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Buta couple of minutes later,Calebwas leading her onto the dance floor.AndIwas fucking frozen in my seat, watching him pull her close.Thenshe turned in his arms and pressed her ass against him, andIwas moving beforeIcould think it through.
Istood, liftingLucyoff me and depositing her on the chairIjust vacated, then stalked towardCalebandShae, trying to shove down my anger.Notmy anger at him—he deserved it.ButShaedidn’t.Evenif the sight of her withCalebmade my pulse throb in my temples.
Asmuch asIknow my anger at her isn’t justified, it doesn’t stop me from pouncing on her as soon as we break through to the other side of the dance floor.
Withmy hand on her shoulder,Iback her toward the wall. “Whatthe fuck was that,Shae?”
Hereyes are spitting sparks at me. “Thatwas me, dancing with your bandmate, while you flirted with woman after woman.Evensnuggled up to that one on your lap.”
Everyone of my muscles tightens. “Ididn’t have a choice.Icouldn’t exactly throw her off me withBeauright there.”
“Youalways have a choice,” she hisses. “Youcould tellBeauabout us.Butyou won’t.Instead,Ihave to stand there like an idiot and watch other women crawl all over you.Soyou don’t get to be pissed at me.Andyou don’t get to be pissed atCaleb, who, by the way, obviously knows something is going on with us.”
Irun my hands through my hair. “I’mwaiting for the right fucking time to tellBeau.”
“Andis that time going to be before or afterIgo home?”
Thethought of her leaving me sears the air from my lungs, andIspit out exactly the wrong thing. “Ifyou’re leaving, why does it matter?”
Shaestiffens, her eyes flaring with hurt. “Isthat it?Areyou waiting for me to go so you never have to tellBeau?AmI…”Shetakes a shaky breath. “AmIjust a convenient fuck?EntertainmentwhileI’mhere?”
Howcan she think that?Itake a step closer, crowding her. “You’rethe least fucking convenient person,Shae.Jesus.HowIfeel about you is making me crazy.Haveyou even considered staying inLA?”
Shewraps her arms around herself. “Idon’t even know what this is between us yet.Andthere’sDad.Ican’t leave him—”
She’sgoing to walk away.Painslices through me. “You’reasking me to risk my relationship withBeau, but you’re not even willing to consider staying here.Whatexactly do you want from me?”
Herarms fall and the strobing lights shimmer in her eyes as she raises her chin. “Iwant to know you feel the same wayIdo.Iwant to believe this is more than a fling to you.”
Shedoesn’t know howIfeel about her.I’venever touched her in public the wayIwant to.Inher head,Icould change my mind about her tomorrow, and no one would be the wiser.
Iwrap my hand around the back of her neck and use my thumb on her jaw to tilt her chin up.Thosebeautiful golden-brown eyes captivate me, and the crowded club disappears—theriskI’mtaking by touching her like this disappears.AllIcan see, allIcan feel, is her. “Thisis the farthest thing from a fling.Iwouldneverhave touched you ifIdidn’t feel everything you’re feeling, believe me.Sodo not fucking doubt thatI’mthinking about you,wantingyou, every minute of the day—and it doesn’t matter who the hell is sitting in my lap.”
Shepresses her lips together and tries to look away, butItighten my grip, and her gaze flashes back to mine.
“Itshouldn’t have happened,Shae.AndIpromise you, it won’t happen again.”
Somehow,I’llmake sure it doesn’t.
“Ithurt,” she whispers, blinking away the tears that glitter on her lashes. “Ithurt seeing you with her.Ican’t handle you acting asIfIdon’t matter.”
Herpain scores sharp claws over my heart.Myjaw tightens, andIscan our surroundings, looking for whatIneed.I’vebeen to this club before, so it only takes me a moment to spot it.WhenIdo,Igrab her wrist and tug her behind me down the short corridor and through a dark-wood-paneled door, making sure it’s locked behind us.
We’rein one of the club’s individualVIPrestrooms, which have one complete wall made of glass that overlooks theStrip, catering to all the closet and not-so-closet exhibitionists.We’reon the sixty-fourth floor, so the risk of being seen isn’t high.Butit’s not non-existent either.Iguess the idea gives some people a thrill, butIdon’t give a fuck either way.
Theonly thingIcare about is erasing the hurt in the eyes of the woman facing me.Thehurt thatIput there.
AsIpace toward her, she takes a step back, the marble vanity pressing into her ass.Iget so close, her nipples brush my chest with every shallow breath and she has to tip her head back so she can keep her eyes on mine.
Asharp inhale isShae’sonly reaction asIgraze my thumb along her cheekbone, then down to her bottom lip, pressing against it until she opens for me.Thenslowly, as if we have all the time in the world,Iangle in and kiss her.
Atilt of her head gives me better access, andIcup the nape of her neck, licking into the heated interior of her mouth.
It’snot as hard or urgent as most of our kisses.I’mforcing myself to take my time, pour my feelings into her, but whenIslide my tongue deeper, the way she whimpers makes my blood pump south.
Ipull back and study her, refusing to break eye contact. “I’msorryIhurt you,”Imurmur. “Thatis the last thingIwould ever want.Ifyou only knew…”
“Tellme,” she whispers, even though we’re the only ones here.
