The Four Leaf

by Lee Jacquot

“No one touches you, Bambi. Not without your consent.” Adrian nods to Willow, who smiles and starts making what I assume is his regular drink. He turns to the side and places one forearm on the bar and the other hand on the back of my chair. His hazel eyes burn a trail up my frame until he reaches my face, to which he grins. “And I’m the only one who gets to massage your feet.”

“Why’d you run from me, Sam?” I suck in a breath, but it’s too thin, forcing me to clear my throat. He’s near my ear now, his warm breath tickling the fine hairs on top. I’m grateful he can’t see my mouth open and close twice before I find the right words. “I wasn’t meant to see that. It was an invasion of a very private moment.” I can hear the grin on his face as he speaks. “If you weren’t meant to see it, don’t you think I would have stopped?”

“I need you to know something, Bambi. I’ve waited a long time for this. I won’t be sweet, soft, or anything remotely close to gentle. This will be years of pent-up desire, unleashed in a way that will leave you a fucking mess. Are you sure this is what you want?”

I want something to take my breath away. I want him to devour me whole and leave me curled up like a dead little spider.

“I found you, Bambi,” he growls, his eyes burning into me. “And I keep what I catch.” “Like finders keepers?” I breathe, my heart singing from what his words imply. Though his gaze remains deadly, his lips twitch, a hint of a grin playing at the edges. “Yes. You’re mine now, Samantha.”

“You’re so fucking gorgeous, and I…” he trails off, falling to his knees. “Am fucking starving.”