Page 13 of These Wicked Games (Wicked Sins #1)

Pulling her arm from mine, she lifts her cigarette and takes a drag, blowing the smoke away from us. Then she tucks her arms around her body and holds her hand out to let the ash fall.

“How about this . . .” Grey smiles, and understanding seems to flow between them, something I’m not privy to.

I’m too drunk and pissed to ask any questions, though.

“You, me, and Kuli over here take this party elsewhere.” She cocks a manicured brow at him as he leans down, looking me in the eye before whispering something in her ear.

Her mouth gapes slightly but snaps shut.

Then he presses one of his fingers to his lips. What the hell did he say to her?!

“Well, that changes things. I have an idea.” She beams. “What do you say, Kuli? Ready to have some real fun?”

After the day I’ve had, I’m ready for anything.

I can feel the thump of the bass in my fucking DNA as I enter The Treasure House.

“Why the fuck are we at a queer club?” An exclusive club that required us to sign NDAs.

I look at my friend, who’s eyes are lit up like a kid on Christmas.

Not exactly Grey’s scene, but he seems like he’s into it.

It’s rare I see him this animated. Maybe he’s drunker than I thought.

“Because,” Monica yells over the music as we walk down the entry hall.

“I want to have some fun, and I’m sorry, but I’ve been following Destiny around all night.

” A bouncer with close-cropped blue hair and striking, bright purple contacts stands by a door.

The slight curve of Monica’s lips tells me everything I need to know as she walks up to her and drags one of her fingers down the center of the bouncer’s chest.

“Hey, kitten,” the bouncer purrs, giving her another once over.

“Is Leela deejaying tonight?”

“Yes she is, and yes I talked to her. I put in a good word for you.” The bouncer’s eyes lift to us. “Bodyguards?”

“My entourage,” she laughs.

“Just casually hanging out with two of the biggest hockey stars Oregon has to offer? Why would I expect any less?”

“Destiny’s with their friend. We snuck away for some real fun.” Something darkens over the woman’s face. “Don’t look at me like that. I know, I know.”

“Stop trying to get with straight women,” she yells over the noise. “It’s only going to bring you pain.” Monica ignores her, grabbing her in for a hug-squeeze combo before running her fingers through her hair.

“Thanks, Tory.”

She lets us in, giving us both an appraising look as we pass.

Stepping inside the club, I squint. Everything’s so bright.

So, so fucking bright. Laser lights ping-pong all over the club and bodies writhe all around us, everyone in their own little world having a great time.

It’s so different than what I’m used to.

The bass is nauseating. Men and women dance—on tables, on the floor, some even on the bar.

Everything is so loud, overstimulating, and I instantly regret coming.

The beat of the music is too loud, making me sick.

It feels like my brain is bouncing around my skull

Fuck, I am getting old .

I look over at Grey who’s surveying the crowd as we make our way through the writhing bodies to the bar. “You look happy to be here,” I attempt to say in Grey’s ear.

“Can’t I try something new?” That surprises me.

Not as much, though, as the sight before me when I look up onto a platform to our right. Holy shit . “For fuck’s sake,” Grey curses next to me.

Up ahead on a raised platform, Andre is dancing with a slim man with shocking silver hair.

The man looks young, though, so maybe it’s dyed to make him look like some kind of Jack Frost. Either way, they’re having a great time grinding against each other.

The man leans in, whispering into Andre’s ear, and whatever it is makes his eyes go molten.

My guts twist. “Oli, don’t.” Grey surprises me with the growl that leaves his lips. “Just put it away for one fucking night. We don’t need a repeat, not here.”

I hear him but everything feels like I’m being plunged into darkness, and my vision tunnels, seeing only Andre ahead.

As if he can feel the heat of my gaze, Andre turns his head to me, and it takes a split second before his whole demeanor stiffens.

Closing his eyes for a second, he looks to the man basically rubbing his dick all over his thigh.

Leaning in, he whispers something, and the smaller man looks disappointed but nods.

Hopping down off the platform, Andre doesn’t spare me a glance, moving deeper inside the club. “What’s going on?” Monica comes back to us with three shots in hand. “Come on, boys. Lighten up.” I take the shot, my eyes still looking around to see where Andre went, having no luck .

“Why so grumpy?” Monica laughs then looks at Grey. “What’s the deal with Mr. Great Tits?”

I can’t even laugh at her joke. “He just saw this guy he hates,” Grey leans in to tell her.

“Oh, spicy. Romance gone wrong? Did he cheat? Cheaters are the worst!” She leans into me. “I’m not saying we could make him disappear, but I may or may not know a guy. Allegedly.”

This time I laugh. “No, nothing like that. Just hockey shit.”

“Ah! Bro stuff. Got it. Well, no fighting here, boys. This is my house and I invited you all into it. Don’t embarrass me.” Noted.

While I respect that, I realize right now how not into this I am. I’m done. I want to go home. Who the fuck was that guy he was dancing with? Was he just here for fun, or something more? “Grey.” I turn to him. “I’m going to head out.”

“Oli—”

“You have fun, okay.” Grey’s eyes wander over the crowd and there’s something in them. I know he wants to stay. Maybe he wants a shot at Monica no matter how unlikely it is with her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I look at Monica, happily sipping her drink. “Please take good care of him.”

“Oh, we are going to have a great night!” She starts to dance a bit as she continues sipping.

I just want to go home. Seeing Andre here . . . I can’t. I pull out my phone to request a ride when I feel Grey grab my bicep. “What?”

“Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you? He’s just a fucking guy. I know your history. I do. I get it, okay? What does it matter if he’s here? So what? Don’t let him ruin any more of your life, Oli.”

“Grey— ”

He shakes his head. “Look deeper, Kuli. This isn’t hatred. It’s obsession.”

I wrench my arm out of his grip. “Fuck you.” I turn, ignoring him calling after me as I make my way through the writhing bodies. I didn’t realize how suffocating it felt being in here until now. Everything is pressing down on me. It’s too loud. Too busy.

I breathe a sigh of relief as I step outside. Cool night air carries away the tight feeling in my chest. Tory, the bouncer from earlier, is smoking outside. “Whoa, you alright, big guy?”

“Uh yeah, I just need—” Up ahead I see him, waiting for a ride maybe. Did he leave as soon as he saw me too? Or is he waiting for someone? Maybe that fucking guy. That burn churns my gut again. “Just not feeling well.” Her brows pinch before she nods.

“Have a good night. Get home safe.”

“You too.” I request a ride on my phone. It’s late now and I just pray when I get home sleep will take me. I’m nearly sober, so thankfully I shouldn’t have that much of a hangover tomorrow.

I have nowhere else to wait, so I stand on the sidewalk, awkwardly, away from him. Everything in me is screaming to go up to him and punch him.

His whole body goes rigid.

“Like what you saw, Oli?”

Fuck, why can’t he just shut his mouth?

“If you’re in my line of sight, not likely.”

Andre shakes his head. “It’s pathetic at this point.” I open my mouth but he continues. “Just leave me alone. I don’t know why you even came here?” Because Monica, because Grey.

Because I couldn’t put today out of my mind and wanted to drown in an alcohol-induced haze.

We have tomorrow off. I just wanted to forget, but all the drink did is make me relive it even more.

Why did he get traded? Why would he leave one of the best teams to come here?

To my fucking team? He has to be fucking with me. It’s sick.

None of it makes sense.

I watch him under the streetlights, the ground slick with the rain that fell earlier. I love the fresh earthy smell after it storms. Now it’s just making my stomach clench.

I dare a look at him. From here I can see a faint bruise cradling his eye. I wonder whether I did that, but it’s been about a week since the game. It is fading, though . . . “What’s the matter? Have a problem with me dancing with a guy? Don’t tell me Kuli is a homophobe now.”

I turn to him, pissed. “I’m not a homophobe, you prick!

I don’t give a fuck how you spend your personal time.

I was here with friends. This is my city!

” Fuck him very much. “Don’t worry, I would never out you, no matter how much I fucking hate you.

Unlike you, I don’t try and destroy people’s careers. ”

“And there it is,” he mumbles.

I am going to strangle him. Marching toward him, I’m mindful of Monica’s words, and I don’t really want a repeat of last week at Vanessa’s.

We’re lucky neither of us got arrested, but this isn’t some dive in the middle of nowhere.

We’re in downtown Portland outside a busy nightclub.

I’m just . . . exhausted. “You’re just begging for someone to put you in your fucking place. ”

Andre spins on me. His hazel eyes shine under the streetlights, and from here his freckles stand out even more.

“What’s the matter, Oli?” he purrs, and the sound is like a heavy caress over my stomach.

It clenches. “You want to be the one to do that?” He tsks.

“ Or maybe I’d have you on your knees in a heartbeat. I think that would suit you better.”

What the fuck! “You disgust me.”

“Or does that image intrigue you?”

“You’re right, I always fantasize about people who fucking disgust me all the time. It’s my kink, actually. Makes so much sense.”

“No, what doesn’t make sense, Kuli, is the way you watched me dancing with that guy. That is what doesn’t make sense.”

“Fuck you.”

“Broken record.” He shakes his head. “You say it so much it’s starting to lose its bite.

” He’s close now, and I can smell whatever cologne he’s put on.

It mingles with the sweat soaking the back of his shirt.

He must have been dancing a while. The way his shirt clings to his muscular body is pissing me off. Everything about Andre pisses me off.

“Go fuck yourself.”

“You think about that a lot? Huh, Oli?” What the fuck is happening? My stomach tightens, along with my jeans. Fuck. What the fuck. Maybe I should have taken Destiny up on her offer. I need to find someone. Scratch this itch. Andre is fucking with my brain.

A car pulls up and I’ve never breathed a deeper breath of relief. “You disgust me.”

“Mmm.” Andre smirks. “Sure thing, Oli. You have a horrible fucking night.” He slides into the car and I have half a mind to punch the window. My fingers flex with the thought.

I gather some semblance of humanity as I wait for my own ride. Whatever this is needs to stop, but I know without a doubt that this bullshit, whatever it is between us, is just beginning.