Dirty Bad Boys Box Set: Forbidden Romance Collection

Back inside, the party’s only just starting. A few famous bands are playing on stage. Everywhere you look, celebrities are surrounding us. Some with their significant others, and the rest mingling in the crowd.

Charlie and Lex are on the dancefloor, along with Haden and Presley. I know the girls are drunk and the boys seem to enjoy their wives being so loose. Kate is standing at the bar, conversing with some old dude. She looks over to me, pleading with her eyes to rescue her from the situation she’s found herself in. I casually walk over and rest my arm over her shoulder, in desperate need of a drink.

“Oh, would you look at who’s arrived?” she says with a fake smile. “It’s my boyfriend. Going on five years tonight. Definitely going to be celebrating all night long, if you know what I mean?”

Winking at the old man, he seems to back off, excusing himself rather quickly. “He knew what you meant,” I tell her. “The whole room knew what you meant.”

“Why the foul mood, Mason? You’re such a Debbie Downer tonight.”

I’m about to open my mouth when I notice Morgan standing behind me. Kate is quick to say hello, and typical Morgan acts like a fucking bitch, returning a forced smile.

“I should probably go,” Kate says cautiously. “Over there.” She points randomly into the crowd, but

Morgan stops her. “Why don’t you stay for this? Apparently, Noah has all the time in the world for you but doesn’t have a few minutes to listen to me,” she notes with dark amusement.

Kate purses her lips, unsure of what to say or do.

I don’t understand what the fuck Morgan’s problem is, quick to defend Kate’s and my relationship again. “Ignore her, Kate. Wicked bitch from the west is back,” I say out loud, never breaking her gaze.

Morgan looks stunned, her mouth slightly open with her eyes narrowing. If the music quietened, you’d be able to hear her teeth grinding. She looks livid. And I know I’m in for the biggest fight of my life. The storm is looming and it’s about to strike. “We’re so done, Noah.”

I no longer care, fed up with the ridiculous games she plays.

“Great girlfriend material,” I mention sarcastically. “At least I can say I tried a relationship. Definitely not for me.”

Folding her arms, with her chest rising and falling rapidly, she says, “You assumed I’m your girlfriend. Like you assumed we’re in a relationship.”

That fucking hurt. Bitch.

She moves toward me, closing the distance between us. I stare into her eyes, hoping that for just a moment this is a petty fight. But her eyes are cold, so cold that the woman behind them is not the Morgan I’ve grown to love. Her lips brush against my ear, and in the sweetest of voices, she whispers, “I was only looking for a rebound, Noah.”

Like cold ice hitting my skin, I freeze. Paralyzed by the malicious intent of her words, she pulls away from me and begins walking in the opposite direction. I stare into the crowd, vacant and without any emotion. The fire inside my belly is stirring, building into a fit of rage as her words sink in.

The fucking bitch!

Kate warns me to calm down, witnessing the whole encounter. I push her out of the way, scanning the room in an attempt to hunt down Morgan. She’s gone.

The crowds have grown, and willingly, I turn around and motion for the bartender to serve me.

“Noah,” Kate warns me again.

I don’t listen. I’m done with women. Slamming the shot down, I demand another. After four in a row, my nerves seem calmer. There’s only one thing I want right now to ease the pain that has so quickly tormented my entire soul. I scan the room, my eyes targeting one woman—Scarlett Winters.

The person I should have fallen in love with.

Marching to where she’s standing, I lean into her ear and whisper, “I need to see you alone, now.”

She excuses herself from the group and tells me to walk alongside her. There’s no quiet spot, and our conversation has to remain civil to avoid sending the rumor mill into overdrive.

“What are you doing after this party?” I say, straightforward and without thinking.

“Home…” she replies, smiling as she looks around, pretending she didn’t just lean forward and give me a glimpse of her very full tits. “You know where I live. Meet me in two hours.”

My face widens, a playful smile lingering on my lips. I can easily fuck her. Then I will forget Morgan and how messed up this whole bullshit situation is. A derailment that’s wasted my fucking time.

If the entire world wasn’t watching or if my guilt didn’t repeatedly slap me in the face I should just take her here. Scarlett tells me she needs to go, reminding me of our date in a couple of hours. With the crowds following her every move, I head back to our table. Charlie and Lex are too touchy-feely for my liking.

“Fucking get a room already,” I yell at them, mid-shot.