Page 14 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Fourteen

Noah

Listen to Azizam

by Ed Sheehan

I came off the stage, soaked with sweat and vibrating with electricity. The club still roared from my final set, even at this late hour, and I couldn’t help grinning when I found Daisy waiting for me.

“You were amazing!” she gushed, bouncing up and down on her toes.

She rushed into my arms, not caring that I probably stank, and I was wrapped up in a warm bubble of comfort.

Her grip tightened and her mouth found mine.

A few people shouted some dirty comments and when she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed. “They loved you, Noah.”

“Thanks. Damn, that was a rush. I need a shot and to come down a few levels.” I never worked drunk—it was a rule I’d set when I started. Too many friends of mine had lost jobs and reputations from being unprofessional. I hit it hard afterward and let off steam with my friends. “Where’s everyone?”

A worried frown creased her brow. “They left. But you have me. We can have some shots, and head to the diner if you’re hungry.”

Irritation hit. “Are you kidding? Where’d they go?”

Her gaze dimmed. Daisy hated conflict and was always scrambling to soothe the rough edges of our group.

Most of the time, I loved her for such a soft heart but now I just wanted to be real and have her on my side.

“Maybe the diner? I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.

I left them to hang with you and Gabby just told me they were leaving. ”

Maybe I had no right being pissed off that my friends couldn’t even wait to go eat until my set finished.

I didn’t care. Now that Adam left, Max and Coop had grown tighter, and I felt a bit outside the circle.

I tried to swallow my temper because Daisy shouldn’t get my ugly side.

Guilt was always lodged inside me when I was around her. I didn’t need it anymore.

I forced a smile. “Okay, forget it. You’re the most important person.”

Her grin lit up her face and she curled on her tiptoes to kiss me. “Damn right. Wanna get drunk? Or eat pancakes?”

I grabbed her and kissed her harder. “Both. Shots, then carbs.”

“Deal.”

The rush from being the focus of the night slammed through my body.

On impulse, I picked up Daisy, arms wrapped tight around her hips, and walked her through the crowd.

She giggled and I pressed her against the wall, kissing her with all my pent-up sexual energy.

Her taste was familiar; sweetness with a faint taste of peppermint from the mints she chomped on through the day.

At first, she softened in my arms, giving it all back to me. A thrill raced down my spine and arousal hit. With a groan, I ran my hands over her lithe body. Her petiteness and compact muscles contradicted her strength, and I loved it. Sparks flew between us. I cupped her ass, lifting her up and?—

“Noah, stop.” Her cheeks were flushed but a frown creased her brow again. “We can’t. Not here.”

Immediately, I lowered her back down and withdrew my hands. “Sorry. Got carried away.”

I ignored the disappointment because I had no right to push her boundaries. She wasn’t the type to make out in a crowded club in front of everyone and I respected the hell out of her for knowing what she would and wouldn’t do.

But…

A flash of Elle and Coop writhing on the dance floor hit me like a sucker punch.

What would it feel like not to consistently hold back? For Daisy to get so lost in her lust for me, she didn’t give a crap who was watching? For all those good girl vibes to turn…bad?

I shook my head and dislodged the thought. It wasn’t fair to either of us.

“Come on, let’s do green tea shots and slow dance.” She tossed her cute braids, eyes twinkling. “Even if the song is fast.”

I tugged at her braid. “You’re such a rebel.”

She stuck her tongue out playfully and made me laugh. I grabbed her hand, headed to the bar, and got our shots. “Did everyone have a good time tonight?” I asked. It was still weird the group disbanded early. I wondered if anything came up. “Or was there fighting?”

Daisy took the shot and neatly stacked the empty plastic cups. “Not sure. When Gabby told me they were leaving I noticed Elle looked upset. But I figured they’d tell me if something was up, so it was probably nothing.”

I digested that info. “What about Max and Coop?” I asked casually.

“They left together. I looked for them beforehand and saw them in deep conversation. Looked serious.” I just nodded, but Daisy tilted her head, obviously curious. “Why are you asking? I can tell you’re still upset. I’m sure they had good reasons to leave, Noah. They always support you.”

Yeah, they did. And things have been fucked up since Adam and Landon left for LA, so we were trying to find the new balance. I needed to calm down and not take it personally. “You’re right. I think I’m noticing how things have changed with all of us. It feels off.”

She bit her lower lip. “Yeah, I know. But we’ll find our way back. Tonight was still amazing, and everyone said how on fire you were.”

“Yeah?”

“Swear it.”

I cupped her cheek, hating when I got doubtful about my abilities.

I knew I was a kick ass DJ and music ran in my blood.

I knew Daisy and I were a perfect couple because I needed her balance in a world that could fuck me up.

And Max and Coop always stuck together—I was just missing Adam to round out the rough edges.

“Good to know. Let’s go dance.”

I gripped her hips and kept her close as we did a bit of grinding during one of the pop hits they switched to after my set. Last call was coming soon. The night was almost over. So, I held Daisy as tight as she allowed me, trying to lose myself in the familiar music, and told myself I was happy.

Really, really happy.