“I didn't know what this place was, but I… like it. It's just…not my type of scene though, you know what I mean?”
That stirs him, and I can see something flashing in his eyes. “Hopefully there’s room for a little convincing then?” He looks around the place. “Your bodyguard isn’t here?”
“No, he isn’t. He probably won’t be for a while.” I explain, trying to keep down the urge to claw my heart out for feeling the way I do since he left.
“When are we going on a date, then?” Tyler asks, and I feel exasperated.
“I think we’ve crossed that bridge, haven’t we?” I say as he scoots over to sit closer to me and leans in to whisper in my ear.
“You’ve made that clear, sweetheart, but anyone can reconsider?” He grazes my cheek with his thumb, and I want to smack his hand away.
The bottle of Dom arrives, held by multiple servers, wobbling through the crowd with flickering sparklers, heads turning at the cliché display with “Wold Hold On (Children Of The Sky)” from Bob Sinclar blaring throughout the club.
“I really want to hang out… again,” he says louder through the intoxicating music, and my heart sinks from missing Joe, and my skin stings at the thought of Liam. Artemis sways her hips and chugs a shot of vodka a server brings us, handing me one too, and I don’t hesitate to shoot it down my throat.
“What’s the saying? Dream or die trying...?” I ask.
Tyler laughs, genuine and loud. “It’s get rich or die trying!”
“Well, for you it’sdream.” I smirk. “Tyler…this is just not the right time for me…”
“It’s Okay, Sara… I’ll be patient, one day, I’ll make you fucking dream.”
I walked right into that one. He kisses my cheek and thankfully drifts away.
I finally exhale and pour myself a drink, then glance at the girls, trying to piece back together the ten minutes I’ve lost. Anne is lighting another cigarette right in front of the security guard’s face. He looms over her tiny frame, muscles twitching under his black suit as if he can’t decide whether to throw her out or throw her against the wall. She’s loving the attention andthe compulsive need to not follow rules. Artemis is now chatting with Mimi, who must have arrived while Tyler was yapping in my ear.
“Hi, babe!” Mimi says as our eyes lock.
“Mimi! You’re here! Let’s have fun tonight!” I raise my glass and cheer with them.
From our booth, like a throne, I take in the room of people gliding in and out, bodies grinding on the dance floor, pink and red strobes cutting through the haze. A booth with a group of unhinged men spray champagne over the dancing bodies.
Across from us, my gaze snags on a couple kissing so passionately, his hands roaming in her hair possessively and adoringly, it makes my stomach tighten with envy and sadness.
My heart aches for the intimacy Joe and I almost had. It something real, and beautiful, but then the memory of Liam’s claiming mouth on mine comes crashing down as I clamp my eyes shut to keep from reliving it. I kissed him back, and I wanted more, but I betrayed myself, kissing a murderer, no less, clearly being drawn to things that shouldn’t set my soul on fire, finding a shameful truth at the edge of danger.
Artemis pulls me from my thinking daze and her long red nails dig into my thigh so hard I hiss,
“Ouch—what the heck, Tattoo?” I grit out between clenched teeth. Tattoo is her childhood nickname; it slips out when I’m rattled.
She grabs my jaw and turns my face toward the entrance. My heart plunges a thousand floors, then surges with furious heat. A rage setting off in the middle of my chest, itching to be released.
"Oh, now this is going to be fun!" Mimi, cackling like a witch, lifts her eyebrows while sipping her drink and knowing damn well my night is ruined.
"Maybe you should go into hiding?" Artemis murmurs, biting her lip in concern.
"Nope. I’m not hiding tonight." I fixate on him, every muscle tensing.
Liam steps into the room in a leather jacket, a white tee, and black pants. My breath catches, my eyes water, my mouth trembles at his demanding aura that unsettles the entire room around him. I haven’t seen him in a few months, I forgot how tall he is and how defined his jaw is. His hair has grown out, his stubble thicker. He looks… beautifully broken beneath it all. I feel it and he radiates beautiful pain, but yet complete, merciful control.
“Hey, hey… are you okay?” Artemis leans in, shielding my face with her hair so nobody sees me break apart.
“Yes…I think so. I shouldn’t care at all that he’s here,” I whisper, inhaling slowly. My fingertips tremble against the glass in my hand.
Across the room, Liam doesn’t scan the crowd, instead, he locks eyes with a man at the bar, whom I’d call a silver fox who tilts his chin toward a blonde leaning against the wall. Without hesitation, Liam approaches her, offers his hand, and they disappear together behind one of the private, pink-lit rooms. Shock is an understatement; the bastard hasn’t been back for over five minutes, and something inside me snaps, which will most likely leave me in a lifelong embarrassment.
“Don’t—Sara!” Mimi lunges for my wrist, but I’m already on my feet.
