Page 131 of Sugar

When I remained still since we were supposed to watch the movie from the balcony level, Easton lowered his head near my ear. “Change of plans. Tripp wants us to sit with him.”

“What?Why?”

The other man answered for himself. “I want to see your reaction. I know the assholes involved will like it. Or like seeing themselves on the screen. But Easton said you’re a movie buff.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but it came out as a nonsensical squeak.

Easton stooped to whisper in my ear again. “Think of your story.” His lips skimmed my neck quickly. “And I’ll make it up to you later.”

I didn’t need the incentive, but I wasn’t stupid enough to decline it.

Let’s hope the movie isn’t a bomb, or this is going to getsuperawkward.

My hope wasn’t needed.

The movie wasn’t just passably good.

It was amazing and perfectly cast, but Tripp was the standout by a long mile.

The easily charming man seemed to put his own personality on display in his portrayal of an easily charming ex-boyfriend. It was believable to see why the film’s heroine would be torn between him and her current boyfriend played by Chase Majors. Both actors made for compelling love interests. That alone would’ve been a great—if slightly clichéd—love triangle romance, but partway through, the film changed.

Hechanged.

His sweet façade had fallen away to reveal a captivatingly damaged interior. It’d been disconcerting to see how flawlessly Tripp embodied a complete psycho stalker. It was even more jarring to watch it while seated right next to him.

He’d been so convincing, I was mildly freaked out by him. But it was a sign of his skill and likability because I’d been disappointed when the heroine hadn’t chosen him.

Or maybe that was an indication of me being messed up.

Either way, my genuine reactions were what Tripp had been looking for. After his obligatory hoopla, all he’d wanted to do was talk to me and Easton about the movie and our thoughts. There was nothing aloof or calm, cool, and collected about his love for it. He wasn’t acting like it was just another day.

That’d changed the longer the after-party carried on. He seemed bored and restless.

He wasn’t the only one.

“The minute we get home…” Easton paused to tug me from the booth bench onto his lap. His fingertips skimmed up my inner thighs, dragging the fabric with them. “I am going to lift this pretty skirt and bury my dick in your perfect pussy.”

For a second, I thought his hands might keep going. I thought he might fuck me, right then and there.

And after a night of his frequent touches and filthy words, I thought I might let him, too.

But just before his fingers reached where I needed them most, he shifted me off to sit on the other side of him so he could climbfrom the booth. “But first, I need to get my friend out of here before he gets in trouble.”

“I think that’s a good idea. All of it.”

He dipped down to kiss me quickly. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.” He stood upright and remained in front of me as he discreetly readjusted himself as one last added tease. When I lifted my eyes to his, he gave me an arrogant smirk to make it clear he’d caught me checking him out.

I’ll never learn that lesson.

As he took off to the bar, I stood and made my way in the opposite direction toward the bathroom. I was on my way back to the table when someone caught my wrist.

And not the someone I wanted it to be.

Instead of Easton, it was Chase Majors who’d reached out from his spot at a corner booth to halt me. “I’ve been racking my brain, but I can’t seem to place who you are. Were you an extra?”

I shook my head. “I’m a friend of Tripp’s. The movie was amazing. Congrats.”

“Yeah,” he agreed with no flair of pride like Tripp. “Sit with me.”