Page 6

Still six months earlier

Ellie

We just finished dinner and are now piled back in the limo headed to Club Seven, a popular spot not far from town. I managed to keep my cool during the limo ride earlier and throughout dinner, but now I’m getting a little fidgety. I need another drink to calm my nerves.

I’m sitting between Haleigh and Jaydon, with Ryan on the opposite side of Haleigh. Her fiancé was supposed to be here for her birthday celebration, but he came up with yet another bullshit lie as to why he couldn’t make it.

She has a suspicion that he’s been cheating on her, and I think she’s correct. It’s fine with me that he couldn’t make it. I know he doesn’t like me—and the feeling is mutual. He’s a worthless piece of shit; he doesn’t treat her right, and she deserves so much better.

I reach across from where I’m seated and grab my bag .

“Haleigh, I’m pouring us another drink…” I say, lifting the premixed concoction out of my bag with a grin, “… grab your cup so I can fill it up again.”

“Oh, shit… where did I put it?” She giggles, her buzz already in full effect.

Her laughter is contagious, and I find myself giggling right along with her.

She had a drink on the way to the restaurant and another when we got there. Her cheeks are already flushed. I’m only on my second drink and need to catch up.

Ryan reaches over to the table beside him and grabs her tumbler from the cup holder. “Hales, don’t you remember? You gave it to me earlier when we got to the restaurant.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s right… Thanks, Ryan.” She bats her long lashes at him, her sweet voice dripping with playful affection.

I smirk. She’s so gone for him, and she doesn’t even know it yet.

“Here… hold it steady, and I will fill it up for you, girl.” I top off her tumbler, and she quickly turns to face Ryan. I can’t quite make out what he’s saying to her, but I know he’s flirting by the way she keeps giggling.

I had to pretend all dinner that I didn’t want to stab Jaydon’s eyes out.

Every time he glanced at me from across the table, I rolled my eyes and looked away.

He was fucking with me like normal, that smug-ass smirk never leaving his face.

I tried keeping all my attention on Haleigh and talking to her, but she was so wrapped up in Ryan, giggling with him.

She didn’t even notice her fucking brother harassing me with his stupid, sexy face.

Asshole.

I take a long sip of my drink, trying to drown out Jaydon’s presence, his gaze, and the heat from his leg—his leg that seems to be getting closer and closer to mine.

He shifts, and his arm brushes against mine.

I thought it was by accident, but as I glance over my shoulder, I see the devilish glint in his eyes.

I narrow mine in response. “What?” I snarl.

He leans closer to me, his voice a low, teasing rasp. “Why are you so uptight? Relax, Ellie.”

I huff, turning my attention back to my drink. “Hard to relax with you near me,” I mumble against the rim of my tumbler.

That earns me one of his signature cocky-ass grins. “Why can’t you relax around me? I get you all worked up?”

I roll my eyes and glance over at Haleigh and Ryan. They are both so wrapped up in their own conversation that they don’t even notice us talking.

Perfect.

Two can play this game.

I shift closer to him, pressing my hardened nipple ever so slightly into his thick bicep.

I watch as his nostrils flare and his jaw clenches.

I know he feels it through the thin layer of his dress shirt.

If he wants to fuck with me, I will fuck with him too.

I can tell he’s getting turned on, his gorgeous eyes just smoldering into me.

“You wish you could work me up…” I whisper, my lips grazing the shell of his ear. “I can’t relax because I can’t stand to be near you.”

A deep grunt escapes him. His eyes roam my overly exposed thighs before flicking back to my lips.

He leans his back into the seat, trying to control himself, trying to hold back, his hand reaching between his thick thighs—adjusting himself, his eyes stay locked on mine the entire time.

I smirk, giggling inwardly at his discomfort. I love knowing I affect him.

He moves in close once more, the heat from his breath dancing across my neck, “You’re a fucking liar, Ellie…” he pulls back, looking directly into my eyes before tipping his head to my drink, “…Now, be a good girl and drink up.”

The four of us step into the chic two-story club, music bumping. The vibrations of the bass send a thrill through me, electrifying my body. Random rays of colorful lights shimmer across the dance floor; a huge disco ball is mounted and hanging above all the grinding bodies.

We walk through the crowd, weaving our way through the throng of partygoers as the scent of alcohol and sweat lingers in the air. Ryan leads us, Jaydon following closely behind me—a little too close, heading straight towards the bar.

We order a round of drinks, and I down mine quickly as we find an empty table nearby.

I’m feeling the music. My body is alive, thrumming to the beat, and I need to dance.

The vodka and peach schnapps burned going down, in the most delicious way, and I’m quickly feeling the effects.

I turn to Haleigh, who's nursing her drink a little too slow, and nudge her with my elbow.

“Damn, girl… hurry up and chug that shit! I see some sexy-ass men out there, and I’m going to dance with them.”

I glance towards Jaydon. His face is hard as stone, tension rolling off him in waves. I guess I struck a nerve.

Serves him right.

Haleigh grins, tips her glass all the way back, and drinks the last drop, slamming it down on the table.

We both cheer, laughing, throwing our hands in the air, ready to get this party started. I grab her by the hand and lead her into the crowd, moving to the beat as we weave through the hot, grinding bodies on the dance floor.

Haleigh dances closer to me, leaning into my ear to shout over the music, “This is so much fun, Ells! I’m so happy you are celebrating my birthday with me!”

I grab her and wrap my arms around her shoulders, pulling her in close for a hug while we dance to the rhythm, “I wouldn’t miss it… You’re my best friend! Now, let’s find some hotties to dance with.”

We’ve been on the dance floor for what seems like hours, stopping several times for drinks, then quickly making our way back out into the crowd.

The vodka peach schnapps are sweet and fucking delicious; I can’t get enough.

The guys are still mingling around the table, having drinks and talking.

I don’t care what they do. I’m here to dance, and I’m having a blast with my bestie.

I’ve been alone on the dance floor, dancing with random people for at least half an hour.

I watched Ryan guide Haleigh off the dance floor just a little while ago, and they never returned.

I don’t think they will. Some jerk got handsy with her, and Ryan had to step in. He never left her side after that.

Jaydon was dancing near me earlier, but I lost him in the crowd.

I feel a warm body come up behind me and start grinding on my ass. At first, I thought it might be Jaydon—my heart skips—but I quickly realize… It’s not. I don’t recognize these hands. They're too light, and they're definitely too hesitant.

The man dancing behind me has pretty good moves, but he’s not doing anything for me. There's no spark. His touch doesn’t make my insides tingle the way Jaydon's does.

I’m bored with him.

I’m about to turn around when he pulls away, and I’m quickly jerked back into someone else.

Although, this connection feels different when they wrap their powerful arms around my body, holding me tight against their solid chest.

“You like rubbing your ass all over his cock?” His words spew into my ear.

Fucking hell, I knew it was him.

I say nothing.

“You want him to fuck you… In this little dress you’re wearing?”

He’s fuming. Possessive.

I still say nothing .

I've driven him mad.

“You think you can tease me all night and then let some random motherfucker put his hands on you?”

His hands possessively roam my body, unapologetic; his fingers trace the curve of my waist before sliding up my ribs.

He grabs my hair, tilting my head, then leans down, running his tongue up the length of my throat, lighting my insides on fire.

A gasp catches in my throat, my clit throbbing in response.

“Goddamn,” he growls. “You taste like sweet salt and sin. Do you know what you do to me?” His teeth scrape my earlobe, sending jolts of pleasure through me.

“You fucking destroy my control… I can’t fucking keep watching all these motherfuckers with their hands all over you, grinding their dicks all over your sweet ass. ”

I wore this dress tonight on purpose, to fuck with him.

It’s a skintight black minidress that falls only a few inches beneath my ass, barely covering anything. It has a twisted neckline and a deep open back. My curves are on full display, leaving little to the imagination.

Picked to torment him.

Seems like my plan worked. Pulling him in and pushing him back… Leave him hanging. I planned on denying him when he got close. That was my game plan—make him feel the confusion he put me through.

Payback for fucking with me .

He doesn’t get to fuck around with my sister and think he can just take whatever he wants from me too.

He thinks I don’t know.

But I do.

And no matter how much I want to surrender to him, I know I shouldn’t. I can't.

Because every time he touches me, the memory of seeing her name flash across his phone creeps back in, and him… letting it happen. It fucking burns.

But not nearly as much as the fire growing inside me right now. Feeling the heat from his massive body mixed with the swirling scent of his cologne—I’m fucked.

I should never have trusted myself with him.

He grunts in my ear. “They will never know what this sweet pussy tastes like…”