“Are you going to introduce me to your friends?”
I’d been so mesmerized that I’d completely forgotten.
How rude of me.
“I’m sorry.” I shook my head, pulling myself back into reality. “I see them at the bar. Come on.”
I linked our hands, an action that felt so natural that I didn’t realize the meaning behind it until we arrived at Monica’s side and his fingers slipped out of my hold, gripping my lower back instead.
“Ladies,” I said, clearing my throat, “meet Jenner.”
Monica’s face said it all—shock with a heavy dose of approval. I assumed she was surprised by how good-looking he was or the fact that I’d immediately fallen into his arms or that we couldn’t keep our eyes off each other.
The bartender set a round of drinks in front of her, and she handed me one and then reached for Jenner’s hand to shake. “It’s so fab to meet you. What can I get you to drink?”
“Likewise,” he replied. “And I appreciate the offer, but we have several bottles at our table. There’s no need for you girls to pay for anything tonight.”
I took a long, heavy gulp, and while he shook hands with Lex and Court, I stared at Monica, easily making my way into her thoughts. She was impressed and as smitten as me, and that was clear as day.
I had to stop myself from laughing.
When Jenner pulled his hand back, his arm returned to my backside, and he said, “Why don’t you all come sit with us? I’ll introduce you to my friends and brothers.”
The nervous energy was, for some reason, still there, and it increased at the thought of meeting his friends and family. Even though I’d seen them in the sportsbook, this felt different.
It felt more intimate.
Especially as we walked over with his hand on me, all of their eyes on mine as we approached the table.
“This is Jo,” Jenner said to the group.
As he voiced each of their names, I recited it in my head and shook their hand, trying to memorize who they were. And when I released Jack’s fingers, the last of the group, I said, “It’s nice to meet you all.” I gave them a wave and continued, “These are my girls. This is Monica, Lex, and Courtney.” I pointed at each one.
“Ladies, come sit,” Ford said, and he got up from his seat, calling the waitress over to get more chairs.
Dominick and Brett rose as well.
My friends were reluctant to take their places, but when the boys insisted, they caved.
Jenner sat in the only empty chair, the one he’d given up to meet us at the entrance, and he pulled me onto his lap. The second my butt landed, I felt his hardness, and he wasted no time pushing it into me.
If I’d thought I was wet before, nothing compared to this.
And when his lips pressed against the back of my neck, my body began to scream.
“Jo, where are you from?” I heard.
It took a moment for me to work my way out of this Jenner fog, but when I did, I realized Dominick was the one who had asked. While waiting for the waitress to return with chairs, he stood behind us.
“Miami,” I told him, and I pointed at the girls. “We all live there.”
“Do you come here for every March Madness?” he asked.
“Some of the girls aren’t even twenty-two yet,” I shyly admitted. “So, no, this is the first year we’ve been, now that we’re really able to enjoy Vegas.”
“You’re just babies,” he replied.
I laughed.
But he was right.
As I hung out with Jenner and his friends, dressed in sports coats with cuff links at the ends of their sleeves, having immediate access to the VIP area and not even blinking at the cost of bottle service, I certainly felt the difference between them and college guys.
But as Jenner’s lips moved down my shoulder, those thoughts dissolved.
And once again, I could think of nothing but him.
“You’re making it impossible for me to pay attention to this conversation with your brother,” I whispered.
His mouth moved to the back of my ear, where I felt a quick flick of his tongue. “And I haven’t even touched you yet.”
That was a warning.
Because seconds later, his fingers found me, pressing against the center of my stomach, his thumb rubbing circles, like he was threatening to go lower.
“You’re killing me,” I groaned only loud enough for him to hear.
“I’m not trying to …”
But he was.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
“Don’t you want me to make a good impression?”
As he exhaled, goose bumps lifted across my skin. “Jo, you already have.”