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“What?” Immediately, Gavin’s eyes shot to mine, and the mix of surprise and confusion wasn’t the only thing I saw in those grey depths. There was an intensity there that had appeared after I kissed him, and I didn’t know how to make it go away other than ignoring him. Or trying to.
I broke eye contact and flicked the ashes of my cigarette into a glass tray. “He’s fucking with you.”
“Oh.” I could almost hear the disappointment in Gavin’s voice, or maybe I was just projecting. God knew I didn’t need him to think of me in any way other than his asshole roommate he had to put up with. Kissing him had been a mistake, one I wished I could erase—if only so I didn’t know how fucking sweet he tasted.
Remembering the way Gavin’s lips had opened for mine, so easily, so eager and willing, had my cock punching hard against the confines of my jeans. I wished like hell I’d had some damn self-restraint.
I couldn’t be attracted to Gavin. He’d gone through enough punishment with destructive shits to last a lifetime, and I wouldn’t add myself to the list. He wasn’t even my type, for fuck’s sake. He enjoyed being in relationships, and I limited myself to fucking red flags who refused to commit. That was what worked for us. All this overprotective crap I’d felt lately was only because I didn’t like anyone preying on someone as vulnerable and likable as Gavin.
Although…he seemed to like putting up a helluva fight with me, didn’t he? Leave it to me to rub off and bring out thatbullheaded side of him. Anything to bring someone down to my level.
Fuck.I stabbed what remained of my cigarette into the tray and shoved my chair back.
I should’ve stayed out in East Hampton at my parent’s empty estate for a few more days, even though I hated the beach. These looks Gavin was shooting my way told me he wasn’t over the insanity that had come over me and made me kiss him. My body wasn’t reacting in a way that was any better, though. Something that annoyed me to no end.
Ignoring the guys’ stares—especially Gavin’s—I blew past them, heading to the bar. I didn’t even know why I bothered staying, other than not wanting to be alone with my thoughts. Arguing with East was better than the shit that lurked in my brain.
“Tequila,” I said, not bothering to sit. The bartender nodded, flipping up a shot glass and pouring the liquor inside. I grabbed it, and a second later the liquid was burning a path down my throat.
I closed my eyes, savoring the fiery warmth that flooded my body, as I did my best to block out everything around me.
Why had I agreed to come out, again? I really should’ve gone to the late-night fight I’d been texted about. That would’ve been more satisfying, and probably a hell of a lot smarter, considering where my thoughts kept going when it came to a certain someone.
Maybe I could ditch the guys, peace out early, and still get there in time to throw down a couple rounds. It would beat sitting here for the next couple hours trying to ignore the way Gavin kept looking at me.
And hewaslooking—a little too long, a little too hard. It was driving me fucking crazy.
My mind made up, I gestured for one last shot before I hit the road, and as the bartender slid it across the counter, I heard a trilling laugh I’d know anywhere. It was a sound that immediately set my nerves on edge and had my body tensing.
I glanced down the bar past several people who were placing orders, and there at the other end, perched on one of the high barstools, was a beautiful woman surrounded by a crowd of attentive men and a couple of women. She was dressed in killer heels, a leather mini skirt, and a corset top that barely contained what was underneath, and her thick waves of inky black hair flowed over her shoulders.
My eyes narrowed on the group as her familiar laugh once again filled my ears and she threw her head back.
I slammed the shot glass down on the bar top and started toward the crowd. I scanned the club, searching for her other half, but it was too dark, too packed, to see beyond the immediate swarm of people.
Several clubgoers cursed me out as I shoved through couples and friends gathered at the bar, but I didn’t care. My focus was on finding out what in the hellshewas doing here.
When I got to her group of adoring fans, I shouldered past a few of them, but the last guy—the one who’d just made her laugh—wasn’t budging, and when a quick shove didn’t get him out of my way, I grabbed his arm, ready to throw him if need be.
“You mind?” He glared down at my hand.
“No, I fucking don’t.” I tightened my grip and pushed him out of my way.
The path cleared, and smoky, dark eyes landed on mine as her painted red lips curved into a sultry smile.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Claudia?” I demanded.
“Daire, is that any way to speak to your mother?”
Now that was a fucking laugh. Mother? The only thing Claudia knew about being a mother was how to spell it.
Her crowd of pathetic hanger-ons stared between the two of us, probably trying to wrap their inebriated brains around the fact that the stunning woman who’d been entertaining them all for God knows how long was somehow related to the scowling bastard trying to glare her to death. But hey, they’d only known her for the fun couple of minutes or hours they’d spent with her. I’d known her my whole miserable life. Or, should I say, knownofher, because she sure as fuck hadn’t stuck around to get to know me.
“I don’t have a mother.” I swept my eyes over her clubbing attire, the entire wardrobe something I’d expect from girls my age. But that was Claudia, always had been, chasing the sun, living the high life, refusing to settle down as long there was money in her bank account.
Lucky for her, she had a never-ending flow of cash from a hefty inheritance, so she could stay frozen in time, as young as she wanted, free from all responsibility—even after giving birth to a baby boy. That was what nannies were for. Or so I was told.
“Why do you always have to be so ugly, Daire?” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and swiveled back to face the bar. “I certainly didn’t raise you that way.”
