Chapter 46

***Levi.***

"If I had a wife like her, I wouldn't leave her for a second to the wiles of people like Carmen Strad." Rudolph sneered.

*The Fucker! He dared touch my wife. And Carmen?*

I turned a gaze to Kenya, searching her eyes for any signs of trouble, before I refocused my gaze on Rudolph again.

"You weren't there for her and she had to fend off that vile woman, all by herself. Putting up with her insults and scorn."

I frowned as that information came to light. What was he talking about Carmen?

"My business with my wife is none of your concern." I reined in, fiercely.

I chided myself inwardly for not being more sensitive. I shouldn't have left her alone. Shouldn't have let my anger cloud me. I had seen Carmen with Kenya earlier, and had surmised that they were mingling. Perhaps getting to know each other better, even though I knew Carmen's nature. I hadn't expected the vile woman to cause Kenya any discomfort. I would handle her later, I concluded. For now, I needed to steer this bastard off my wife. Starting with breaking off his fingers that had crawled up Kenya's skin, moments ago.

Drawing closer to Rudolph, my voice dropping enough for only the three of us to hear, I said.

"The next time I see you anywhere near my wife, or even breathe the same air as her, then I would make sure Rudolph's red nose never allows him on Santa's sleigh again." I warned.

I heard Kenya gasp. Good. She needed to know that no man touched her but me.

"I'd like to see you try." Rudolph threw back, putting on a bold front. "You don't scare me. I am not decrepit and helpless like those other idiots that you have wrapped up your fingers, Ruthford. My multi-million-dollar sportswear industry doesn't need your pity money."

A dark grin tugged my lips, my dark gaze narrowing on Rudolph.

"You should be scared, Rudolph. Because I wouldn't only turn your nose red. I'd finish you off bit by bit. Your entire business, everything that concerns you, until the only thing that remains of you, is your name on a fucking tombstone." I sneered.

My words though casually said, carried enough weight that rattled Rudolph. I saw it in his eyes. He had certainly heard of my reputation and the fear there, showed as much.

Rudolph's eyes seemingly gauged me, the enormity of my words finally sinking in. He shifted anxiously on his feet and not giving Kenya another look he brushed past us and walked in another direction of the ballroom.

"That wasn't necessary, Levi. The man didn't do anything." Kenya cried, her eyes welling up with tears.

She looked exhausted.

Ignoring her outburst, I stalked towards Kenya and wound my fingers around her wrist. I didn't wish to draw attention to us, so I moved quietly. Tugging her along with me, I walked us out of the ball room. I turned down a hall way, the gilded corridor, lined with Millais oil paintings. Soon we arrived at the women's bathroom and I dragged us inside, putting an out of order sign over the door, before It clicked it shut.

Taking measured steps towards Kenya, I closed the space between us. Kenya stood defiantly at me, glaring.

"I don't like it when another man touches you. And you are correct, he didn't do anything. He did plenty." I inched closer and lowered my head to hers.

"The next time a man touches you like Crawford just did; has his hands over you like this." I emphasized my words by pulling her roughly against me, our bodies pressed tight. "I would make you watch the person suffer. And it would be on your conscience." I grinned, darkly. My voice grazed the shell of her ear.

She resisted me. I suddenly warred within myself, if she preferred Rudolph's touch.

I shouldn't have been angry. I shouldn't have left her alone.

"Levi, stay away." Kenya protested, amidst the moans that desperately found their way through her lips.

I smiled, my lips nipping and kissing her ear and jawline as my fingers found what they sought. Her pearl, wet and ready was taut for me, just as I liked it. Finding her lips, I kissed her deeply, while my deft fingers toyed with her pearl, her fold. Her gasps gushing out, sending jolts to my erected cock.

My anger shouldn't have surfaced earlier with her. But her words her probing, had frozen me in my tracks. And I had grown defensive. Wanting to push her out. To hurt her. Let my words sting her. I had let my inner demons rise to surface, showing their true face to her. My dark past a forbidden door that I had shielded her from all this time. A door, which she was never to venture into.

The voice of Rudolph reminded me of my negligence towards her tonight. My failure as a husband. A husband who had run from his truth, from fear of being judged by his wife.

"Stay the fuck away from me!" Kenya cried on top of her voice. Tears pooled in her eyes. That broke me from my haze. I backed up, shock written on my face at Kenya's outburst. Our breathing heavy, we stared at each other.

"I am tired of your manipulations. I am tired of how you use me as an excuse to do evil. I want a life. I can't continue this way." Kenya burst into sobs, turning away from me.

My heart tore with guilt and I drew closer, wrapping my hands around her. Kenya melted into my arms. And for a moment, it seemed she relaxed and allowed herself sob inside me. I felt her ache. I ached. Sadness filled me.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled. "Just stay the fuck away from me, because all you doall you have done is make me cry"

"That's not true, Kenya" I stilled.