“He waswasted,and not in a sound frame of mind. Too euphoric. Depressed. He wound up offering drinks to everyone in that Chili’s for almost thirty minutes before the server cut him off because she had serious reservations about whether he could pay for it. Mind you, there were only about twenty-five people in the building at this time, but that shit added up quickly.”
“You’re joking.”
“Nope. Completely serious. Fucker ran the tab up to almost a thousand dollars before they cut him off.”
Chrissy gasps, smacking her free hand up to her mouth as she stares at me with wide eyes. “That’s a lot of alcohol.” She would know. She works at a bar.
“Lo and behold, he reallydidn’thave the money to pay for it.” I laugh. “So, he called me to bail him out before they called the cops to have him arrested. Now he’s banned from that Chili’s forever, and I get to roast him mercilessly for the rest of his life. I mean, who gets banned from aChili’s?”
Chrissy bursts out laughing, her tears now a force of hilarity. She wipes at her eyes delicately so she doesn’t mess up her makeup, and then she shakes her head and smiles, squeezing my hand again.
“Thank you for that,” she replies gently.
I just smile in return.
“I’ll never be able to look at Marcus the same again,” she beams.
“The incident has officially been dubbed ‘Chili’s-Gate 2012.’”
She doubles over laughing, and finally, everything seems to settle back to normal. We listen to the radio the rest of the way to her house, but I notice our hands stay clasped. Her skin is soft beneath my calloused hand, and her fingers are so delicate compared to mine that it feels strange but lovely as she brushes them against my skin.
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to make me forget what happened at the restaurant, and the confusion threatens to take over. I can’t get the thought that I might be attracted to Luke out of my head, and it makes me feel dishonest. Like I’m cheating on Chrissy somehow when we’re not even officially dating.
Parking in her driveway, I kill the engine and get out, walking around to the passenger side door to open it and help her out. The drop from the truck's cab to the ground is a bit challenging, given her height, but she manages to make it look graceful, even in six-inch heels.
We walk up to her front door, and it’s clear she’s more than willing to invite me inside. However, I feel a sudden pull at the back of my head, like a chill down my spine that makes me hold back. It’s the first time I’ve ever declined an invitation like this, but I don’t feel right doing anything else tonight. Not until I’ve got my head screwed back on straight. I owe her either my undivided attention or none at all.
Chrissy turns when she sees I’m not following, but she doesn’t seem offended. She smiles. “I had a good time tonight. Even if it turns out I’m not a cheap date.”
“You’re worth every penny.” I smirk, and she blushes.
She steps forward, closing the distance between us, and pulls me in until we’re pressed together. She tilts her head up, and we kiss, the movement gentle and warm, and I can safely say I’mdefinitelystill attracted to women. As I place my hands on her waist, her soft body beckoning beneath the thin fabric of her dress, I can almost forget that I’m two seconds away from having a panic attack.Almost.
In the end, we pull apart. She’s got a starry look in her eyes, and her smile lights up, radiating happy energy. I smile in return, but I still feel wrong. We say goodnight, and she disappears into her house as I drag myself back to my truck with a racing heart and erratic mind.
Chapter Nine
So, That Just Happened
I’minabougie,upscale apartment overlooking the New York City skyline at night. I only know it’s New York because some of the buildings—and the distinct shape of Central Park—are unmistakable. I don’t know who owns the apartment or even how I got here, though I’m unconcerned.
Instead, I’m mesmerized by the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s raining, and the city lights refract through the raindrops on the glass, glittering everywhere I look. I’ve never seen anything so magical.
But I’m also aware that I’m not alone.
Someone’s hands are on my back, moving slowly over my shoulders and down my spine in sensual circles. It’s warm, making my whole body tingle with desire in a way that’s hard to ignore. Long fingers move up through my hair with deft precision, gripping tightly, and pulling my head to the side. A sound escapes my throat that I don’t seem to have any control over, and I shiver in response.
There’s an air of mystery surrounding my partner, and the intrigue only makes this more exciting for me. I don’t know whoI’m with, but I don’t mind as long as they know what they’re doing. Andoh, god.This person knows exactly what they’re doing. As their mouth moves against the back of my neck, teeth barely scraping at my ear, I’m reduced to a puddle.
There comes a point when the teasing isn’t enough, and I’m no longer content to be the only one having fun. I turn to face my tormentor, and the world around me suddenly goes still with an air of significance. Of all the people I might have expected to find in this moment, Luke Shaw was not one of them.
Unfazed, Luke grabs my hand and directs me to the giant bed behind him, and I don’t hesitate to follow. He pulls me down until I’m lying on top of him, pressing his hands against my chest as he grinds his hips up against me. Any question about how I ended up in this situation flies out of my head with the motion.
Luke reaches for the back of my neck, pulling me down until our lips connect, and he moans into my mouth, sending a shiver down my spine. He’s all hands, dragging his fingers against my back, clawing at my arms. It’s hot and heavy, and I’m entirely here for it.
He’s still wearing his shirt, which is a serious transgression that needs rectifying, so I slide my hands up under the fabric and pull it over his head until his chest is bare beneath me. It's as perfect as I remember, the firm lines of his muscles on display. Those devastating hip tattoos taunt me, and I delicately brush my fingers over them, making Luke squirm. His head tilts back against the pillow, eyes closing in euphoria—pure perfection.
Luke touches a hand to my face, cupping my cheek, then drags his fingers down my throat, over my chest. Down, down, down, he teases, and my heart beats dangerously fast. The lower he moves, the more eager I become for this to progress. He’s at my navel, teasing his fingers along the waistline of my jeans, dipping just beneath the denim, dangerously close to my cock. I’ve neverfelt more tortured than I do in this moment, and Luke seems to know it—he’s drawing it out on purpose.
