, li my moveirl go"

Don chuckles and I don’t think he gives a shit about the tournaet back at Seth Nor me and I’m able to slip away before he does but today is different and I’ stupid His thick finger flicks hair over my shoulder and I flinch away from his touch "She’s a little tiht I’hten her out for you"

Seth starts forward, but Jackson and Darryl stop hi blood

"You heard your teao, this is between you and ainst lance around the club, a few people are watching, but they’re intrigued not frightened or worried They want to see soain and Don’s hand claes forward, dragging a useless Darryl and Jackson behind him Don shoves me aside and I fall toward the floor The hip he had a hold on sla I push myself up on my elbow and watch Seth’s closed fist connect with the side of Don’s face Strippers begin to squeal and call for security as Don and Seth exchange punches blow for blow, their teams powerless to stop the two beasts Soon, everyone is in on it--tea each other senseless My nerves are electrified andblood around my veins I become dizzy with adrenaline and fear This is it Seth is out of the corunting and screa

Tears threaten ain

The security guards are on the them off each other Seth’s eyes lock with mine and when I see his face, tears pour over the bri blood down his cheek

"Seth, Go!" Darryl shouts "I’ll handle everything here"

Seth stor y in the world I wrap my arms around his neck and it’s damp with sweat

"I’ainst him and I squeeze my eyes shut Soon, the busy noise of the street and the cool night air coax s Seth’s car around and they stare at us, but aren’t brave enough to ask questions Seth sits er seat and shuts the door with a sla me He cli the whole way back to the hotel I have no idea what’s going through his head and I want to pry, but respectively remain silent We pull into the hotel and he jumps from the car and storms around to my side He pulls the door open and scoopsme into the lobby I feel silly because I a Other residents try not to stare while sonores them all When we’re safe in our rooently and I nod my head

Seth paces in front of me He can’t breathe He doesn’t wantshallowly and his face is strained, almost desperate He scoops up an ornaainst the wall in the living room I jump as the porcelain shatters into hundreds of pieces and he turns back to hts

"Go to bed" He orders

I take a step back "But you’re not--"

"Fuck! I said go to bed!" He snaps, running his finger ih his hair

His eyes are dark, the darkest I’ve ever seen them and my heart cracks painfully in my chest He’sup the clear, glass stairs toaround the quiet hotel roo et so shitty? I know I should have stayed here in the hotel roo to, but Seth insisted I keep him co, listening to Seth ss and yell at people on the phone I feel asleep When I open ht is filtering through the cracks I slide off the bed and wobble unsteadily in rasp the door handle and open it slowly Hopefully Seth has calmed down and wants my company Like earlier, my heels click and clack down the staircase I can’t see Seth anywhere and I can’t hear him either At the bottom of the stairs, there’s a scattered pile of porcelain I turn up the short hallway and open the cleaning cupboard in search of a dustpan and brush Glass in your feet is not a good tilass into the pan as I can The floor being a lush, white carpet doesn’t make it any easier

"You don’t have to clean up after me" His calm voice startles me, but I don’t turn around to look at hiain

"I want to" I reply, running ot o of a calm, controlled breath and I have no choice but to turn around Slowly, I straighten aze falls over Seth’s perfect, topless appearance His expression is unreadable and he swishes a glass in his hand The ice clinks against the glass filling the uncomfortable silence I walk past him and into the oversized kitchen I pull open the drawer under the sink and tip the shards of porcelain into the bin

Seth sits the now elass on the breakfast bar in the middle of the kitchen I look at him and close the drawer He still has dry blood on his face and I want to tend to hi him knoant to come to him He nods his head and I practically run to hi my face into his shoulder

"I’ain

"Hey," he takesme to look up at his face "This isn’t your fault You didn’t do anything This is allmy head If I hadn’t freaked out and practically sprinted froiven Don a chance to grab ers around my wrist and I follow him up the stairs to our bedroo behind hiing the dark room to life Seth’s hands wrap around my waist and he lifts me to sit me on the bathroom counter I watch his face and he doesn’t talk while his hands rub my ankles and slip ers under the he them to the floor My heartbeat speeds up, like it always does when he touchesit up over my head My bra is the last piece of fabric to fall from my body and when I turn back around to face him, his eyes drink me in, unable to hide the flash of desire in his eyes Then they narrow in on lance down It’s rabbed me and where I fell