Page 152 of Blackwood

The choreography’s filthy in the best possible way. The Hollywood pose line? Haley grabs Bella’s tits right in front of me, and I swear to God, Little Lex fucking salutes. Full military-grade stand at attention.

On the first chorus, she struts toward me and drops into my lap like I’m her personal throne. And I’m just sitting here—tiedup, losing my fucking mind, and praying I don’t bust in my pants like a sixteen-year-old virgin.

Holy. Fucking. Hell.

My little Wicked Witch of the East grinds once, slow and deep, and I see stars.

“Fuck, baby. I love you so much,” I moan.

She freezes. Just for a breath. Then she smiles like she didn’t hear it, but I know she did. My girl’s good. She doesn’t break character. She just winks and struts off like she didn’t just turn my brain to static.

By the time she lip-syncs the line about skirts being on piles, I’m a goddamn goner, because Jesus Christ, this girl shakes off her jean shorts and reveals a red bikini bottom that makes my dick twitch so hard I almost break the fucking chair. She drops her shorts in my lap and I about lose it.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” I mutter, tugging at my shirt knotted around my arms. “Goddamn baby, untie me right now.”

Bella just shakes her head with that evil little smile. The song hits the next chorus and she’s back on me, hips rolling, making it worse. Or better. I can’t even tell anymore.

My whole body’s vibrating with need. I don’t even know if The Row is still watching. I don’t care. My world starts and ends with her.

Near the end of the song, Ellie and Haley close in. Haley removes Bella’s shorts from my lap. Ellie’s behind me, working the knots loose as Bella lowers herself onto my lap again. Haley strokes my hair, giggling like she’s watching a porno live.

As the lyrics talk about judges and chests, Bella nods and Ellie finally lets go.

My hands snap free and I grab Bella’s throat and drag her down into a kiss that’s pure possession. Tongue, teeth,everything. She wraps her arms around my neck, moans into my mouth, and I lose the last shred of control I had.

I think Ellie and Haley finish the song.

Maybe.

I don’t fucking know.

All I know is I’ve got the girl I love riding my lap, my hands on her body, and a new favorite band.

Nickelback, you dirty Canadian bastards… I owe you one.

Chapter 47

BELLA

Carrington Row – Wexley University

659 Days Since Zeke’s Death

The party’s simmered into something soft and electric. The music’s still pulsing from Knox’s booth. But the craziness has faded into lazy dancing, laughter by the fire pit, and half-drunk Wolves cannon-balling into the pool.

Lex is holding me in the pool, his grip strong like if he lets go, I’ll drift away. My back is pressed to his chest, his arms wrapped around my stomach, locking me in. The water clings to my skin like silk, warm and weightless. But even submerged, I can still smell him—leather and spice,sharp and addictive. It curls around me, threading through the steam, making it impossible to forget who’s holding me.

“You killed it tonight,” he says low, voice rough from vodka and need. “You, Ellie, Haley… fuck, baby. I wanted to drag you off stage and lock you up all night.”

I smile, slow and lazy. “So dramatic.”

“Get fucking used to it, baby,” he says as he turns me around so I’m facing him. My arms wrap around his neck, his hands slowly slipping down to my ass before he squeezes.

A quiet laugh slips out of me. Pressing in close, I rest my head on his shoulder. He holds me there. One hand rubbing soft, slow circles down my back.

“You wanna know something,” he murmurs, voice hoarse, water dripping from his jaw. “You made sense to me so fucking fast, it scared me. When I held you—when you settled into me like you’d been doing it your whole life—I knew. You felt safe, like your chaos could finally breathe. Like maybe I could hold it back for you, even just for a little while.”

He takes a deep breath. “I knew this wasn’t just a moment. It wasn’t a passing. What I feel for you? It’s permanent.”