Conceited (Crimson Elite 3)

“I haven’t seen you for years.”

“Since that night of the party when I told you to leave.”

Her forehead crinkles at my words. “Yes, what was it? You were looking after your little sister’s friend, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“How did that go? You hook up with her?” She smiles like she knows I did.

“No.” I pause then smile. “But believe me, I’m trying.”

“I’ve never known you as a trying type, Falcon. Have you lost your game?”

“Now Holly, why would you go and say a thing like that?” I shake my head.

She fakes a smile and I see why I went back for more all those years ago. She has something about her that draws you in. Plus, she was one of the best lays I’ve ever had. Her hands come up to play on my shirt as she touches one of my buttons and smirks. “How about you show me your car, for old times’ sake?”

“Now that’s tempting…”

Hands slap my back. “You, seriously?” Turning around and out of Holly’s grasp, Ariel stands there.

Well, shit. This I did not expect. But I like it.

“Are you following me?” she basically yells.

I look past her to see that she’s by herself. “Who are you here with?”

Ariel smiles and nods her head to someone behind me. Turning, all I see is Holly smiling.

“You’re kidding me, you and her?” I laugh.

Ariel doesn’t find it amusing. Instead, she crosses her arms over her chest and looks at me.

“You do know I fucked her, right?”

“Oh, I know, all the more reason to stay away from you.”

“Tsk, tsk, little Raven. Now you know what you’re missing out on.”

Holly walks around the side and bumps her hip with Ariel and smiles. “He’s like a dog with a bone. I’ve never seen you like this, Falcon. It’s… interesting.”

“Nothing about it that’s at all interesting,” I retort back to her becoming defensive.

“Oh, but it is. How long have you been playing cat and mouse for? Does it eat at you that she hasn’t dropped to your feet?” I look to Ariel who’s watching the little interaction, waiting for an answer. She’s expecting me to fuck up to give her a better excuse to say no to me. So instead, I smile.

“It doesn’t, it just means some people are worth waiting for.”

Holly smiles and then squeezes Ariel’s hand before she walks off. I watch her do so and can’t help but think she looks even better now she’s all grown up.

“You’re checking her out right in front of me. You have some game, Falcon.” Ariel’s sweet voice pulls me back to her.

My eyes track her up and down. She’s dressed in a short dress with a pair of cowboy boots on her feet. “How about you dance with me, cowgirl?”

She shakes her head. “You do know this is Holly’s birthday party, and you weren’t invited?” I look around, and that’s when I finally see the banner over one of the larger tables with Holly’s name written all over it.

“Is that why you’re here?” I ask, stepping closer to her so I can smell her.

“Yes, and I was also hoping it would get me away from you. But what are the chances that we end up at the same place?” Her arms are still folded as if she’s waiting for me to tell her I followed her.

“Raven, do you really think I followed you all this way back to our hometown to get you?”

Her arms drop from her chest. “Yes.” She says it with so much authority, doubt is creeping in.

I lean in and whisper close to her ear, “No, sweetheart, but if you want a roll in the hay…” Her breathing picks up but she recovers fast.

She leans into me, turning her face so we’re almost touching lips to lips. “You can only dream, Falcon.”

The temptation to touch my lips to hers is hard to resist, so I don’t. Instead, I reach down with my hand, touching her hip. Her eyes go wide, she knows what I’m about to do, but she doesn’t stop me either. It’s like she’s frozen on the spot.

It happens so fast, yet also in slow motion. Her taste is everything I thought it would it be and more. She opens her mouth as my lips cover hers, her body sags into me like she’s meant to be there. No resistance. Is this what she wanted all along? For me to kiss her. Well, I sure as shit will be every chance I get now, even if she acts as if I’m the worst person put on this planet because I know the truth, she wants my lips as much as I want hers.

A soft moan leaves her mouth, and I can almost feel it vibrate through me like a melody made just for her. My hands cling to her hips and I pull her even closer. The feeling of having to taste all of her washes over me fast. Like I have to claim her and make her mine, even for just tonight. My hands creep their way up her back until I grip her hair and hold her to me.