He steals a glance at the girls before shrugging. “Yeah, I guess. Maybe. Fuck, Corey, I don’t know.” Aaron runs a hand through his hair. “Can I be honest with you?”
I want to chide the guy, but his tone is so vulnerable that I let it slide. “Of course.”
Aaron looks at the girls one more time, then closes his eyes. “I think I’m going crazy. Ever since that night at the club, I can’t stop thinking about her. And I met her for, what? A total of ten minutes?”
“Yeah, I know that feeling,” I say, stealing a glance at my girl.Fuck. My girl.
“No, it’s not just that,” Aaron says, his expression strained. “I keep thinking I hear her when I—” He cuts himself off, his face flushed. “This isn’t me. I don’t date or sleep around. There’s no time in my life for–”
“Dude, calm down,” I say, reaching out to grip his shoulder. “Breathe, Aaron.” The poor guy is clearly down bad with infatuation because, as far as I know, neither of them have spoken beyond introductions.
“I’m being ridiculous, I know,” he finally says, taking a deep breath. “I’ve just… never felt this way before.”
Once again, I look over to Bex, because I know exactly what Aaron is describing. The time spent apart from Bex has been painful. Though we’ve gotten to know each other so well from our video calls and daily texts, there’s an insatiable desire to be physically present with her. Even now, with her feet away from me, there’s an unfulfilled promise of desire that has me yearning to swing her over my shoulder, carry her out of this suite, and back to my penthouse.
My gaze catches on the girls again, and it looks like Britney is… consoling Bex? There are traces of distress on Bex’s face and, before I’m even aware of it, I’m striding across the suite. I didn’t even take a moment to end my conversation with Aaron. I can text him about it later—whatever is going on with Bex is more important right now.
“Hey,” I say, stepping up next to her, slipping my arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?” She glances up at me, and I’m rattled seeing the shine of tears in her eyes. “Babe,” I say, pulling her closer. She tries to look away, but I tip her chin up to look at me.
“I’m gonna go grab a drink,” Britney says, giving me a significant look that screams “fix this,” but I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to fix.
“Corey, I’m fine. Just being stupid and emotional,” Bex says as she shrugs, faking a laugh.
“You’re not stupid,” I growl. Bex’s gaze darts around the suite and, suddenly, I just need to get her alone. “Come with me.”
Taking Bex’s hand in mine, I walk us toward the back of the suite where there’s an ensuite bathroom. Christian gives a wolf-whistle as we slip into the spacious bathroom. I shut the door behind us, locking it.
I swing Bex around and press her against the door, cupping her face in my hands. “Be honest with me, Bex. Please. What’s wrong?”
She grasps the bottom hem of my jersey, as if she needs to hold on to me. “It’s so, so stupid, Corey.”
Brushing my thumb over her cheek softly, I murmur, “Nothing you feel is stupid, Bex. But I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Okay,” she says, taking a deep breath. “I was completely unprepared for you to show up tonight.”
I give her a grin. “I already told you I don’t mind if you don’t shave.”
A giggle escapes her, and the sound sends a bubble of light down my spine. “No, not that,” she says. “I just… When I went to the staff room to change, I wiped off all my makeup. And since I wasn’t anticipating doing anything after work, I didn’t bring my makeup bag with me.”
It dawns on me what she’s trying to say. I move one of my hands to the back of her neck, gripping her just hard enough to feel commanding, yet comfortable. “Bex, are you upset because you’re not wearing makeup?”
“Obviously,” she says, whining a bit. “I just feel so… naked. Bare. When we walked here with Aaron, all I could see were people staring at me like… like I wasn’t someone worthy enough to be with you guys.” She shakes her head. “This sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.”
“Bex,” I growl. Her eyes widen slightly at the flare of anger on my face. “I didn’t even notice. When you came out of the staff room, all I could focus on was your beautiful smile and your sexy as fuck curves in those leather pants.” Bex bursts out laughing, and I’m caught off guard. Not that it doesn’t thrill me to see her smiling, but what did I say?
“These aren’t leather pants, Corey. They’re Spanx. They just look like leather. And I’m glad I threw them in my bag this morning, otherwise I’d really be a mess.”
I slide my hands down the curve of her waist and grip her ass tightly. “Leather or not, they’re fucking hot. You are fucking hot. Don’t ever think for a moment that I’m not attracted to you, Bex. It’s not just the way you look, it’s… everything about you. You’re the whole package for me.”
“Okay, now you’re really gonna make me cry,” Bex chokes out, but I don’t let her continue. I claim her lips with mine, slipping my tongue inside her mouth, stroking and claiming her. She moans into my mouth, and I squeeze her ass tighter.
Her hands roam up and down my back, her nails digging harder with each stroke of my tongue against hers. I pull back quickly and use my perfectly placed hands to hoist her up as I slide my knee between her legs.
“Corey, I’m too hea—”
“Don’t you dare fucking finish that sentence,” I growl, pressing my lips just below her ear. “I caught you off guard today and that stressed you out.” Bex wraps her arms around my neck and she begins grinding against my leg. “Seems like my baby needs a little stress relief, hmmm?”
“Oh, god, Corey,” she moans into my neck. My cock is punching, rock hard, against the zipper of my jeans, but this isn’t about me. This moment is for Bex.
