“What do you think you’re doing walking up in here dressed like sex?”
Is that Niykee Heaton “OT” playing in the background? I almost laugh because I can imagine Silver changing the music to something sexual like Niykee Heaton. Makes me love her.
I glare at him, trying to anchor myself to the ground so I don’t find myself lost in the maze that is the depth of his blue eyes. His lashes are as thick as sin, his eyes almost too pretty to be male. Royce is pure masculinity; he doesn’t like being beautiful looking. “Because I can?”
His eyebrows raise a little, his top lip curling. I’m feeling reckless. This back and forth between him and I is becoming an addiction that my corpse-like soul needs. I’m addicted to the feeling of him being mad at me, pissed, close to me. I’m addicted to Royce Kane, and if you try to lock me in a rehab clinic, I’ll only find my way back to him. You can’t separate fate, no matter how hard you fuck it.
I run the tip of my nose over his, my eyes closing. “Don’t like that, do you?”
His fingers clench around the back of my neck, pulling me in closer. His other hand falls down my lower back, landing on my ass cheek. Oh fuck. He grinds himself into my stomach and my body flushes searing heat. “I’m about to fuck you on this floor if you don’t watch that mouth, Duchess, don’t try to act like you don’t know I’ve wanted into that pussy since we were kids.”
When my eyes reopen—partially in shock at what he just said—he’s smirking at me, his lips so close to mine.
“You were too late,” I whisper roughly, unable to hide the sorrow in my voice. I glide my lips over his delicately. His body stills, his fingers tensing on my ass as his others behind my neck follow.
I push at his chest before I do something like kiss him, speed walking toward Silver, Bonnie, and a few other girls who are sitting at a picnic table near a fire pit in the front of the house. Some men are scattered around the octagon as Gypsy, I think it is, is punching face with some other guy I haven’t seen, while others are sitting around, piss drunk and singing along to Silver’s choice of music.
“Well damn, girl,” Silver says, an eyebrow arched at me. It’s not until I sit beside her that I notice Nellie is on the other side.
I dismiss Nellie with a flick of my long hair. “I don’t like you.”
Bonnie starts laughing, as do the other women beside her.
Nellie glares at me. “I’m just doing what I was asked to do. Stop being a bitch.”
I drop down onto one of the chairs, running my hands over my face. “I really need a drink.”
Bonnie starts pouring slushy from a plastic jug and into a red cup. “Well, welcome to Karli’s watermelon margaritas! She can’t measure, so be careful, they’re potent.” I take the plastic cup from Bonnie, studying the women beside her.
“Hi, I’m Jade.”
“I know who you are, baby girl.” She smirks, flicking the ash off her smoke. “I think everyone here knows who you are now, and it has nothing to do with the sexy little getup you’re dressed in and everything to do with the notoriously unattainable and stuck up prick Sicko, hovering over you like a starved wolf. I’m Karli.”
I take a mouthful of the poison that was poured for me and swipe my lip with the cushion of my thumb. “Royce is just protective.”
There’s a long pause, so I take another gulp. Ice freezes my brain, but I ignore the throbbing pain, swallowing the rest of it and pouring another. After tonight, I want to forget everything that happened with James. I need a shot, not a drink filled with sugar and ice.
“Mmm, not the Sicko we know. That man doesn’t give a fuck about anyone or anything, except for the club.”
“Question!” Silver pipes up, her drink sloshing around and hitting her hand. The music has changed to “Chin Check” from NWA. “How many times did you guys fuck when you were younger? I feel like it was a loooot.”
I burst out laughing, the rest of the girls joining. Even Nellie. I have to stop myself from glaring at her. “Um, how many of those have you had? And we haven’t.”
“What!” Bonnie spits out her drink, leaning forward. “Never?”
I shake my head, looking to Karli. “Can I steal a smoke?”
“Sure, honey.” She tosses me her pack. “What’s mine is yours. Especially if you can get Sicko on board.”
I take a stick out, pausing at her words.
Bonnie scolds her. “Leave the girl alone, ya big sex addict.” Bonnie points to Karli. “She and Justice, her old man, are swingers. Ignore her digs, baby girl.”