Текст книги "Behind Your Back"

Автор книги: Chelsea M. Cameron

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

“Stand up,” I say, and she hops down so she’s on her feet. I spread the robe over the sink and then put her back on it. I drop my own robe and meet her eyes.

“Ready?”

“Uh-huh,” she says, and I reach for her.

Our lips meet and fuse together and she tastes like sparks and nightmares and unspoken words. I devour her as my hands skim her body and she scoots closer to me on the edge of the sink.

I am going to fuck her hard, but not before she’s warmed up and begging for me. There’s an exquisite pleasure when you have a woman pleading for your cock. Like if she doesn’t get it, she’s going to die. I want Saige to beg for me.

I disengage myself from her mouth so I can lick my way down her body. No matter how many times I taste her, I need more. My knees slam into the floor as I make my way down and start getting her off with my mouth and fingers. She grinds her hips into my face, making it hard to breathe, but I don’t care. I’m drowning in her.

Saige’s hands fist my hair as I suck hard, working to get her off in record time. It doesn’t take long before she’s arching back and I can feel the pulses against my fingers and tongue. I ride it out with her and then stand up so I can put the condom on.

“Wait,” she tells me and I almost don’t even hear her. I don’t want to wait. I want to bury myself in her and make her forget about her bad dream.

“Saige, I’m not really in a position to wait,” I say, and it comes out as a growl. My hands are shaking as I hold onto the condom package, ready to tear it open.

She doesn’t say anything, but she reaches for my cock, taking it in her hands. I nearly lose it just from that one touch of her hands. She strokes up and down, slowly. So slowly. I grit my teeth as she works me, twisting her hands just a little.

“I need to be inside you,” I say. Not that I don’t enjoy a hand job as much as the next guy, but I’d take being inside her once over a hundred hand jobs.

She lets go and reaches up for my face, giving me one kiss and then leaning back. She’s normally so vocal and her quietness is unusual, but I don’t have the time to think about it. My cock is thinking for me.

I get the condom on and reach out to split her legs wider. She moans as I brush against her a few times, just to tease. I need her, but I want her to need me more.

I swipe my cock up and down her center and she makes a frustrated sound. Our eyes meet and I wait for her to say it as I drag myself up and down again.

“Please,” she says on an exhale and that’s all I need. I position myself, grab her hips and slam home. Her back hits the mirror and I hope we don’t break it. As I pull out, I bring her with me to the edge of the sink and then thrust into her again. Once I’ve got us in the right position, I start fucking her the way she asked me to. I don’t let up and she doesn’t tell me to. It’s rough and hard and she keeps begging me for more.

She reaches down between us to touch herself and I don’t last much after that. She comes again and that sets me off.

I want to come inside her. Or on her. See what her skin would look like, shiny with my cum. Yes. That is something that needs to happen before we say goodbye. I’ll burn that image on the back of my brain and then I can bring it out whenever I want.

She leans forward, resting on my shoulder. Her skin is misted with sweat and it sticks to mine.

“Thank you,” she says, reaching up to touch the side of my face.

“For fucking you? I assure you, it wasn’t a hardship,” I say, almost laughing.

“No, thank you for… never mind.” She pats my face and I pick her up and carry her back to bed.

We eat the rest of the dessert cart, even though it’s been sitting out all night. Neither of us cares. I fuck her again and then it’s really time for both of us to go back to our regular lives. Or at least our lives when we’re not together.

“This has been a really good. How did you know?” she says as she gets dressed in her clothes from yesterday. We’ve both showered and her hair is still damp and starting to curl again.

“I just thought we both needed a night off from everything. We should do it more often.” She smiles at me and I hope we’ll get to do this many times. The next phase of my plan is to ingratiate myself into her life. Get her so comfortable with me that I have access to everything, and thus, access to her father. I need his secrets. I need them so I can protect myself with them. Wear them like a bulletproof vest for the bullets I know he’s going to send my way when he finds out.

Time. It’s going to take time. More dates, more sleepovers, more time with Saige. It’s a price I’m definitely willing to pay.

Eighteen

I hang out with Saige two more times that week. Once we go to the movies and once we just hang out at her apartment again. There’s sex on both dates.

“What are you doing this weekend?” she asks as we bask in the post-coital glow. She told me she had to do homework, but I changed her mind when I flipped her over the couch, yanked her pants down and went down on her.

“Nothing, why?” If I tell her I have plans, she’ll want to know what they are and then I’ll have to make something up that sounds convincing. Keeping her in the dark about my personal life when I’m not with her is key. I need to know everything about her while revealing nothing of myself.

“Just wondering. I thought maybe you and I could go out with some of my friends, including Lo. You didn’t exactly meet under the best circumstances and it would be good to do a re-meet, don’t you think?” Part of making my way into Saige’s life is impressing her friends. So I’m on board.

“Sure, when?”

“I was thinking Saturday night?” That will work if I visit Lizzy in the morning and then drive back.

“I’m free. Do you want me to pick you up here?” She nods and says she’ll text me with a time and I get up to go to the bathroom I’ve been neglecting my check-ins and I need to fix that. I just get so distracted when I’m with Saige and the time just seems to melt away.

“Hey, your phone is blowing up,” Saige says through the door and I nearly break my neck scrambling to get out of the bathroom. I have to keep my burner phone on me in addition to my regular phone and it’s not like I have anywhere to hide it when I’m naked.

“Whoa, where’s the fire?” Saige says, laughing as she hands me the phone. Shit. She’d taken it out of my pants and it’s my regular phone. Not the burner. Internal sigh of relief. I don’t need her knowing the burner exists, let alone taking it out of my pants.

I check out the number and it’s one of those stupid random 800 numbers that’s probably calling me to tell me I “won” a trip to Jamaica, as long as I give them all my personal information. I ignore it and lock my phone again.

“Expecting a call?” she says, sitting back on the bed and combing her fingers through her hair.

“Uh, yeah. But it’s nothing,” I say, getting my heart back under control and giving her what I hope is an easy smile.

“Is everything okay?” she asks and I kick myself for being in this situation. From now on, when I’m not fucking her, my pants are staying on.

“Absolutely.” I wink at her and then decide to divert her attention by diving forward and nuzzling her chest, right between her breasts.

She laughs and grabs my head and I throw us back on the bed and then the phone is forgotten.

“Hey, Sister!” I say as I walk into Lizzy’s room on Saturday.

“Brother!” she screams and throws herself at me. She’s dressed in a bright blue sweater with a kitten on the front and her hair’s been braided. I wonder which nurse did it. Everyone loves Lizzy. She has a way about her that draws you in. Makes you care. Would make you do anything for her.

“I brought you something,” I say, bringing my hand out from behind my back and presenting her with the book I picked up on my way here.

“Harry Potter!” she yells, jumping up and down and clapping. “Can we watch the movies too?”

“Absolutely,” I say as I put my arm around her and we go to sit on her bed. “How are you today?”

She beams at me. It’s a little funny that the two people I care about most are the happiest. You’d think that would rub off on me, but I think I’m immune to it by now.

“I’m good. Callie braided my hair,” she says, turning her head and showing me the elaborate French braid that twists into a knot on the back of her head.

“I see that. It looks very pretty.” I touch her hair and am stabbed by the memory of our mother doing the same thing.

“I wish I could show Momma. I miss her,” she says, turning back around and pouting.

“I know, I know. I miss her too.” Lizzy holds her arms out and gathers me in a hug.

“You okay, Brother?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” She shushes me and strokes the back of my head.

“It’s okay,” she says, as if she’s comforting me. “Everything will be okay.”

I hold onto my sister, my only flesh and blood left in this world. I haven’t cried in four years, but I feel like I want to now. Not enough to actually do it, but the thickness at the back of my throat and the itch in my eyes could turn into tears.

After a few breaths, the feeling is gone and I’m back to normal. I let go of Lizzy, but then she grabs my face in both hands and searches my eyes. Sometimes she does this. Lizzy can be disturbingly perceptive sometimes.

“Why are you happy and sad?” I’m not quite sure what she sees in my eyes, but I’m definitely not happy. I haven’t been happy… I don’t remember the last time I was happy.

An image of Saige writhing beneath me as she climaxes dances through my mind, but I shove it aside.

“I’m happy because I’m with you and I’m sad because I can’t stay longer,” I say, but Lizzy continues to stroke my cheeks with her fingers.

“I love you more than anything. You know that, right?” She nods slowly and lets go of my face.

“I’ll eat you up I love you so,” she quotes from “Where the Wild Things Are”. Our mother used to chase us around the house and pretend to eat our hands or toes when we refused to go to bed.

“I’ll eat you up I love you so,” I say, tipping my head forward and she moves her face forward until we’re touching.

She beams and then grabs the book.

“Read to me?”

“Of course,” I say.

But before I can even open the book, a text comes through the burner phone. Shit. I ditched my follower today (Hardy) and that’s him asking where the fuck I am. This stalker is really messing with my life and I need it to stop.

“I’m going to go answer the phone. You start and I’ll come and catch up,” I say as I head for her bathroom. She nods and starts paging through the book. I’m fortunate that Lizzy never asks many questions.

I pick up the call and wait for him to stop cursing at me. He’s the more reserved one of the twins, but you never want to piss him off because he’ll let you have it. And I’m facing his wrath

“Look, I had some things to take care of, so I bailed, okay? It’s a pain in my fucking ass to be followed around. You’ve gotta cut me some slack.” I keep my voice low but urgent. My speech is met by an icy silence.

“You can’t fucking do that, Sylas. And you know it. All of us have rearranged our lives to keep you safe and you’re acting like we’re inconveniencing you. Get your head out of your ass.” He’s reined in his anger, but I’m still going to get it. Fine. Lizzy is worth it. They could waterboard me and I’d never tell them where I went today. Never. Lizzy is off-limits.

“Fine. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“You know we can track you. All I have to do is get Cash.” I know that. I should have ditched my phone before I came here, but I didn’t really have a whole lot of choice.

“It won’t happen again. I’ll take the heat for it, but I’m not sorry. This is something I need to do. Just like Baz and his money. No questions. Got it?” I’m starting to get pissed and if I’m not careful, I’m going to bust this phone.

Hardy takes a few deep breaths.

“Fuck. You.”

“Right back at you.”

There’s another beat of silence and then he sighs.

“Fine. I’ll let you go this once. I won’t pull the trigger and tell anyone. But you owe me.” I nearly slump over in relief. He’s got my back.

“Listen, I have to go. But please. Just… do this for me. I won’t ask for it again.”

“You’d better not. And I’m going to remember every single word of this conversation.” Hardy remembers pretty much everything he reads, sees or hears. It’s a bitch having an argument with him because he is almost always right. Scratch that. He’s always right. You can bet your money on it.

“I know. I really appreciate it.”

“Uh-huh.” And he hangs up.

I breathe for a minute and then slide the phone back into my pocket before walking back out. Lizzy has the book open on her lap and is slowly mouthing the words. She doesn’t look up, not even when I sit next to her again.

“How’s it coming?” I ask.

“What’s this word?” she points to something that looks like some bastardized form of Latin. I sound it out for her and she scrunches up her face.

“Why don’t we start back at the beginning?” I suggest and she flips back several pages. I pick up the book and start reading aloud. Lizzy turns on her side and gazes up at me as I read to her. I can’t remember the last time I did this with Lizzy. I need to come out here more often. At least once a week. But right now it’s not safe. Not with my stalker on the loose.

I shove those unhappy thoughts aside and focus back on the book. It’s funny, actually, and I find myself enjoying the story along with Lizzy. We get through several chapters and then it’s time for me to go.

“I’m sorry I have to go so early.” Not only do I have to get back to check in with Hardy, but I’m going out with Saige and her friends tonight, which should be interesting. I’m actually looking forward to it. I really need to make a good impression on them so she will bring me back to her place and we end up naked together.

“It’s okay,” Lizzy says, putting her arms around me. “I love you anyway.” I laugh and hug her back.

“I’ll always love you. No matter what. And I’ll do anything to keep you safe.”

“I know,” she says, her voice muffled by my shirt. “I’m okay. Can I keep the book?” I nod.

“Just don’t lose my place. We can continue when I come next time.” I don’t say next week. Because I don’t know if it’s safe to come every week. “You call me if you want, okay?” The nurses have my number for emergencies.

“Okay, Brother.” I give her a kiss on the forehead and then head out, leaving her with the boy wizard.

 

Nineteen

 

“Well look at you,” Saige says a few hours later as I open her door to pick her up. I’ve gone more casual tonight, but my jeans are still designer, my simple black long-sleeve pullover more expensive than a shirt should ever be. But I’ve got my favorite pair of boots on. They’re black and leather and make me feel more like Sylas than Quinn. It’s a risk wearing them, but I don’t care tonight. I’ve made sure to cover up my tattoos as well. I’m not willing to share that particular part of Quinn with Saige’s friends. With her it’s unavoidable.

“Right back at you,” I say. She’s casual herself, in skinny jeans, a loose gray top and a yellow scarf. Her hair’s curly and down and a set of sparkly diamonds dot her ears. Of course her lips are red.

“You ready for this?” she asks as she grabs her bag and locks the door.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Who are we meeting up with again?” We head for the elevator as she ticks off the names.

“Lo, who of course you met, Sadie, Beck and her boyfriend JR, and Ilsa and her girlfriend Amelia.” I know all of these names already, which will come in handy when I meet these people. I’ve seen pictures as well, so this should be a breeze.

“You sure you’re up to this? I’m pretty much throwing you to the lions.” If I can handle the boys, I can handle this, but I can’t tell her that.

“Your friends are my friends,” I say, holding the door of the BMW open for her.

“You say that now, but you haven’t spent an evening with them.”

“Well, if it starts going south I’ll just pretend I have an ulcer and have to go home.” She laughs and I put on my seatbelt.

Instead of a trendy club, we head to a laid back bar. A country band does their thing in the corner, but it’s not too loud so you can’t carry on a conversation over the music. It’s all wood and honky-tonkish in here. More cowboy boots and spurs than techno and strobe lights.

“We always try a different bar. We’re determined to have a drink at every single one in the city,” Saige says when I raise my eyebrows at the location. “We’ve been avoiding this place for obvious reasons.” A few dudes wearing actual cowboy hats walk by and Saige laughs as we walk up to the second floor loft that overlooks the first floor.

Female arms tug her away from me immediately and sweep her up into various embraces. Once she’s let go, she drags me over.

“Everyone, this is Quinn. Quinn, this is Lo, who you’ve met, Amelia, Isla, JR, Beck and Sadie.” I shake hands with everyone, and Lo gives me a little smirk before she lets go. Saige has an interesting mix of friends. Sadie and Beck are both upper crust socialites but the rest aren’t. Usually that mix of people doesn’t work, but clearly they seem to get along anyway.

I grab two high chairs for Saige and me and we join the table.

“What are you drinking, Quinn?” JR says as he gets up to make a bar run.

“Uh, shot of Jack and a Bud Light,” I say and he gives me a thumbs up before taking Saige’s order. She smiles at me.

“I’ll have the same.” That makes Lo laugh as she sips her drink, which is pink and orange. I’ll bet anything it’s a Sex on the Beach.

“You trying to get wasted, Saige?” Lo says. Saige shrugs.

“Maybe. You got a problem with that?”

“Absolutely not.” Lo stares at me and I know she’s remembering the first time she barged in on us. And I’m sure Saige has told her every sordid detail of our relationship. If she thinks I’m ashamed or embarrassed that she knows that about me, she’s got another thing coming.

“So, Quinn, where do you work?” Beck says. She’s dressed like she should be going to a fancy cocktail party and not slumming it at a bluegrass bar. Her warm brown hair is twisted back tight, there are pearls in her ears and her pink shirt is drenched in luxury.

“Uptown,” I say with a smile.

“Quinn spends other people’s money,” Saige says, squeezing my arm.

Beck smiles.

“That must be nice.”

“Sometimes. But it’s much worse making a mistake with someone else’s money than your own.”

“Money, schmoney,” Lo says, waving that topic off. “What do you do with your spare time?” What is with everyone’s obsession with my spare time? I flash her a smile.

“I read and run and collect cars.” That’s a safe enough answer. Her blonde eyebrows raise. Must have surprised her.

JR comes back with our drinks and I hold my shot up to Saige. She grabs hers.

“Bottoms up,” I say and we both tap our shot glasses on the table before downing them. The whiskey burns while it goes down and I relish the feeling. To her credit, Saige does the whole thing without even a cough.

I chase the shot with a swig of beer and she does the same.

“Bravo,” I say and she laughs.

“This isn’t my first rodeo.”

I seize her and kiss her, tasting the whiskey on her lips. I don’t put any thought into it. I just do it. When I pull back everyone is staring at me. Saige just smiles and then takes another swig of beer.

Lo’s eyes are narrowed and I can tell she’s going to be the toughest one to impress. I raise my beer in her direction and sip.

“Oh my God, not a banjo,” Amelia says, cringing as she looks over the railing and down to where the next group is setting up.

“What’s wrong with the banjo?” Ilsa asks.

“If you have to ask, you’ll never understand,” Amelia says. They’re a matched set, both small and cute, Amelia with hair dyed a light purple color and Ilsa with blonde and a few blue streaks. Ilsa has a hoop in her lip and Amelia’s got one in her septum. They’re leaning close and holding hands as they look over the railing.

“You play any instruments, Quinn?” Lo asks, finishing her drink.

“No. I’ve been told that I’m completely tone deaf, unfortunately.” Quinn is tone deaf. Sylas is not. I inherited my mother’s ability to sing and pick up a tune after hearing it once. If I’d had a different childhood, I might have learned an instrument, but I never did.

“That’s a shame,” Saige says. “But it doesn’t matter. I like you anyway.” She rests her chin on my shoulder and I wonder if the touching is for my benefit, or to show her friends that we’re serious. I didn’t know we were that serious, but she’s definitely sending out those vibes.

The band starts up and gives us something to talk about. The music isn’t bad, per se, but it’s definitely not something I would voluntarily listen to if I wasn’t with Saige. It seems that most of her friends feel the same way.

“We should have gone to the other place,” Beck says, wincing at the sound of the banjo.

“I think this is fun. It’s good to try new things,” Saige says. “Be adventurous.”

“Agreed,” I say and I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s glorious in this low light, her eyes sparkling from the booze and her hands all over me. We’re definitely getting naked when we leave tonight.

Beck and JR start a discussion about what situation is appropriate for wearing a cowboy hat.

“How about never,” Amelia says.

“I think you’d look very cute in one,” Ilsa says, patting Amelia on the head.

“I look cute in everything,” Amelia counters with a smirk.

“Well, that is true,” Lo says and Amelia raises her mojito in Lo’s direction.

“Cheers.”

“I think you’d look cute in one, even if you’re not an actual cowboy,” Beck says to JR.

“Why thank you, ma’am,” he says, pretending to tip a hat at her.

“Well I, for one, am totally on board with a cowboy hat, as long it’s accompanied by chaps,” Saige says, leaning on my shoulder. “You’d look great in assless chaps,” she says to me and I nearly choke on my beer.

“That is an image I did not need in my head,” Lo says with a grimace.

“Ditto,” Isla and Amelia say.

The conversation flows better as more alcohol is consumed. No surprise there. I have a little pretend argument with JR and Beck about sports teams and then a debate with Lo about TV shows.

“Whatever. You’re insane,” she says when I argue that Seinfeld is a better show than Frasier.

“I’m okay with that assessment,” I say with a smile. The alcohol is burning its way through my system and I’m going to have to pace myself.

“Oh God, another banjo,” Beck wails and looks down at her shot. She and Amelia had started a drinking game. Every time there was a banjo, a shot. Every time someone sang Conway Twitty, shot. They were getting pretty wasted, pretty fast.

Saige has been quiet, as if she’s watching me. But she’s been touching me constantly. Her hand on my back, her chin on my shoulder, her fingers on the back of my neck. It’s making it hard to think, hard to breathe, hard not to grab her hand, take her to the bathroom and fuck her senseless in one of the stalls.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks me.

“That I’m having a good time and I’m glad I came out with you,” I say, giving her a smile.

“Wanna dance?”

“As long as it’s not a two-step,” I say, getting up and taking her hand. I don’t pay attention to the rest of the table, but I’m hoping this will score me romantic points with Lo. If I can prove that I’m going to treat Saige right, I’ll be in.

The song is the sort of thing you shuffle to, so that’s what Saige and I do.

“How am I doing?” I ask. I want to know what she thinks.

“Very well. Although, I thought Lo was going to deck you. I think she’s still a little rattled by the last time. She can be protective.” That was an understatement.

“It’s good that she cares about you that much.” The boys had my back and it was invaluable.

“I’m glad you’re not threatened by her. Some guys would be.”

“She doesn’t scare me,” I say with a grin and Saige returns it.

“Good. Because I want you to get along. I really do.”

“And I have every intention of getting along with her. Even though she likes Frasier.” I cringe, making Saige giggle.

“I have to agree with you on that one. Seinfeld was way better.”

I tuck her into me and we keep shuffling together. The song ends and we make our way back over to the table.

“Well-played, sir, well-played,” Lo says with a slow clap. “I may have underestimated you.”

“I think that’s a compliment,” I say.

“It is,” Saige says.

“So, I have an idea. How about we blow this joint and head somewhere a little more lively,” Beck says, leaning against JR. He’s equally preppy, wearing khakis and a polo. But he’s not a douche, so that’s a plus.

“I second,” Amelia says, even though she’s weaving a little bit.

“I third,” Saige says and I fourth.

“Fine, fine. What’s next on the list?” Lo says. Saige pulls out her phone and scans something.

“Um, the next one is a few blocks away. We could probably just walk.” It’s a warm night and most of us are still just buzzed. I send Cash (my follower for the night) a text letting him know that we’re moving locations and to follow. For a huge guy, he’s surprisingly stealthy.

“Let’s go,” Beck says and we head to the bar to pay our tabs and then out to the street. Saige cuddles against me.

“I really like you,” she says as if it surprises her.

“I really like you.” This isn’t a lie. I really do like her. She’s sexy and funny and sarcastic and beautiful. I brush my hand on the back of her neck where her tattoo is.

“When did you get this? You’ve asked about my tattoos, and I want to know about yours.” It’s the only one she has.

“Um, I got it on spring break a few years ago. We were in Ireland and it seemed like the thing to do. My mother’s side is Shea.” I knew that as well.

“Well you got lucky. A lot of tattoos like yours turn out looking like shit.” I’d seen more than my fair share of shoddy ink. Damn shame.

“Thanks. Most of the time I forget that it’s there.” She rubs the back of her neck.

“Well, it suits you.”

“Thanks,” she says and she shivers.

“Are you cold?”

She shakes her head and we keep walking.

The group gets loud and rowdy the closer we get to the next stop, but I’m fine with that. Even when Amelia starts singing in French at the top of her lungs.

“She only speaks French when she’s wasted,” Isla explains, as she tries to help Amelia along.

The next spot we go to is more what I thought of when Saige told me we were going out. You can hear the music from fairly far away and there’s a beefy bouncer at the door checking IDs.

We make our way in and there’s barely enough room to breathe. The place is packed to the rim with sweaty bodies, most grinding and gyrating to the loud music that pours from giant speakers parked on the floor like monoliths.

“Now this is more like it,” Beck says, bobbing her head and then executing a turn that doesn’t quite happen in the limited space.

The group heads upstairs again, and it’s a battle to find a table, but JR somehow secures one and we crowd around it while Beck volunteers to get the drinks. I go for another beer since I’m playing it safe.

We toast to better music and finish our drinks pretty fast so we can hit the dance floor. I’ve never danced like this with Saige, but I’m not worried. Dancing is one step away from sex and we work perfectly in that department.

Instead of moving back to front like a lot of dancers, we face each other. I place my hands on her hips and her arms go around my neck. This time I let her lead and match my movements to hers.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, FUCK.

This isn’t close to sex. It’s fucking without penetration. I’ve been wanting her all night and the second she grinds her hips into mine, I’m so fucking hard I can barely see straight. Saige notices and it seems to amuse her. She just smiles up at me and keeps dancing to the throbbing beat of the music. Gripping the back of my neck, she draws my head down to her mouth.

“Do you want me, Quinn Brand?” It doesn’t matter how loud the music is. She could whisper and I’d still hear her.

“What do you think?” I say, turning my head so my lips are nearly touching her earlobe as I thrust my hips into hers. I know she can feel me through my jeans.

“I think yes,” she says back. “Are you going to do something about it?”

I flirt briefly with the idea of somehow fucking her right here on this dance floor, but that might not endear me to her friends, so I pull back a little from her.

“I’m going to dance with you, Saige,” I say back.

She puts her arms up in the air and swivels her hips as if she’s telling me what I’m missing. Oh, Redhead, I know.

In return, I grab her hips, digging my fingers in and matching her movements. I want her as turned on as I am.

“Why don’t you just fuck each other and get it over with!” A voice yells nearby. I’ve completely forgotten that we’re in a roomful of other people.

Saige and I both turn our heads to find Lo scowling at us as she dances with a random guy who seems more interested in her ass than her face.

“Lo,” Saige says in a warning voice. They have a moment of silent conversation with their eyes that I’m not privy to and then Lo rolls her eyes and says “Whatever. Do what you want.”

But she’s sending a clear signal. She’s watching me and looking out for her friend. Fine. I actually respect her for doing that. Saige deserves a friend who will have her back no matter what.

The music pulses and our hips fuse and Saige and I dance until we’re both panting and our skin is shiny with sweat. It doesn’t help that everyone is pressed so close together that it’s impossible to take a deep breath.

Saige stands up on her tiptoes and tells me she needs some water. I nod and take her hand to lead her through the crowd. I part the way for her and it makes me feel good. I know I can be intimidating, so it’s easy to tow her along as people get out of my way. I find a tiny corner of the bar where we can stand and hear each other better than on the dance floor.

“Do you want another drink, or just the water?” I ask her as she fans herself and pulls her hair off her neck.

“Just water. I’d rather not be hung over tomorrow and I’m pretty sure I danced off all the other drinks.”

I get the bartender’s attention and order two bottles of water. I hand one to Saige and she puts it on the back of her neck and sighs in relief, her eyes closing.