Jeff spits blood, eyes flashing with anger and fear, but he doesn’t move.
Smart choice.
“Sterling!” Levi shouts before his arms are around me, dragging me back before I can swing again. My chest heaves, eyes still locked on Jeff, every muscle vibrating with the need to finish what I started.
“Cool the fuck off,” Levi snarls into my ear. He shoves me a step back, then turns, raising his voice above the music so that everyone can hear. “The party's over. Get out.”
No one argues as people scatter instantly, muttering as they grab their coats, shoving cans into the trash on their way out. Levi doesn’t let go of me until the last of the guests have disappeared into the cold, the door slamming shut behind them. Then he turns on Jeff, who’s still rubbing his jaw, glaring at me from across the room.
“You’re done,” Levi says coldly. “Don’t bother showing up tomorrow. You’re fired.”
Jeff’s mouth falls open, but he doesn’t say a word as Levi takes a warning step toward him, fists still clenched at his sides. Without another glance in Maisy’s direction, Jeff storms out, slamming the door so hard the windows rattle.
Levi exhales slowly, dragging a hand through his hair before looking at me. His eyes are furious, but under it, I see disappointment too.
“Cool off, Sterling,” he says flatly. “I’ll be back in the morning to help clean this shit up.”
Courtney hovers near the door, her arms crossed, clearly waiting for Levi. When he stalks past, she falls into step behind him, shooting me one last wink as the door shuts behind them, leaving me and Maisy alone.
She’s still standing in the open room, closer to the counter now, cheeks flushed, and arms folded tight over her chest. “You didn’t have to go all caveman on him,” she says, her voice trembling. “You should’ve just kept paying attention to Courtney. She was basically serving herself to you on a platter.”
I bark out a humourless laugh, raking a hand through my curls. “That’s rich, coming from the girl that was grinding her ass into Jeff like she was auditioning for a fucking 90’s music video.”
Her lips part, but no words come out. I don’t care, though, I’ve waited long enough.
I step closer, my tone dropping lower. “What do you want from me, Maisy? Huh? You’re the one who said you wanted to be friends with benefits. No strings attached, remember? That means I should be able to talk to whoever the fuck I want. Dance with whoever the fuck I want. Just like you.” My jaw clenches. “And yet, the second you see me with another girl, it bothers you. So what do you want?”
She swallows hard, her eyes flicking to mine, brows pulled together in confusion. “I don’t?—”
“Don’t what?” I press, closing the last bit of space between us. “Don’t want me with anyone else? Don’t want me touching anyone else? Then say it, Maisy. Fucking say it.”
“I don’t want to see you with anyone else!” she shouts, shoving me hard. “But I don’t have any right to feel that way because I’m the one who ended things.”
I grab her wrists, pinning them to the counter behind her as my mouth crashes into hers. The kiss is messy, angry, all teeth and desperation. She melts into it, pulling her hands free from mine and tugging at my shirt like she can’t get me close enough.
I break away just long enough to growl, “You drive me insane,” before lifting her straight off the floor. She gasps, legs wrapping instinctively around my waist, arms looping around my neck as I carry her toward the kitchen island.
I kiss her like I’m starving, like she’s the only thing keeping me alive, tongues tangling, teeth clashing.
When my thighs hit the island, I spin, one arm tight around her while the other sweeps across the countertops, sending bottles and cans clattering to the floor. Glass shatters, liquid spilling across the tile, but I don’t care. All I care about is the space I’ve just cleared—the space where I set her down, her ass hitting the counter hard enough to jostle a squeal out of her against my lips.
“Sterling—” she starts, but I cut her off by kissing down her throat, biting, sucking, making her whimper. My hands yank at her top, tugging it up and over her head, exposing her nipples before I cover them with my mouth.
I drag her panties down and toss them aside, leaving her skirt in place without my mouth leaving hers, and once they’re off I lower her onto her back and hook her thighs over my shoulders, spreading her wide. The sight of her like this—flushed and needy, trembling under my touch—sends me into a frenzy.
“If you want me all to yourself, then I need to hear you say it,” I growl before I bury my face between her legs.
My tongue drags along her pussy slowly at first, savouring how she tastes, before I dive in with the same hunger that’s beenclawing at me since the second she tried to push me away. Her fingers tangle in my hair, nails scraping my scalp as she moans my name, her hips bucking against my mouth.
Every sound she makes pushes me harder, deeper, until she’s gasping and trembling, her thighs tightening around me. I grip her hips to hold her still, forcing her to take everything I give until she’s crying out, her whole body convulsing against my tongue.
When she slows, I rise, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand before I crash my lips back onto hers, letting her taste herself on my tongue. She’s still breathless, panting into the kiss, when I stand up straight and look down at her pretty pussy.
“Messy,” I rasp. “That’s what you do to me.”
I fumble with my jeans, shoving them down just enough before I push into her in one hard thrust. Her cry is swallowed by my mouth as I grip her thighs, holding her steady while I drive into her again and again, the island creaking under her.
Her nails dig into my shoulders, her moans broken and frantic. Every slam of my hips is fueled by the jealousy of seeing her with Jeff, the frustration, and the confusion of this stupid friends with benefits situation.
