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That laugh. That fucking laugh.

Brooks rubbed the back of his neck, trying to pull it together. He wasn’t even breathing right. It wasn’t just her body; and she had body. It was the way she let go. Completely uninhibited. Unapologetic.Unfuckwithable. The type of aura you came back for. She was unthawing his heart with every laugh, every smile, every sigh. He felt blessed that he could do that for someone and that someone let him.

Fifteen minutes later, a giggling and very tipsy Taylor collapsed back into the booth beside him, breathless and glowing with glitter, the scent of her perfume made Brooks inhale.

“You been holding out on me, I see,” he breathed, palm firm against her hip.

A breathless laugh escaped. “I never said I didn’tknow how to have fun. You know what they say about PKs…”

Her lips parted, slow and knowing. “We can be little freaks.”

Brooks’ grip on her tightened. She was testing him now.

“Oh that’s what they be saying?”

Leaning closer, his lips nearly brushed her ear. His cologne wrapped around her, potent enough to make her dizzy as his voice rumbled through her body.

“You should do this more often.”

“Do what?” She teased, tilting her head, letting her lashes sweep up at him.

“Whatever the fuck you want.” His eyes burned into hers, daring her, waiting for a sign. “You look good when you’re not letting a muthafucka dim your light.”

Taylor swallowed hard. The way he looked at her, searching her, begging for her to let him have his way, did something to her.

Still riding the high, she stood and moved between his legs, hands trailing over his shoulders as her hips found the beat again.

Clouds of smoke swirled between them as he let out another breath, the weed tugging at his control, eyes low and hunger rising fast. Every bit of patience he’d stored for her was thinning.

She just smirked. Kept moving. Rolling her hips in slow circles as she straddled him, teasing him with nothing but rhythm and nerve. His hands slid up the backs of her thighs, calloused fingers grazing skin until they dipped just beneath the hem of her shorts. He gripped her ass firm, possessive and pulled her flush against him.

Her breath hitched. His mouth hovered just above her collarbone, so close she could feel the heat of it.

He licked his lips, voice a mutter low enough to vibrate against her chest. “What you doing, Tay?”

Still moving, she dipped lower, grinding gently, her breasts grazing his lips, soft and fleeting. Her scent hit him again sweet, warm, a little spicy, all Taylor. Her essence would be his undoing, and he was almost certainly ok with that.

His fingers flexed on her thighs, tempted to snatch her straight into his lap and give her what she was clearly begging for.

“What?” She asked, feigning innocence, eyes wide but there was nothing pure about the way she was moving.

His hand slid higher, fingers catching her chin, tilting her face up to meet his. The grip wasn’t rough but it wasn’t soft either.

It was a warning.

“You playing with fire,” he said, gaze locked on hers. “And I remember making you some promises. I get my hands on you...” he stopped resting his forehead against her chest and then back up to her.

Taylor leaned in, her lips brushing the shell of his ear, breath hot against his skin. “I remember. And I know a man of his word when I see one. It was origami, wasn’t it?”

Brooks’ jaw clenched. His grip on her chin tightened slightly, thumb dragging slowly across her bottom lip, weighing every outcome, every line he was about to cross.

“Taylor,” his voice dropped lower than she hadheard it before, “I will wreck your fuckin’ life and then spend the rest of mine putting it back together. Is that what you want?”

A shiver ran down her spine, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she tilted her head, sliding her hands down his chest, feeling the heat radiating off his body. She didn’t know if she was scared or if she wanted it more.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

In one smooth motion, he stood, towering over her still looking at her. His eyes burned into hers, dark and unforgiving. His control had snapped. It was almost getting painful to watch her body move and feel her soft skin under his hands. He’d never take his hands for granted again. Not when they were made to touch her.