“I’ll walk you out,” Celeste said, sliding back her chair.
“I’ll do it, Mother,” Ryder said, smiling at his mother.
Simone said something, pulling Celeste’s attention back to her. I smiled at Ezra. “I’ll only borrow Ryder for a minute.”
“Um, okay,” Ezra said, looking puzzled.
Neither Ryder nor I spoke until we reached the front door. “I don’t know what time I’ll get home tonight,” Ryder told me, earning a snort. “What?”
“Stop trying to make me jealous. The only action you’re going to have is with your fist while you think about how close I came to dropping to my knees to suck your cock in the bathroom.”
“Shut the fuck up before someone overhears you,” Ryder said angrily. “I wasn’t implying that I was going to spend the night fucking Ezra. I meant I wasn’t sure how long before I could get away without causing a fuss. I need to be back here early tomorrow afternoon for Thanksgiving dinner, so maybe tonight isn’t the best idea. Do you have a way for me to contact you?”
I slipped a business card from my wallet and handed it to him. Ryder ran his thumb over the name printed on the card, and I swear I felt it in my groin. He looked up at me with a crooked grin reminiscent of the ones he’d given me in Paris. It was too much to hope we could have a future together after one brief conversation in his parents’ bathroom, but it was a start. “What’s a guy have to do to see your fake Interpol badge?”
“Are you flirting?”
“No, I’m just curious.”
“Give me an hour to explain, and I’ll show you whatever you want,” I pleaded. Ryder inhaled deep, held his breath, and released it slowly. He didn’t speak or nod, but I saw the answer in his expressive eyes. “Text me so I’ll have your number too.”
I left him standing in the doorway watching me leave. I kept glancing in the rearview mirror until the front of the house was no longer in sight. My phone chimed with an incoming text when I reached the end of the driveway.
I want my lucky tie back, preferably without cum stains on it.
IDIDN’T CALLLUCIEN WHENI got home from my parents that night, nor did I call him the next day or even the one after. I thought about calling him on Saturday but decided to go clubbing with Ezra instead. I needed time to think without my hormones getting me in trouble. How could I even think about trusting Lucien again? Was it even his real name? I could demand to see his birth certificate, but how would I know if it was real?
“I need another drink,” I shouted over the music to Ezra.
“Are you sure you haven’t had too many already?” he yelled back.
I rolled my eyes and regretted it because the world started to tilt. “I’m fine,” I said, unsure which one of us I was trying to convince. Maybe a glass of water this round, I thought to myself. I wasn’t fine. I was angry. I was hurt. I was lonely. I was so fucking horny. Damn Lucien.
The line for the bar was long, so I pulled out my phone to kill time. I posted a selfie I’d taken with Ezra on Instagram with the caption that read: Feeling the “vibe” with this cutie. My Instagram account was connected to my Facebook and Twitter accounts so the status would post to all of them. I was too buzzed to care who might see them or the conclusions they might jump to. Had I been sober, I would’ve worried about damaging Ezra’s reputation. By the time I reached the bar, I had to wait another ten minutes to get the hottie bartender’s attention. I had to hand it to the owner of Vibe; they hired the best-looking bar staff. I ordered a glass of water and a drink since it would be a thirty-minute wait, or longer, before I got another chance.
“Hey there, sexy,” said a familiar voice in my ear. “Long time no see.”
My hands tightened on the glasses, and I turned from the bar to face Rhys, the cute waiter from the gala event. “Hey,” I said casually. “How’s it going?”
“I’d be better if I had a drink,” he said, looking pointedly at the alcoholic beverage in my hand.
I looked longingly at it too. The least I could do was buy the man a drink after he gave a formal statement to the FBI admitting I bent him over my desk during the gala. I mean, I wasn’t sure what he’d told them, but he did confirm my alibi. I extended the glass toward him and said, “Care for a Suck, Bang, Blow?”
Rhys smiled devilishly. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“Want to find a table?” I asked.
“I could think of something else I’d rather do, but I’ll settle for yelling at each other over the thumping techno music.”
“Come on,” I said, tipping my head for Rhys to follow me then instantly regretted it when the world threatened to turn on its axis.
Rhys looped his arm through mine. “I think I should be the one leading the way,” he teased.
We were lucky enough to find a booth toward the back. I sent Ezra a text to let him know where I was so he wouldn’t think I abandoned him. I wasn’t so buzzed I couldn’t think straight, even if my motor skills were a little sketchy.
“Who was the guy?” Rhys asked.
“What guy?” My mind immediately went to Lucien, and I wondered how Rhys had found out about him. Had Lucien tracked him down?
