She drove him totally insane and made him feel like a hormonal teenager.
Which was probably why he’d acted like one when the others had arrived at her apartment. He’d made it clear from the minute he’d left her bedroom that she was his girl and that she would be moving in with him before the week was out.
Since they’d arrived at the club though, they’d seemed to lose the others, which was fine with him. He wanted Erin all to himself without her attention being split.
And now, as he danced her into a darker part of the nightclub, all his blood rushed south making him so hard, he felt like he had a club in his jeans.
Her sexy body rubbed all over the front of him, her ass ground on his dick so badly that he saw stars.
“Mateo,” Erin hissed. ”I’m burning up.” She spun around and faced him, one of her legs hooked over his hip, her arms clutched at his shoulders as she rubbed her pussy over his solid erection.
He needed relief as badly as Erin obviously did and was seconds from ripping his jeans open to impale her.
But he made the mistake of looking over her shoulder, which was when he met the gaze of Allie. That was all he fucking needed on his first night out with Erin. As he watched, she smirked and turned when someone placed an arm around her neck. Derek Griffin.
What the fuck was she doing with him? He had a reputation of being too rough with women. No charges had even been placed but Mateo had once seen the evidence of his handy work.
He felt Erin’s eyes on him before she turned and looked to see what held his attention. And he knew when she spotted Allie because her once pliant body went stiff against him. She tried to pull out of his arms, but he held her close.
“Let me go,” Erin hissed and pulled free of his arms.
Mateo met her gaze and saw pain reflected back at him. “Erin, don’t go getting ideas in that gorgeous head of yours.”
He glanced back at Allie and watched her kiss and rub all over Derek. No way could he let her go off with him. Surely she should have heard about his reputation.
“Dammit Mateo. What the hell am I supposed to think when you can’t take your eyes off her?” Erin backed away. “And why the hell is she here anyway?”
Seeing tears on her lashes, hurt stabbed him in the chest. He needed to explain to Erin what was going on, but as he glanced at them again, he didn’t have time. “Look,” he started, distracted, “I don’t have time now, but I promise this isn’t what it looks like.”
He moved toward where he’d seen Allie and Derek disappear and glanced back to Erin. “Go find Sadie and I’ll come find you soon.”
She shook her head, the tears falling down her cheeks. “Please don’t.” Turning her back on him, he watched her walk away.
His heart died a little bit knowing that he’d broken hers, but surely she’d understand once he’d explained about Derek’s reputation.
Derek had taken an instant dislike to Mateo all those years before when he’d been a rookie and it had stuck. Which now made him wonder if Derek showing up with Allie had been for his benefit?
Either way, he knew that Erin would be safe with Sadie while he got Allie away from the bastard.
He rounded a corner toward the back of the club and found Allie standing on her own with a bottle of water in her hand. “Where is he?”
“Restroom.”
“Why the fuck are you with him? You know his reputation, right?”
“I know it…and don’t believe it.” She uncapped the bottle. “Here, take a drink. You look hot and sweaty.”
Her observation wasn’t so wrong either. Dancing with Erin had worked him up, but he was hot with worrying about Erin. She’d looked upset when he’d told her to find her friend but his distraction with Allie had been obvious.
All he’d wanted was to get Allie away from Derek without Erin being anywhere near them. He shook his head and concentrated back on Allie. “You need to go home without Derek.” He passed her the bottle of water back and realized it was empty. “Sorry, I’ll get you another on the way out.”
“You leaving with me?” Allie asked, her fingers trailing along his arm.
He shook her off. “No, but I will put you in a taxi.”
“Okay. I suppose that will have to do.”
He shut his eyes as Allie started to go out of focus. Her face was blurred and as she slid her arm around his waist, his arm automatically went around her shoulders.