42 Hours (Time for Love 3)

“Tori,” I tipped my beer to her in greeting, suppressing my grin as I waited for her reaction. I knew I’d get one. “Here for the show?”

“It’s Victoria, and no, I’m not here for the show,” she answered. Even when she spoke she looked constipated.

“Why are you here then?” I asked, not because I cared, just to irritate her.

She huffed out a breath, the loss of control almost cute, then spat out, “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m supposed to be meeting my sister. She hasn’t shown up yet.”

“I didn’t know you had a sister,” I replied before taking a pull of my beer. Victoria watched my mouth as I drank, then my throat as I swallowed, and my dick jumped back to life of it’s own free will. Shit, maybe it’d been too long.

I grinned when she looked up and saw that I’d caught her looking, and she scowled, “Why would you know that I have a sister? You don’t know the first thing about me.”

I stepped a bit closer, inserting myself in her space, and when she realized she couldn’t back away, she squared her shoulders and glared at me.

“I could get to know you,” I murmured suggestively, close enough for her to feel my breath on her cheek. She flinched slightly, but maintained her stiff posture.

“Why would you want to do that?” Victoria asked, her voice almost vulnerable. Then laughter off by the dance floor grabbed her attention, and I knew she was looking over at Gaby’s table.

She pulled back and looked up into my face, and I was surprised to see that her eyes were so blue that they were almost purple.

“Don’t think just because we’re rejects of your buddies over there, we have anything in common.”

I turned my head to look deliberately at my friends, then back at her and said deeply, “I’m no one’s reject, Tori, I can promise you that.” Then I tilted my head to look at her, curious. “Are you still hung up on Scott?”

I didn’t know why, but I held my breath as I waited for her response.

She didn’t disappoint when she curled her lip and said, “Absolutely not. If he’d rather be with a mutt than a thoroughbred, that’s his problem.”

I chuckled at her haughty words and replied darkly, “You really do have a stick up your ass, don’t you. I don’t know why I like it, Tori,” I inched closer as I spoke, stopping when my chest brushed hers, and she had to crane her neck to look at me. “But I do. I’d like to help you remove it.”

Her expression turned incredulous and she asked, “Are you hitting on me?”

“I must be doing something wrong if you have to ask,” I replied cockily.

“Why?” That vulnerability flashed again, causing a fire to flick in my belly, then she extinguished it when her face pinched back up again and she asked, “Do you want to make them jealous?”

Maybe she was more hung up on Scott and Gaby than I’d thought. She had been engaged to Scott after all. They’d had a long-term relationship, so it would only make sense that it would take her longer to get over it than me.

Still, there was something about her bitchy attitude and that tight little as

s that made me want a taste, no matter the circumstances.

“It could be about revenge, if that’s what you want,” I lowered my head further and gently took the soft lobe of her ear into my mouth.

The taste was fleeting, but it was potent. Especially coupled with her astonished gasp.

I pulled away, giving her room to breath and think, drinking beer as I watched her thoughts dance across her face. I’d definitely succeeded in confusing her.

The sound of my name being called had me looking up, and I nodded when Fast Eddie indicated it was time for us to go on.

“I have to get on stage now,” I said softly. Victoria looked up at me, then at the stage, confusion on her face.

“On stage?”

I nodded but didn’t explain.

“Hang around, watch the show… I’ll find you after,” I could tell she was ready to bolt, so I gave her one last shove, lowering my voice to say, “Just give me fifteen minutes, Victoria. Fifteen minutes and I’ll convince you to give this a shot,” I gestured between the two of us as I spoke. When she opened her mouth, I put a finger up to silence her. “No illusions, Tori. I know you’ve probably never been with a man like me, but don’t worry, I’m not offended. I don’t expect you to fall in love and take me home to meet Daddy.” Her eyebrow cocked again and I laughed, damn, but she sure was a spoiled brat.

I leaned down once more, my voice low and rough in her ear and said, “No strings, no expectations, just pure pleasure.” I stood and finished with, “I’ll see you after the show.” Then turned to find my brothers. I was in the mood to rock the house.