Page 9

All it took was one look to yank me back to the memory of holding her down in her bed, her legs spread wide as I drove into her, my name tearing from her throat as she came hard around me. That tight, wet heat still haunted my dreams.

But tonight, she didn’t even see me. Didn’t even glance my way.

She ignored all of us, walking over to Toledo, handing him the bag while bending in to kiss his cheek.

“Hey, I didn’t think you’d make it,” he said .

“I didn’t think I’d be able to, but one of the girls asked me to switch shifts with her at the club tonight.”

“How’s your little guy?” he asked.

She swatted her hand. “He’s good, but I don’t want to talk about that. This is your going-away party.”

What the hell was that about? She talked about her kid with Toledo ?

My gut twisted. Something about the way she said it didn’t sit right, and I hated that it bothered me as much as it did.

I wanted to shake it off. Hell, I wanted to stop giving a damn altogether, but there it was, lodged deep and festering.

He opened the copper gift bag, pulling out a knitted hat half Copperhead colors and half Utah colors. “You make this?” he asked, smiling stupidly at the thing. Who’d wear that? Okay, I ’d wear it in the winter if it was all Copperheads. I found myself feeling irrationally jealous of a dumb hat.

Antonov called to the bartender for a beer for her.

I couldn’t stop watching. Not when she lifted the bottle to her lips, not when she tossed her head back and laughed at something one of my teammates said. She was magnetic, completely unaware of the attention she drew.

Then the jukebox kicked on with a string of crowd-pleasers, and the dancing started. People made their way to the floor, but just as she turned to follow, Toledo stepped in and pulled her aside.

“What’s wrong? Seriously. Something with Benny? Maybe I can help.”

“No. I’ll figure something out. You’ve been a good friend, but this is something I have to do. I’m his momma.”

“If you’re sure,” he said, and fuck that . She looked one breath away from crying, and he just let it go? Who the hell dropped something when the woman in front of him was clearly struggling?

Then, like it was nothing, he set his drink down, took her hand, and led her to the dance floor .

My hands ached. I glanced down and realized they were clenched into white-knuckled fists.

She wasn’t mine. Hell, we weren’t even friends. We’d fucked—end of story.

But watching Toledo put his hands on her? I wanted to rip his damn head off... then sew it back on just so I could tear it off again.

She must’ve felt my stare, because she turned from the group and her eyes locked on mine.

For a heartbeat, her lip trembled, and I swore I saw a flicker of sadness flash across her face.

But then she shut it down, fast. That softness vanished, replaced by a tight-lipped glare before she looked away.

And that was the last attention she paid me.

After a few hours of celebrating with beers and dancing, she hugged Toledo and said her goodbyes to the other men. I followed her out of the bar.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I barked at her back and she stopped abruptly, spinning around to face me.

“Home. What’s it to you?”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“I’m not drunk. Just go.”

“Not going. Not letting you drive home when you’ve been drinking.”

“I had a couple of beers over several hours. You’ve been sipping water all night?”

“ No .”

“Yeah, didn’t think so.”

“One less than you.”

Bree flipped her hand in the air, dismissive as hell, then turned to head back to her car—and I saw red.

She didn’t get to brush me off like that. Not when she’d already stopped paying attention to her surroundings. That was another conversation we needed to have.

Any guy could’ve walked up on her. And then what ?

I stepped in, snatched the keys from her hand, and held them above my head, just out of reach.

“Reece, what the fuck are you doing?”

“Making sure you get home.”

“Give me my keys.”

“Nah, baby. Get in the car.”

“I’m not getting in the car.”

“Get in the fucking car, Bree. I’ll drive you home.”

She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Reece, I’m tired. It’s been a long day. I want to go home and go to bed.”

“Yeah. Then fucking get in the car and I’ll drive your ass home.”

With an exaggerated sigh, she stomped around to the passenger side, climbed in, and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the frame. I shook my head, snorting as I tried to wedge myself into the driver’s seat. Not happening.

She leaned over, yanked a lever, and shoved the seat all the way back but it wasn’t enough.

How the hell did any man fit in this tin can? I fucking hated compact cars.

“Get out,” I ordered.

“Are you serious? You can’t kick me out of my own damn car.”

“We’re taking my truck.”

“No, we’re not. I need my car.”

While she shot daggers at me, I hit the fob to unlock my truck.

“Get in, or I’ll carry you there myself. Your call.”

She must’ve realized I wasn’t bluffing, because with an annoyed huff, she popped her door open and climbed out. Slammed it shut like it had insulted her, then stomped toward my truck.

Her hips swayed naturally. Zero effort, no intention. And somehow that made it worse. Made me want her more.

My dick definitely got the memo .

The streets were pretty clear. She wouldn’t even look at me on the ride back to her apartment complex. I parked close to her building and she got out, demanding her keys.

“You’ll get them when I get you up to your apartment safely.”

“Oh, my god, Reece. You don’t like me. We’re not friends. Just give me my keys and go.”

I could’ve walked back to my truck—but I had no plans to leave her tonight.

She might not have liked it, but when I took her hand to guide us toward the front door, she didn’t pull away. Didn’t fight me.

And that said more than words ever could.

We walked to the back of the hallway to her apartment and Bree turned to me with her hand out, waiting for the keys. I tipped my chin down at the door handle and unlocked the door myself, pushing it open. I grabbed her hand to lead her inside, shutting and locking the door behind me.

“What’s going on here, Reece?”

“I think you know damn well what’s going on here.”

She held her hand up in front of her. “Whoa… you humiliated me in front of my neighbor and my son. We’re not having sex.”

“Babe,” I said, stepping closer, “we are. You had to know where this was leading. I know you want it as much as I do.”

Bree looked to the heavens and then took a step toward me. “This is the last time.”

“It’s not. Listen—you caught me off guard,” I said right before pressing my lips to her pulse point pounding in her neck. She sucked in a sharp breath.

“Reece,” she breathed my name, melting in my arms.

“Right here, babe.” I gripped her ass, squeezing tight, shoving her against my crotch for her to feel my erection.

“ Sofa .”

“No.” The last time, I had her in her bed .

She slammed the bedroom door behind her, arms crossed, jaw tight. “You don’t get to act like a caveman and then waltz in here expecting forgiveness.”

“I’m not expecting it,” I said, stepping closer. “I’m earning it.”

She didn’t move when I crowded her space. Just looked up at me, defiant as hell. “This isn’t a reward, Reece. This is goodbye.”

“Say that again after you come on my face.”

Her breath caught, eyes flickering with the kind of heat that contradicted every word out of her mouth. She wanted to fight. Fine. I’d take every swing she had and still pin her to the mattress.

She grabbed my shirt and yanked me in, kissing me like she wanted it to hurt. Teeth clashed. Tongues tangled. She was trying to take control, trying to fuck the goodbye into me—but I wasn’t having it.

I spun her, backing her toward the bed until her knees hit the edge. My mouth was on her neck, hands in her hair, yanking her head back just enough to taste the soft skin at her throat.

“You wanna be in charge?” I growled, dragging my teeth along her jaw. “Then don’t melt when I touch you.”

“I’m not melting,” she snapped.

Oh really? I shoved my thigh between hers, grinding up until I felt the wet heat through her panties. Her hips bucked. She hissed. I smirked.

“Sure, baby.”

She shoved my chest, but I caught her wrists, forcing her down to the bed. She could’ve yelled. She didn’t. She looked up at me like she wanted to punch me and come at the same time.

“I’m not done hating you,” she whispered.

“Good,” I said, stripping her down. “Hate me while I make you climax so hard you forget your own name. ”

Her shoes and panties came off in one pull. I dropped to my knees and spread her thighs, dragging her to the edge. She was already soaked, and when I ran my tongue through her folds, her whole body jerked.

“God,” she gasped, fingers lacing through my hair, tugging, trying to control the pace.

But I didn’t let her. I pinned her hips down and ate her like I was starving. Long, deep licks. Circling her clit until she panted, “Please.” I didn’t think she even knew what she was asking for, she just needed something more. So I sucked in hard until her back arched and she cried out.

“Let go, babe,” I ordered against her.

“Fuck you.”

Bree thought she was being tough. She forgot who she was dealing with. I slid two fingers inside her and crooked them just right. Her thighs shook. Her moan broke in her throat.

“You are gonna come,” I said. “You’re gonna soak my fucking face.”

She did. Loud, shattering, legs locking around my shoulders. And even when she was done, I didn’t stop. Not until she shoved at me, trembling and breathless.

I stood, wiped my mouth, and stripped. Her eyes stayed locked on my cock, heavy and hard, already leaking for her.

“This still goodbye?” I asked, climbing over her. My dick twitched with excitement as I ripped open the condom package, rolling it on. “Down boy,” I told it. But it didn’t listen. It wanted inside. Good thing Bree wanted that too.