Bradford Brawler (Bradford Bastard 2)

Fuck, I’m getting wet just thinking about it.

We step out into the night, and I gape at my surroundings. The pool is a fucking oasis. It looks like a private beach with a rock formation waterfall built high at one end that doubles as a platform to jump off. Hell, it even looks like there’s a cave built beneath it, creating a private spa area, one that I have every intention of getting Tanner alone in.

There’s a swim up bar that’s staffed and another that’s currently hosting a game of poker, but the pool area is nothing compared to the rest of the outdoor setting. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and to be completely honest, I’m feeling just a little intimidated by it all. Jax and Logan don’t just have money, they’re freaking loaded. I wonder what they must think of my shitty home back in Hope Falls. I bet they laughed when they first saw me pull up in my falling-apart Honda.

A wave of unease settles into the pit of my stomach, but the moment I hear Chanel’s high-pitched tone cut through the night, a wide smile spreads across my face and the unease fades away. “WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOUR BITCH ASSES BEEN?” she squeals from way across the party, her voice somehow traveling over the music and all the twins’ guests.

I find Chanel and Arizona immediately, wide grins on their pretty faces, both already looking as though they’re ten drinks in. Arizona’s hand flies up into the sky, holding a glass of who the hell knows what. “TIME TO PARTAAAAAYYYYYY!”

Ilaria tugs on my hand and the two of us weave through the bodies again, cutting across the designated dancing area and nearly sprinting past the pool as the football team tries to drench us. I barely take two steps before I feel his stare and goosebumps spread across my skin.

I glance over my shoulder as Ilaria drags me toward the girls and find him sitting beside the massive built-in fire pit, looking fucking delicious in his loose tank, his strong, tattooed arms on display and those dark, devious eyes only for me. Tanner sits with a few guys I haven’t seen before, and while they talk animatedly among each other, Tanner seems to have completely zoned out.

He stands and excuses himself from the group, making his way across the party, ducking and weaving past the thirsty girls who reach for him. We reach Chanel and Arizona and I position myself so that I can keep my heavy stare on Tanner.

His eyes darken the closer he gets, and a shiver sails right down my spine.

Tanner is hungry, and from the looks of it, I’m his meal.

“What happened to the pink latex dress?” Ilaria asks, glancing at Arizona as Chanel cuts across to the bar behind us and grabs strawberry daiquiris for me and Ilaria. “This is cute, but I thought you were planning something extra saucy to entice the birthday boy.”

Not wanting to be rude, I turn my attention toward the girls and watch as Arizona glances down her body and smirks. “Yeah, apparently my cousin raided my closet and stole it, so I thought I’d wear black because I’m in mourning for all the faces that have been buried between my legs.”

A choking laugh bursts from my throat as Ilaria holds up her daiquiri toward Arizona. “Cheers to that, girl.”

As the girls talk among themselves, my gaze shifts back toward the crowd, searching for Tanner once again, only he must have slipped away. If he were actually coming for me, he should be here by now as he was only a few steps away. But he’s nowhere to be seen.

My brows furrow as I search the crowd. “What are you looking for?” Chanel asks, capturing my attention again.

I shake my head. “It’s nothing,” I say, shrugging it off. “I just thought I should go say happy birthday to the twins, but I’m sure I’ll see them at some point. Besides, with an audience like this, they’re both eventually going to do something to draw attention to themselves.”

“Speaking of,” Ilaria smirks, glancing at Arizona. “Are you ready for the performance of a lifetime?”

“Fuck yeah,” she says, stretching her neck to the left then right and bouncing her shoulders. “I’m warmed up and ready to go. Just waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.”

Chanel laughs. “I stand by what I said this morning, you’re asking for trouble.”

“Nah,” Arizona says. “He’ll fucking love it, and even if I get caught, what does it really matter? Everyone knows I love dick, and it’s almost expected of Jax at this point.”

Chanel shakes her head. “This is going to be a disaster.”

A hard body presses into my back and I suck in a breath, more than ready to slam my elbow back into the asshole when that familiar scent washes over me. A smile tugs at my lips as his mouth grazes the side of my neck, and I can’t help but press my body harder against his.