Koen’s gaze doesn’t wander. It doesn’t drop to my body like every other guy’s does when I do this. He’s not looking at my legs, hips, or chest. His eyes stay locked on mine as if he’s stripping me bare without even touching me.
Under normal circumstances, that would have been a giant red flag. But it’s Koen, and his control flusters me the longer he maintains it, bringing a warmth creeping into my cheeks. My breath catches, and my vulnerability rises to the surface under his unrelenting gaze. I consider looking away to see if that would break the connection, but Koen catches my chin with his fingers before the thought is fully formed, his thumb tracing a line along my jaw. “Eyes on me.”
I obey but stop my dance, my chest rising and falling with shallow breaths as his fingers push lightly into my skin while his thumb strokes a slow, lazy path along my chin. My whole body responds to him, heat pooling low in my stomach, and I start to move again, but this time, it’s not a dance. It’s a squirm.
Koen’s self-assured grin only deepens. His hand is steady as he keeps my chin tilted toward him and he leans in, the warmth of his breath brushing my lips as he says, “Good girl.”
Shivers run all over me, my body responding helplessly, my breaths coming faster under his gaze, wanting nothing more than to close the small space between us.
Koen’s expression says he knows exactly the effect he’s having on me, and that only makes it worse. The need to break free overtakes me. I push off his lap, standing abruptly, feeling the rush of cool air as I put distance between us. “Champagne!” I abruptly yell, cutting through the music.
I grab another glass without looking to see anyone’s reaction to my outburst, and as I take another swig of the cool liquid, I catch Levi’s amused grin from across the booth, his focusflicking from me to Koen, whose gaze I can still feel lingering on me.
I turn away and let the coolness of the champagne glass ground me as I take another long sip, hoping it’s enough to calm the wildfire Koen has set inside me.
TWENTY-FIVE
Sparkle’s body is relaxed, head tipping back against my shoulder as I navigate the dimly lit back hall of the club. Levi’s laughter echoes down the hall as Ezra, who is supporting most of his weight, practically drags him along. Koen strides ahead, pushing open the back exit to get the Bronco and drive it over to us.
Ezra grunts, adjusting Levi’s arm around his neck as they stumble toward the passenger door. “Get in, you adorable disaster,” he mutters under his breath, helping Levi into the back seat, still laughing at whatever joke he’s stuck on in his drunken haze.
When Ezra pushes the seat back and steps aside, I shift Sparkle, easing her into the car. She sighs as I pull the seat belt across her, and I press a light kiss to her forehead, the corner of her mouth quirking up as she murmurs, “Hottie…”
God, she’s going to be the death of me.
Koen glances at me as I back up, reluctantly releasing my grip on her. “So… we’re taking her to our place?” he asks casually, but there’s nothing casual about how he looks at her.
Ezra runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t want her in the house.”
“She’s staying with me,” I announce, cutting off whatever lecture he had ready, then fold my arms across my chest defensively. “She’s been through enough shit tonight. No way in hell I’m letting her wake up alone, not after everything…”
Ezra’s jaw tightens. “You know why I?—”
“I know.” I cut him off again, giving him a hard stare. “And you overdid it. Now shut the fuck up.” His answering flinch is almost imperceptible, and he drops his chin to his chest to try and hide it. For a second, I almost feel bad.Almost.
He put a fucking dent in a star.
“I’ll be back in a minute…” I lean into the car, brushing my knuckles over Sparkle’s still-red cheek, “… all right? Just hang tight for me.”
As I close the passenger door, she mumbles something incoherent, making me chuckle.Adorable.
Without looking back I move toward my bike to put on my helmet, ignoring the urge to toss it aside and crawl into the Bronco with her. Ezra hovers, looking as if he wants to talk or maybe argue, but I don’t give him the chance. The engine roars to life under me, and I roll out behind the Bronco.
“Sy.” Ezra’s voice comes through the helmet’s com, too close, too soon.
I’m so fucking pissed at him.
He should be glad Koen held me back. I don’t know if I could have stopped myself from punching him senseless for hurting what’s mine. I grit my teeth, barely containing the anger simmering beneath my skin. “I don’t wanna hear it, Ez.”
There’s a pause, the sound of the Bronco rumbling just ahead of us on the road. “I apologized to her.”
“I fucking hope so.” A bitter laugh slips out before I can stop it. “You fucking hit her, Ezra.Twice!”
“To make sure she won’t rat us out,” he snaps back. “To keep us out of jail… or worse.”
“Rat us out?” My pulse pounds in my ears, fury sharpening every word. “She’smy fucking person, Ez, and you hurt her.”
Ezra’s silence hangs heavy through the line, and when he finally speaks, it’s low, defensive. “I didn’t know. Hell, I didn’t even know you knew her! And now she’s your person?” He sounds almost incredulous. “I thoughtIwas your person.”
