Violet slips out of the closet and walks away, never turning to look at me once.

I guess I deserve that.

Sticking my head out, I see the coast is clear and I exit the closet, shutting the door quietly behind me. I start toward where the party is being held, planning to check in real quick before I leave for the night, when I hear a throat clearing behind me.

And I turn to find Zachary Lawrence, the pompous asshole himself, standing there as if he was waiting for me.

“What the fuck do you want?” I ask, my tone ugly, my body tensing for a fight. Memories come back at me, one after another. I flash back to when I was a teenager and got jumped by punks that lived in my neighborhood, always looking for money, whatever I had that they could sell to score drugs. When I got older, I became the one who dealt drugs and they quit trying to beat the shit out of me—they bought from me instead.

Dad was gone. Mom didn’t exist. I was on my own at fifteen. I’ve dealt with plenty of drug-addicted assholes in my life who were full of adrenaline and knew how to fight. I could take on Lawrence, no problem.

“Leave Violet alone,” he says through clenched teeth.

“She doesn’t belong to you.” I stride toward him, ready to shove my fist into his smug face, but I restrain myself.

“Yes. She does. I don’t care what you two are doing—she’s still mine.” The heavy emphasis on the word mine makes me see red. But I refuse to lose my cool in front of this man. My enemy.

“Right. That’s why she came all over my fingers not even five minutes ago,” I say, feeling like a shit for taking it so low, but damn it. Just looking at him pisses me off.

His gaze narrows and his jaw tightens. Good. He should be pissed. I want him pissed. “She was in the closet with you.” It’s not a question.

I consider letting him smell my fingers, the ones still faintly sticky with Violet’s come, but I don’t. Instead I clutch them into a fist and bring it to my mouth, breathing deep. I can smell her, remember the way she came so easily just moments before. “Yeah. And I got her off, which is more than she can say about you.”

His eyes flare with anger. Good. I’m ready to goad him some more. “You’re just using her.”

“And you weren’t?”

Lawrence clenches his hands into fists, as if he wants to drive one of them into my face. I stand my ground, never backing down, wishing he would try and touch me. I’d beat the shit out of him.

And I think he knows it.

“She wouldn’t slum with a piece of shit like you,” he practically spits out.

“Oh yeah? I’ll remember that the next time I go down on her in my office.” I smile when he growls.

“I could make your life a living hell, you know,” he says, sounding smug. “One call to Forrest Fowler and I can have you fired.”

“Go for it,” I say, hoping he hears the warning in my voice. “You don’t scare me.”

“I should. You’re nothing but an ass who fucks to get ahead.”

“Says the pot to the kettle. What were you doing with Violet all this time? Fucking around on the side while pretending to be the perfect boyfriend. Staying on her good side so you could get this promotion to London.” I laugh, but there’s no amusement in it. “If anyone fucks to get ahead, it’s you.”

“I earned that promotion fair and square,” he breathes.

“Don’t think you fully earned it yet.” I step so close to him my face is in his. I’m taller than him by an inch or two and I’m glad. I want this jackass to know I won’t back down from him. No matter what.

“What? You think you can step in, get in Violet’s panties, and then you’ll have my job?” Lawrence laughs. “We’ll see about that.”

“Right. We will see.” Now I remember why I’m using Violet. My greatest goal is to take everything this asshole has and make it mine. From his job to his woman, I want it. All of it.

Every last bit.

“She’ll realize quick you’re worthless,” he says with a smile.

I return his smile. “Violet never protests when I have her spread out on my desk and my tongue in her—”

“Stop!” Violet miraculously appears and steps in between us, her beautiful face twisted in anger. Damn it, she probably heard every word. “Both of you.”

“Violet. Darling.” Lawrence reaches for her, his expression going from angry to beseeching in an instant. “I hope after hearing everything you realize what a scumbag McKay is.”

“I think I’m starting to realize what scumbags the both of you are.” She sends me a pointed look and I want to laugh. Cheer her on. I love it when she’s feisty. I know she’s pissed at me but when she shows this side, I can’t help but be aroused. “Stop fighting over me like I’m a piece of property.”

“Darling, please. Let me explain—”

“There’s no need to explain, Zachary,” she interrupts. “Clearly the two of you are having a ‘my penis is bigger than yours’ competition. I’d suggest maybe you should quit while you’re ahead.”

Lawrence’s mouth falls open and I snicker. She whirls around, glaring at me, her lips still bare from when I kissed her lipstick off just moments ago, a faint red mark on the side of her neck because I nibbled and sucked her flesh. Possessiveness rises within me and unable to stop myself, I reach out and touch the spot, my fingers gentle as I caress her. “Did I do that?” I ask, my voice low.