“I can still taste you, Aubrey. Can you feel my cum leaking into your panties?”
She moans into my jaw and curls her fingers into my jacket. “Yes.”
“Fuck.”
That backfired. The last thing I want to do is talk to some douche who thinks he can upset my girl. What I need is to take her into an abandoned room and slide back under her dress the way I did before we left. I wasn’t lying about being able to taste her. We had to be quick, but that didn’t stop me from laying her out on my couch and spending the majority of our time together with my tongue on her pussy. I’d been ready to come since the moment I saw her, so when it came to sliding inside of her, it was quick.
“If it isn’t Aubrey and her . . . date? Is that what hat he’s wearing tonight?”
I stiffen when I hear Spencer’s voice behind me. The cocky tilt to the words angers Aubrey more than it does me, though. I can feel it in the tension crawling up her spine and tightening the breaths fanning across my throat.
She’s in charge right now, so the moment she steps out of my embrace, I let her go. Though I keep a steady hand on her lower back when I face him at her side.
“What do you want, Spencer?” she asks, sounding exhausted by his presence already.
I give him a narrowed, up-and-down glance before hiding my reaction to him being anywhere near her. My protectiveness isn’t unique to our new relationship. It might actually be the longest-standing emotion I’ve had when it comes to her. From the moment we met, I’ve been a shadow at her back, making sure she’s both happy and taken care of. Being close to thirty hasn’t changed that, even when I know damn well she can protect and stand up for herself.
“I wanted to introduce myself to your boyfriend, but funnily enough, I already know him. I’m sure everyone at the firm does,” he smarts, crossing his arms across his suit jacket.
“Yes, that’s hilarious. Is there anything else, or can I go and dance now?”
I smooth my hand up the back of her dress until my nails glide across her bare back. Spencer eyes me bitterly, scowling.
“Isn’t lying beyond someone of your expertise, Aubrey?” he sneers, his feathers ruffled by her lack of engagement in this one-sided brawl. “It’s a bit pathetic, honestly, that you couldn’t be open about being single. Surely, you know it isn’t something to be ashamed of.”
“Not like it’s ever been any of your business, but I’m not single. You can take that as you will and go away.”
His laugh is forced. “Nice try. You’re clearly trying to cover for the fact you’ve been using and abusing all of your onlinedating profiles and still couldn’t find a man who would want to fuck youandput up with your bitc?—”
The rest of his sentence gets caught in his throat when I take two steps forward and haul him into my body by the blue tie around his neck. His chest crashes against mine before he takes hold of my shoulder and tries to shove himself back. I pull harder and force my expression to remain even, unbothered by those watching. And as badly as I know Spencer’s wanting to scream and shout, he doesn’t, as aware of where we are as I am.
Lowering my voice into a deep growl, I say, “Call her a bitch again and I’m going to make sure you remain at the bottom of the totem pole. You reek of jealousy, and I fear it says more about how superior Aubrey is that you feel so threatened by her. I highly recommend you let this go before I leave you no choice and get involved. You’re underestimating how much money comes flowing into this firm’s pockets from athletes and how unlikely it is that your boss would appreciate hisassistantaffecting his business once I start making phone calls to his clients.”
And I know several, including one very local football player who’s new to this city and going through a divorce that’s been written about in the local media multiple times. I haven’t needed Aubrey to tell me that Tucker Winston’s been using this firm. It’s the only one that I’d expect someone who can afford their services to use if they want to win.
“Come dance with me,” Aubrey murmurs before Spencer can reply, diffusing the situation in an instant.
Her touch climbs up my back and rests against my shoulder blades. I turn away from him and nod at her, looking for reassurance that she’s okay. When she tilts her lips into a soft smile, I get my answer.
I release him like his touch burns and watch him adjust his tie, attempting to smile like nothing happened. It’s almost comical.
Neither me nor Aubrey laughs. With my hands free, I take hers and guide her to the open dance floor. We cut past the men and women who either continue their gossiping or glance at us. Their looks don’t last long, not that I’d give a shit right now if they did.
I don’t care if they look at us together. Whether they’re confused because they’ve seen me around as her best friend or wondering who the hell I am when they realize I can’t be a lawyer. I’m nowhere close.
What I am ishers.
For as long as she’ll have me.
EPILOGUE
“I’m pretty sureevery man here wishes they were me.”
I smile against Finn’s jaw as we sway to the slow music being played by the group of musicians onstage. We’ve been on the dance floor for so long that I think the attendance numbers have slimmed by at least half since we arrived. I tighten my hold on him as he twirls us around and leads with confidence. His hands remain steady on my lower hips, keeping me close.
“If you’re trying to distract me from what happened earlier, it’s working,” I murmur.
“You’re already distracted, baby. I’m just being honest. You’re a vision, and I’ve somehow got you locked in my arms.”
