Page 15 of Irreconcilable Attractions (Westwend Boys #1)
Colton
Things had only continued to be strained between Derek and I after what happened at Darby’s Wish, which was entirely on me.
He had been his wonderfully snarky self, trying to banter and crack jokes with me but…
I just couldn’t. It was hard to maintain the same level of physical closeness we’d shared before without feeling like I was right back at the swimming hole again.
I couldn’t look at him without seeing an image of him all perfect with his clumped lashes, flushed face, and sexy plump lips above me. If I had let him touch me, what would have happened? Would he have brushed hair off my face? Or had he been feeling the crackling tension in the air too?
I groaned and scrubbed a hand down my face.
Every small touch from Derek since that day had sent shivers of awareness down my spine. I felt like a teenager all over again, freaked that I would pop a boner at random times. I had to do something about it.
And by doing something about it, I meant going out, finding someone else to lose myself in, and helping me get over whatever these feelings were. Derek was my roommate. My straight roommate, who I’d been getting on well with until this sexual tension cropped up.
But that would all be remedied after tonight.
I stared at myself in my bathroom mirror, looking for anything more I needed to do before leaving.
My hair was gelled and styled exactly how I liked, swept over to one side and long enough to fall artfully across my brow.
The top was thick and voluminous which made my jawline pop and drew the eye to the line of my neck.
I decided I’d wear a thin line of eyeliner along my upper lashes. Nothing too dramatic. Just a hint, but enough to call attention to my eyes.
There weren’t any gay clubs in Westwend—shocker—but there were a couple of places about an hour north, closer to Austin.
Heading back into my room, I pulled on a sheer black button-down scattered with silver flecks.
They were like the tiniest cosmic shimmers that caught the light when I moved.
It clung in all the right places, hinting at the shape of my chest and shoulders without giving too much away.
I left the top buttons undone, just enough to make the thin silver chain at my throat glint, and rolled up the sleeves a little.
Paired with my darkest jeans that were tight and hugged my ass perfectly but had just the right amount of stretch, I looked like I had intentions . I cuffed them to show off my black combat boots, the worn leather giving me a little edge.
Checking myself out in my full length mirror, I couldn’t help the smirk that settled on my lips.
Yeah. Edible .
I’d turn some heads in this outfit and that would hopefully translate into getting laid.
I snapped a pic and sent it to Chris. She was my person for when I went out alone. If I met someone and decided to leave the club with them, Chris got a text letting her know. Just in case. I may not ask for names or details, but I wanted to try being safe.
She responded immediately with a line of fire emojis and a ‘ DAAMN, PERCIVAL ’.
I laughed, pocketing my phone.
Stepping out of my room, I spotted the light on in the living room and headed in that direction to turn it off.
Sometimes Derek would work late and forget to switch the lights off.
I had jokingly nagged him about it a few times, so I was shaking my head with a small smile as I entered the room only to realize he was still up.
He was sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through some files, his forehead buried in one of his hands and his face scrunched in concentration.
He glanced up from his work and froze in place. His gaze swept over me in a long elevator-style up-down. My chest tightened with a sense of pride.
Yeah, that’s right. I know I look fucking good.
I leaned against the wall casually, my arms crossed in a way that caused the fabric of my shirt to accentuate my forearms. The smirk I wore continued to grow.
“What?” I asked, lifting a brow.
He blinked, then shook his head like he was getting the cobwebs out. “Heading out?” His voice was a little raspy.
“Yeah,” I said easily. “I haven’t gone out in a while.” I didn’t need to elaborate on what that meant. We were both adults here.
He nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on my face with a look on his own like he was trying to solve a complex puzzle. I held his stare for a beat, before straightening up.
“Don’t wait up, okay?” I grabbed my keys from the side table near the door.
If he said anything else, I didn’t hear it, as I stepped out into the warm night.
The drive to the club had my skin feeling too tight, a restless energy coursing through my veins. It’d been forever since I’d gone out looking for a hook-up. It was fun. Thrilling. And a little nerve-wracking. But it also felt like slipping into a second skin.
After arriving, I dutifully joined the line, thumbing through my phone as I waited for my turn. At the door, the bouncer took my ID, looking it over before sending me a scrutinizing glance.
“Colton?” He questioned, one brow raising.
This guy’s appearance screamed security guard—gruff, broad, built like a brick shithouse.
“That’s me,” I said, flashing a hopefully dazzling grin. Was there some sort of problem?
A sultry grin slid over the bouncer’s features as he flicked my ID back to me between two fingers. “If I wasn’t on shift tonight, I’d definitely be buying you a drink, Colton .”
Heat and something akin to elation scorched its way through my insides, making my chest puff up. “Too bad,” I winked, “Would of loved getting to know you better.”
He pushed the door open, our gazes locked as I stepped through. “Next time,” he smirked, and I practically floated the rest of the way in, high on the adrenaline of already feeling so wanted .
Thick smoke made the entry hallway dim and hazy, and faint neon strips lit the way to a set of double doors.
A heavy bass thrummed from the other side, reverberating through the floor and settling heavily in my chest. Droning conversation made unintelligible by its loud, overlapping nature mixed with the music that fluctuated in volume as club goers passed to and from the main room.
Step one of my mission was accomplished after paying the cover, gaining entry into my kingdom for the night.
Lights flashed and swirled across a sea of moving bodies, the room drenched in pulsing blues and greens as I made my way toward the bar.
It stretched the length of one wall, illuminated in a white glow, acting as a beacon for the drunk and soon-to-be. Rainbow flags were strung overhead, loud and proud in the brilliant light from below.
Weaving through the crowd, I let the music guide me, the rhythm threading through my veins.
My skin tingled with the knowledge that eyes were following me, some lingering longer than others.
Euphoria washed over me at the attention, my head held high as I continued to press toward my destination.
Delicate fingers wrapped around my arm, the twink they were attached to sending me a sensual smirk as he chewed on the straw of his drink.
“Dance with me?” He called against my ear so as to be heard over the music.
I tilted my head toward the bar before pushing into his space, my lips grazing just over his ear. “Find me later.” Our eyes locked as I pulled back, and he nodded quickly before releasing his grip.
Once at the bar, a shirtless bartender slid over, his muscles gleaming from the luminescence below.
I made no attempt at hiding my appraisal as his muscles flexed and bunched while he made my order.
Once it was completed, he passed it over with a wink before taking my payment and turning to help the next patron.
The cold and sweet liquid left a burning trail in its wake that settled squarely in my chest as I downed my drink faster than I probably should have.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I focused on the warmth slowly spreading through me, and let it settle the nerves that simmered just under my skin.
Depositing the empty glass back on the bar, I made my way through the masses toward the dance floor.
A carnal energy engulfed me like a wave the moment I made it onto the floor.
The half-way indecent movements of the dancers, the pulsing strobe lights—it was hot, loud, sticky with sweat, and exactly where I needed to be.
A buzz was settling over me from my drink, and mixed with the chaos to help ease me into my new environment.
Scattered iridescent light sprayed across the crowd from the disco ball overhead, casting little stars that flickered over skin, glitter, and fabric contributing to the otherworldly atmosphere.
The heavy thumps of the base only intensified things further as I moved toward the middle of the space, the sound dragging me into the depths only a club could offer.
A sensual rhythm settled over me, my eyes sliding closed as I let my hands glide over my skin and body in a slow tease.
Warmth pulsed inside me, a dangerously heady sensation growing in the pit of my stomach as I continued to roll my hips.
Each movement was an encouragement for anyone brave enough to step forward.
And like I’d summoned it, a body pressed in behind me.
Tall. Solid. Warm.
His chest and waist slotted against mine, swaying in time to the music around us like we’d been doing this for years together.
Calloused fingers slid low along my waistband, finding their home in the grooves of my hips, anchoring our bodies together completely.
Taking the invitation, I pressed against him, grinding my ass back.
I tipped my head toward the ceiling, a breathy moan slipping from my mouth at the deep satisfaction of being touched.
The man behind me groaned in unison as he buried his face into the side of my neck, the rasp of his stubble against my skin sending electric ripples of pleasure down my spine.