Page 22 of Wicked Games
“I’ll walk you out,” Celeste said, sliding back her chair.
“I’ll do it, Mother,” Ryder said, smiling at his mother.
Simone said something, pulling Celeste’s attention back to her. I smiled at Ezra. “I’ll only borrow Ryder for a minute.”
“Um, okay,” Ezra said, looking puzzled.
Neither Ryder nor I spoke until we reached the front door. “I don’t know what time I’ll get home tonight,” Ryder told me, earning a snort. “What?”
“Stop trying to make me jealous. The only action you’re going to have is with your fist while you think about how close I came to dropping to my knees to suck your cock in the bathroom.”
“Shut the fuck up before someone overhears you,” Ryder said angrily. “I wasn’t implying that I was going to spend the night fucking Ezra. I meant I wasn’t sure how long before I could get away without causing a fuss. I need to be back here early tomorrow afternoon for Thanksgiving dinner, so maybe tonight isn’t the best idea. Do you have a way for me to contact you?”
I slipped a business card from my wallet and handed it to him. Ryder ran his thumb over the name printed on the card, and I swear I felt it in my groin. He looked up at me with a crooked grin reminiscent of the ones he’d given me in Paris. It was too much to hope we could have a future together after one brief conversation in his parents’ bathroom, but it was a start. “What’s a guy have to do to see your fake Interpol badge?”
“Are you flirting?”
“No, I’m just curious.”
“Give me an hour to explain, and I’ll show you whatever you want,” I pleaded. Ryder inhaled deep, held his breath, and released it slowly. He didn’t speak or nod, but I saw the answer in his expressive eyes. “Text me so I’ll have your number too.”
I left him standing in the doorway watching me leave. I kept glancing in the rearview mirror until the front of the house was no longer in sight. My phone chimed with an incoming text when I reached the end of the driveway.
I want my lucky tie back, preferably without cum stains on it.
IDIDN’T CALLLUCIEN WHENI got home from my parents that night, nor did I call him the next day or even the one after. I thought about calling him on Saturday but decided to go clubbing with Ezra instead. I needed time to think without my hormones getting me in trouble. How could I even think about trusting Lucien again? Was it even his real name? I could demand to see his birth certificate, but how would I know if it was real?
“I need another drink,” I shouted over the music to Ezra.
“Are you sure you haven’t had too many already?” he yelled back.
I rolled my eyes and regretted it because the world started to tilt. “I’m fine,” I said, unsure which one of us I was trying to convince. Maybe a glass of water this round, I thought to myself. I wasn’t fine. I was angry. I was hurt. I was lonely. I was so fucking horny. Damn Lucien.
The line for the bar was long, so I pulled out my phone to kill time. I posted a selfie I’d taken with Ezra on Instagram with the caption that read: Feeling the “vibe” with this cutie. My Instagram account was connected to my Facebook and Twitter accounts so the status would post to all of them. I was too buzzed to care who might see them or the conclusions they might jump to. Had I been sober, I would’ve worried about damaging Ezra’s reputation. By the time I reached the bar, I had to wait another ten minutes to get the hottie bartender’s attention. I had to hand it to the owner of Vibe; they hired the best-looking bar staff. I ordered a glass of water and a drink since it would be a thirty-minute wait, or longer, before I got another chance.
“Hey there, sexy,” said a familiar voice in my ear. “Long time no see.”
My hands tightened on the glasses, and I turned from the bar to face Rhys, the cute waiter from the gala event. “Hey,” I said casually. “How’s it going?”
“I’d be better if I had a drink,” he said, looking pointedly at the alcoholic beverage in my hand.
I looked longingly at it too. The least I could do was buy the man a drink after he gave a formal statement to the FBI admitting I bent him over my desk during the gala. I mean, I wasn’t sure what he’d told them, but he did confirm my alibi. I extended the glass toward him and said, “Care for a Suck, Bang, Blow?”
Rhys smiled devilishly. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“Want to find a table?” I asked.
“I could think of something else I’d rather do, but I’ll settle for yelling at each other over the thumping techno music.”
“Come on,” I said, tipping my head for Rhys to follow me then instantly regretted it when the world threatened to turn on its axis.
Rhys looped his arm through mine. “I think I should be the one leading the way,” he teased.
We were lucky enough to find a booth toward the back. I sent Ezra a text to let him know where I was so he wouldn’t think I abandoned him. I wasn’t so buzzed I couldn’t think straight, even if my motor skills were a little sketchy.
“Who was the guy?” Rhys asked.
“What guy?” My mind immediately went to Lucien, and I wondered how Rhys had found out about him. Had Lucien tracked him down?