12. Michael

12

Michael

I found a table tucked in the corner, away from the bustling students preparing for their upcoming midterms. As I sat next to Addison, my fingers wrapped around my own small coffee cup. I watched her from the corner of my eye while she sipped her hot chocolate before pulling out the muffin and digging in.

My fingers itched to text her, just to see her reaction, but it was too risky. Too many prying eyes around us.

"You seem jumpy lately," I said slowly, studying her face for any tells. "Everything okay?"

I wasn't sure what I wanted to hear — an acknowledgment of what had transpired between us? A denial of the electric tension that seemed to crackle in the air whenever we were near each other?

My heart quickened at the thought of all of it. The possibilities, the dangers, the exhilaration. I leaned back in my chair, trying to appear nonchalant, but my body was coiled tight, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

Addison glanced up at me, her eyes wide and uncertain. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, her brow furrowing. I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she tried to formulate a response.

I hid a smirk. Denial it was, then.

"Oh?" I asked before taking a quick sip of coffee.

"It's not class," she said, tucking hair behind her ear. "Dance is much more difficult than I expected." She smiled sardonically. "I guess it's silly of me to think otherwise, right? Coming from a small town ballet company isn't quite the same, is it?"

I placed a hand on her thigh, clad in thin tights. She stiffened under my touch but didn't pull away.

"I think you're capable of anything, Ads," I said in a low murmur. "You just have to trust yourself to know it."

I gave her a long, lingering look, my eyes roaming over her delicate features. The soft curve of her cheek, the fullness of her lips. I wanted to lean in, to close the distance between us and taste her sweetness. To see if she really did taste as sweet as the muffins she baked this morning.

But not here. Not now. Too many watching eyes.

"You know," I said, my voice low and intimate, "if you ever need help with dance practice, I'm always available. I know the guy in charge of maintenance at Pandora's Box. You could always practice there after-hours."

My fingers traced slow circles on her thigh, the heat of her skin seeping through the flimsy fabric. I could feel her pulse quicken, could practically hear the catch in her breath.

"That's... that's very kind of you," she managed, her voice wavering slightly. "I'll keep that in mind."

I smiled, slow and predatory. "Please do."

My hand slid higher, just for a moment, before I leaned back in my chair as if nothing had happened. As if I hadn't just set her body ablaze with a few simple touches.

As if my dick hadn't gotten hard.

As if I wasn't already planning exactly how I would take her apart, piece by trembling piece, the next time we were alone.

"There you two are!"

Eren slid down in the booth, looking between the two of us.

"Sorry I'm late," he said. "I woke up late."

He was the one who set up the meeting, but I said nothing.

Addison tried to pull away from me, but I kept hold of her thigh.

"You got something on your shirt, babe," Eren said, eyes narrowed.

"Oh," Addison said. "It's, um, hot chocolate."

"Again?" He let out a low chuckle. "I swear, Ads, I can't go anywhere with you."

My grip tightened on Addison's thigh as I recognized she didn't like Eren's insult about her clumsiness. She was sensitive, but she shrugged it off, forcing a fake smile.

I didn't want her to fake anything, and anger flared inside me because she felt she had to around this prick. My jaw clenched as I watched their interaction, Eren oblivious to the discomfort he caused her.

"I'm just a bit tired," Addison said, her voice strained. "Late night studying."

"Right, I'm sure that's it," he said, rolling his eyes. He turned to me. "Women, am I right? Always making excuses."

I had to physically restrain myself from reaching across the table and wrapping my hands around his throat. How dare he speak to her that way, like she was some ditzy bimbo? Addison was brilliant, talented, and so much more than he would ever be able to appreciate.

My thumb rubbed slow circles on her inner thigh, a silent reassurance. I felt her relax slightly under my touch, even as she tried to subtly pull away, likely worried Eren would notice.

But he didn't. He was too wrapped up in his own ego to pay attention to the woman he claimed to like. It made the thrill of touching her right under his nose all the more intoxicating.

I wanted to see how far I could push it. How much I could get away with before he finally caught on. Before he realized his girlfriend was mine, in all the ways that mattered.

And when that day came, I would relish the look of betrayal and anger on his face. The knowledge that he had lost her to someone better, someone who truly saw and appreciated her for all that she was.

But for now, I simply smiled, a shark's grin that didn't reach my eyes. "I'm sure Addison knows her own limits, Eren. She doesn't need you to manage her."

Eren blinked, taken aback by the edge in my voice. "I was just joking around, man. No need to get so serious."

"Of course," I said smoothly. "My mistake."

But as I caught Addison's eye, I knew she understood the truth behind my words. That I would always be there to defend her, to protect her, even from the man she called her boyfriend.

Especially from him.

"Anyway," Eren said, leaning back. "I wanted to ask you something, Addison. It's about what we talked about. You know? About you and Michael…?" He lifted a brow, as though that was enough of an explanation.

"Um, right," Addison said. She was tense again, her body rigid under my hand.

"I've been thinking long and hard about this, and I'm thinking that this is a big deal," he continued, his voice serious. "And it wouldn't be fair for this to happen without easing you into it."

"Okay…" Addison drawled it out, her brow scrunched in confusion. It was clear she had no idea what he was getting at.

"I think you and Michael need to spend time together, get to know each other, so you're as comfortable as possible," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, a thrill running through me at the thought of having Addison all to myself, with Eren's blessing no less. Not that I needed it, but still. It was almost too good to be true.

"Wait, what?" Addison asked, her voice sharp with confusion and a hint of anger.

Eren shook his head, as if he was explaining something to a child. "I think this is a good idea. Because he can also teach you what I like?—"

"Why can't you teach me what you like?" Addison interrupted, her voice rough with emotion. "I don't understand why someone else has to do this if it means being with you."

My grip on her thigh tightened, possessiveness surging through me. She was mine, damn it, and I wouldn't let Eren treat her like some object to be passed around.

Addison cut a look to me, her eyes wide and searching. Our gazes clashed, and I felt a spark of something bloom in my chest. Desire, yes, but also a fierce protectiveness. A need to shield her from his callousness and show her what true devotion looked like.

Even if I was benefiting from it.

He sighed and said, "Look, you either agree or you don't. And I get it, Ads, if you don't want to. I do. But I'm not going to do that. I won't. So, if you love me as much as you claim, this is a way to prove it."

"Prove I love you?" Addison asked, her voice trembling slightly.

She didn't know any better, but I'd show her. I'd make sure she knew what real love was. Eren didn't know what the word even meant. She shouldn't have to prove anything to him.

He stood up. "Okay," he said. "I'll just assume you don't want to. I'll see you around." He moved like he was going to leave when Addison leaned forward.

"Wait," she said. "Just — wait, okay?"

He gave her a look. "I don't want to play games, Addy," he said. "I know what I want, and I want you, I do. But… not like this. And I've come up with a solution I've never even considered before because of how badly I want to stay with you. But I will not compromise my own beliefs if you can't even do this for me."

"You're asking for a lot, Eren," she said.

"I know." He grabbed her hand, and I considered cutting it off. "I know that, Addison. Trust me. But you don't know how much you're asking for either. And this is what I'm willing to do for you."

Addison looked like she wanted to argue. And part of me wanted her to too.

She looked down at her muffin crumbs. "What, exactly, are you suggesting?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.

I clenched my jaw, barely restraining the urge to reach across the table and yank her away from Eren's manipulative grasp. How dare he try to guilt her into something she clearly wasn't comfortable with? How dare he use her love for him as a weapon?

But I remained silent, waiting to see how Addison would respond. As much as I wanted to intervene, to protect her, I knew she needed to make this decision for herself. She needed to see Eren for what he truly was — a selfish, controlling bastard who didn't deserve her.

And when she finally did, I'd be there. Ready to pick up the pieces and show her what it meant to be cherished, adored, worshiped.

What it meant to be mine.

I leaned back in my seat, my gaze locked on Addison as Eren laid out his ridiculous plan. My blood boiled with each word that spilled from his lips, but I kept my expression carefully neutral. I couldn't let either of them see how much this affected me.

"I want you to feel good," he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "And you can."

Addison's brows furrowed, confusion and disbelief etched across her delicate features. "By being with someone else?" she asked, her tone flippant but laced with an undercurrent of hurt.

Eren nodded, oblivious to the pain he was causing her. "Michael is a good guy," he assured her. "He'll take care of you. He'll teach you so when you and I are finally together, you'll know exactly what to do to make me feel good."

I fought back a snort of disgust. As if that was all Addison was good for — making Eren feel good. It took every ounce of my self-control not to reach across the table and throttle him.

Addison's gaze shifted to me, her eyes wide and uncertain. "And he's okay with this?" she asked, doubt coloring her words.

"We've already talked," he said, his tone dismissive. "I trust him with my life. I trust him with you. And when you finally give yourself to him, remember, I'll be there, watching."

I clenched my fists under the table, my nails digging into my palms. The thought of Addison giving herself to me, only to imagine him in my place, watching us, watching as I made her feel… It made me sick to my stomach. She deserved so much better than this pathetic excuse for a boyfriend.

Addison's voice trailed off, her brow furrowed. "But this stuff… The stuff before. Will you be there for that?"

Eren shrugged, unconcerned. "I mean, I have practice and other obligations," he pointed out. "I won't be around for that stuff."

"And you're okay with that?" Addison asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

He nodded, a smug smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I'd rather not waste time," he said. "I want to see you for the first time during the first time. It's like a sexy surprise, you know?"

Addison shook her head, looking like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. And honestly? I couldn't blame her.

Her gaze snapped to me, her eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and betrayal. "You've been quiet," she said, her voice sharp. "Are you telling me you're fine with this?"

I met her gaze steadily, my voice even as I replied, "I agreed to help."

"Because you're such a great friend?" she snarled, her words dripping with sarcasm.

My hand trailed slowly up Addison's thigh as I leaned in closer, my voice low and persuasive. "Because he's right. I can make you feel good, Addison. And if this is how it has to be, might as well be with someone you trust."

Her eyes flashed with defiance as she met my gaze head-on. "Who says I trust you?" she challenged, her voice sharp and unyielding.

We stared at each other, the tension between us palpable. I could feel the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her leggings, the way her pulse quickened under my touch. She was trying to put up a front, to act like she was unaffected, but I knew better.

I knew the effect I had on her, the way her body responded to mine even as her mind tried to resist. It was only a matter of time before she gave in, before she admitted what we both already knew — that she wanted me just as much as I wanted her.

Eren's voice cut through the charged silence, oblivious to the undercurrent of desire that flowed between Addison and me. "Well, I trust him, and that should be enough."

But Addison didn't even spare him a glance, her gaze locked on mine as if he didn't even exist. In that moment, it was just the two of us, caught in a battle of wills that I was determined to win.

Finally, she relented, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Fine."

He grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "Great, babe," he said, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her cheek. "You won't regret this, I promise. It'll all be worth it." He glanced at his watch. "I gotta go, okay? I've got class."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Addison and me alone once more. Fury coursed through my veins at the way he had manipulated her, the way he had used her love for him to get what he wanted.

But as I looked at Addison, saw the vulnerability in her eyes, the way she seemed to shrink in on herself, my anger faded, replaced by a fierce protectiveness.

She was mine now, whether or not she realized it. And I would stop at nothing to claim what was rightfully mine.