Page 147 of Blackwood

Her lips twitch. “You’re the one who told me you wanted to earn it, remember?”

I groan, head dropping to her shoulder. “You’re actually trying to teach me patience right now?”

She hums, smug. “Character development.”

I let out a strangled laugh and lift my head, brushing hair from her face. “Cruel little thing,” I mutter, kissing her temple. “You know what you do to me.”

Her gaze softens. “Yeah, I can see what I do to you Lex.” She glances down at my cock.

“Eyes up here, baby”

“But I also know you’ll wait. Now go,” she says, swatting my chest playfully.

I kiss her once more—hard, fast, starved—then pull back. “Fine,” I growl. “But if your next dance involves another lap, I swear to God, Bella.”

“Then maybe next time, have your bestie put you in a chair.”

We step out of the cabana, her braid a little looser, lips kiss-swollen, eyes dancing with trouble. I’m smug as hell and not even trying to hide it.

“Wow,” a voice cuts through the crowd. “Didn’t realize The Row had added cabana rentals… or is it just fuck-and-run now?”

Bella goes still. She turns toward Maddie with that lethal calm that always comes before the storm. “Awe, Maddie Rae. Didn’t get enough at The Pit, so you had to come try again at The Row?”

She tilts her head, voice pure venom dressed in velvet. “What was it you said to me that night? Something about how I didn’t belong in Hollow Kings territory?”

She looks over her shoulder at me and then back at Maddie.

“You know, from the looks of it…” she steps back into me and my arms wrap around her waist instantly. Her head tilts, resting in the crook of my neck. “…I think I belong to the Hollow Kings more than you ever did. I mean I’m basically their fucking queen now. Right Lex?”

I grin like a wolf with blood on his teeth. “That’s right, baby.”

“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “You think riding one king’s dick makes you royalty? We want a rematch.”

Bella tilts her head. “A rematch? For what?”

Maddie crosses her arms. “Our Fight Night. You stole it.”

Before Bella can respond, Knox’s voice shouts through the party speakers. “Hold up. HOLD the fuck up. Who the hell invited the raccoons to the pool party? Maddie Rae? Is that you?”

The crowd erupts. Whistles. Laughter. People are turning, phones out, catching every second. Maddie’s face twists. Fucker Callum struts over, of course. Standing just close enough to look like backup.

Bella gives a slight nod toward the DJ booth, barely perceptible unless you know her.

Knox does.He dials down the music just enough for her voice to carry.

“It’s okay, Knox,” Bella calls. “Apparently, The Revenants are mad at us because we stole their precious little Fight Night.”

I lean into her ear, can’t help the growl in my voice. “God, I’m fucking crazy about you.” I feel her shiver.

“Well did you tell her that you were invited to the show by Rez?” Knox asks.

Maddie’s face goes pale. “What the fuck?”

“Yeah Knox, I was getting there.” Bella snaps.

Maddie scoffs, but this time her voice rises over the noise. “There is no fucking way he invited you.”

I hear the three beeps in my ear, my mic is on. Guess it’s my turn.