Her smile is tinged with sadness.
“I know, Pooh,” she murmurs, giving my arm a gentle squeeze before heading to the passenger side.
Her concern is valid; risking my sobriety because I can’t stand to let Remy party without me is fucking idiotic. But no matter how precarious it is, my willpower is stronger. I refuse to cave into vices that would push him further away. As I climb behind the wheel, I make a silent vow to the brooding, beautiful man in the back seat.
I’ll battle demons, temptations, fears and flaws for the rest of my life to prove nothing will take me from you again.
16
Remy
I'm out of the SUV before Win even puts it in park, cursing him under my breath as I suck in air not contaminated by the poisonous aroma of his cologne. It’s been eroding the few logical brain cells remaining in my head.
The memory of his pecs beneath my palms and his hot breath ghosting my ear with debauched taunts has me suppressing a shiver. His sinful mouth wasright therefor me to devour. My cock hasn’t been this hard in years, which is highly inconvenient since he’s the bane of my fucking existence.
A car door slams.
“Slow down!” Andrea calls.
I pick up the pace.
At least the line isn't long. The Landing is the only bar with decent drinks and a dance floor near campus, so it's usually packed on Friday nights. A stream of giggling girls barge past, ankles wobbling in their five-inch heels as they toss flirty looks my way. Typically, I can’t stand the rowdy crowd, but thesecond Andrea suggested going out, I agreed, convinced Win—a recovering addict—wouldn't follow.
Apparently, the imbecile will follow me anywhere, even into a den of vices.
Fingertips brush my lower back.
I almost trip.
Is he torturing me on purpose? Probably. A lock of raven hair hangs over his forehead, skimming his thick black lashes. I’ve never met another man with as distinctly beautiful features as Win. He has the kind of rare face that modeling agencies trample over themselves to sign, with skin so smooth and pale he appears carved from marble.
Looking at him physically hurts.
I shy away, but his palm flattens above my ass, guiding me into the line. That point of contact is all I can focus on.
“Stop it,” I hiss.
He ignores me.
An excited shriek catches our attention.
A petite blonde emerges from an Uber and ambushes Andrea in a hug. My best friend laughs while the girl babbles and gestures wildly. As they approach, I recognize her: Andrea’s old roommate. Her attention skips over me to the tattooed devil angled into my side. She flashes him a seductive smile.
My jaw clenches.
“Rem, you remember Melody,” Andrea says, hooking her thumb at the doll-like girl arching to ensure her cleavage is front and center.
Mentally I scream, “He's not interested in your perky tits, he’s gay!”
I give her a closed lip smile.
“Been a while, Sully,” Melody teases, referring to me by the shortened version of my last name. To Win, she bats her lashes. “Though… I haven’t seen you around here.”
I'm physically biting my tongue to avoid pointing out that her flirtations are a lost cause.
“Because I’ve never been here before,” Win deadpans.
Andrea and I exchange amused looks. I cough to hide my smile. Now would be a great time to remember how many nights I cried over him.
