Guilt twisted in my gut. He was right, we had been drifting. Ever since the scandal, I’d been pulling away from everyone, including him. And he didn’t deserve that. Owen had been nothing but patient, nothing but kind, even when his own family was affected by what my father did.
“Okay,” I said finally. “I’ll come for a little bit.”
He beamed in response, planting a quick kiss on my cheek. “Yeah? Sweet! Just give me a few more minutes, then we can go.”
As he straightened up, I noticed Knox over his shoulder, still watching me from across the room, this time with a clenched jaw, and intense eyes.
The hotel bar was small, only about five leather booths with dim lighting and low music playing. Most of the wedding party was there, Hailey and her new husband, a few groomsmen, some bridesmaids, and Knox, sitting across in the corner of the booth with a glass of whiskey, looking like he was being held there at gunpoint.
I tried to ignore him and focus on Owen, who was sitting right next to me, his arm draped over my shoulders, telling some story about the bachelor party. It was impossible, though. Knox’s eyes were on me and I felt them like a physical sensation.
“And then Knox fell into the pool fully clothed!” Owen laughed, nudging his brother across the table. “Tell them, man.”
“Pass.” He took a drink, his eyes meeting mine over the rim of his glass.
Owen swallowed a long swig of beer and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You’re no fun anymore…ever since—” He stopped himself, glancing at me and shaking his head.
I almost wished he said it. Ever since my father ruined everything. That’s what he was going to say before he thought better of it.
Awkward silence settled over the booth, while everyone avoided looking at me.
“I’m getting another drink,” I said, sliding out. “Anyone need anything?”
There was a chorus of no, so I took the opportunity and escaped to the bar. I was waiting for the bartender not even two minutes when I felt him behind me.
“Running away, Thorne?” His warm, whiskey-scented breath tickled my bare shoulder.
I steeled myself and turned around. Knox was closer than I expected, his body almost pressed against my back. His jacket was gone, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.
“I’m getting a drink, genius.” God, he was irritating. Months of silence and now he was trying to goad me.
“You sure about that?” His eyes raked over me and the corner of his mouth tipped up. “I think maybe you’re just realizing you don’t belong here. In fact, I think you’ve known that all night. That’s why you’ve been avoiding me.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you. In case you’ve forgotten, you’re the one who hates me.”
“Hate you? Me?” He leaned in closer, one hand braced on the bar beside me, effectively caging me in. “Maybe you’re right.”
“And maybe you’re an asshole,” I shot back, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
He scoffed, swigging the last of his whiskey and putting the glass down. “If I’m such an asshole, then why have you been eye fucking me all night?”
Then it was my turn to scoff. “You’re drunk and seeing things.”
“Am I? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you can’t decide if you want to slap me or fuck me.”
“You’re insane,” I said, but my pulse drummed so loud I could barely hear myself.
His other hand came up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. It was almost sweet if he didn’t open his mouth right after. “Tell me you haven’t thought about how good we’d fuck…all that tension brewing for years. You’ve thought about it, I see it all over your face.”
“I haven’t,” I lied, my hands trembling.
He wrapped his hand against my hip, pulling me flush against him. “You feel that, Sawyer? That’s what you do to me. What you’ve always done to me.”
Holy fuck.
He was hard against my stomach, and we’re barely touching. Knowing I did that to him had me filled with need.
“Come with me.”
