“Oh my god, you’re fucking with me, aren’t you?” Addison said with a huff, reaching over to swat the hand that wasn’t coming dangerously close to my panty line.
Mark’s face broke out into a huge smile, and everyone at the table started laughing until Addison put both her hands up in surrender then lifted her glass. “Good one, dude. I’m usually not so gullible. You are welcome to hang with us anytime.”
“Nice,” Max said, leaning forward to give Mark a fist bump.
“Here, here,” Olivia said, lifting her glass. “But seriously, we would love to know more about you, sans third degree.”
“Gladly,” Mark said, as his eyes cut to me.
He started talking in that deep, soothing baritone voice that sounded like melted caramel over ice cream, all while his hand moved higher and higher. I spread my legs under the table, and he took the hint, moving up until one long finger brushed my panties.
I stifled a gasp and picked up my margarita, licking the salt as he talked. He could talk about belly-button lint or the weather patterns over South Korea for all I knew. I vaguely caught the words brothers, Gamecocks, and tattoos, but nothing stuck except the heat from his fingers trailing on my thigh.
He could be on the radio or narrate audiobooks. His voice had a deep, natural timbre that rose and fell with every breath he took. I imagined us laying in bed, with my head on his chest and him reading to me. He’d be wearing these round, thick-framed reading glasses and have one hand resting on my arm. I’d turn the pages for him, and after a chapter, he’d pass the book to me, and I’d read to him.
The room had faded to nothing except his touch and the rise and fall of his voice. I couldn’t hear the band warming up or the questions the girls were peppering his way. It wasn’t the alcohol that was making my head swim. It was him. Mark. My so-called causal relationship.
I needed air. Or the bathroom. Or a glass of water. The bar was stifling. I had to stand up and splash cold water on my face. I wanted him so damn much I could barely stand it. More than that, this felt like it could be our weekly routine. The way he fit in and razzed on Addison, it was like he’d been doing it for years.
Pushing my chair back, I stood up and mumbled about needing to go to the bathroom. Annaleigh looked at me and raised her eyebrows, tilting her head, but I shook mine. I weaved around tables as I walked to the shadowed hallway leading to the bathrooms, with my hand pressed to my stomach. I just needed a minute to clear my head to remind myself that nothing about this was permanent. Perhaps, a minute to check and see if I had a spare pair of panties in my clutch because mine were soaked. I breathed in for five counts and out for ten, trying to steady the insane emotions that were coursing through my body.
I’d be fine in a minute.
16 - MARK
Istood up from the table, ignoring what Max was saying to follow her to the bathroom. Someone let out a low whistle, but I was too focused on watching her ass sway in that dress. Touching her all night had been pure torture. I needed more.I needed her.The bathrooms were past the kitchen and down a shadowed hallway, and I reached out and grabbed her arm before she could open the door. She spun around, terror flashing briefly in her eyes before she realized it was me.
“What’s the matter?” she said, putting her hand on mine and looking up. Not letting go of her arm, I turned and pressed her against the wall to stroke my thumb down her cheek.
“I need something,” I said, the words coming out in a low growl.
“What?” Her voice was breathy as she cupped my face, and her eyebrows were furrowed as she waited for my next words.
But there were no more words. It was just us. No one else around. I wanted to surround her, if only for a little bit. I crowded her space, driving my knee between her legs. She spread them eagerly and gave me a wicked little grin, parting her lips so I could see her tongue. I took her hand in mine and kissed each fingertip as she closed her eyes and sighed like she’d been waiting for me to do it all night.
She made me feel things I didn’t want and didn’t understand because I was better alone, happier.
Right?
Her kindness and vulnerability made me desperate for her. She’d willingly given me more than I could ever say, and I wanted nothing more than to throw caution to the wind and claim her as mine for all the world to see, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t going to do that to her, so I shut off the emotional rollercoaster that threatened to overtake my body and just lived.
I swallowed thickly and surged in, driving my tongue into her mouth. She whimpered and opened so sweetly for me, sucking on my tongue and fisting my hair. She wrapped one leg around me, and I gripped her thigh, letting my hand slide under her dress so I could hold her closer and dove in deeper.
When I pulled away, I pressed my forehead to hers. Her lips were swollen, and her lipstick was smudged.
Good.
I wanted everyone to see her, everyone to know I’d staked my claim.
“What do you need?” she asked again, leaning her head on the wood-paneled wall and glancing down the hallway to make sure we were still alone.
“I need to fuck you, Jenna. Feel your pussy come on my cock. Feel your heat wrapped around me and your heart racing.” I expected her to cringe at my crude words, but she gave me that sly grin again, looking like the cat that got the cream.
“It’s about fucking time,” she panted, rubbing herself against my cock.
This girl.
I kissed her again, branding myself on her lips before taking a step back.
