How do people handle feeling so much for someone else? I feel like I’m going insane.
Sort of sick to my stomach and exhilarated whenever we’re in the same room. Fixated on little details like her choice of earrings, the rich brown to blonde strands of her hair catching the sunlight, and the way she smiles. Wondering what she’s doing or how her day is when I’m in the middle of work. Wanting to spend even a few seconds with her because it’s always better than when I don’t get to be near her.
I never knew caring so deeply for someone could be so consuming. I guess I’ve only ever experienced superficial attachments because no one has ever made me feel the way I do about Eve.
There’s no getting her out of my system. She’s infiltrated every part of me. Changed me permanently because there’s no going back to the guy I was before I grew closer to her.
Reagan takes the small stage in the corner not long after, transforming from the young bubbly sports bar waitress to a confident performer when she belts out a song. People cheer for her. The live music gets everyone on the dance floor, including Eve and her friends.
It’s impossible not to follow her with my gaze. My focus is trained on her like a magnet. I tune out everything except her.
As she’s dancing, she notices me. Her eyes light up, stealing my breath. She waves and I lift my beer in response.
Once she’s aware of me watching her, she puts on a show for me. Every sway of her hips and arch of her back has me gripping the bottle tighter when she peeks at me from her periphery to see if she has my attention.
It’s not even a question. If she’s in the room, she’s all that exists to me.
Every ounce of self-control keeps me leaning against the bar instead of closing the distance between us and showing everyone whose girl she is.
I smirk when she drops low, rolling her body sensually to the song. If that’s how she wants to play, I won’t let her win the game that easily.
Cole:You shaking that ass for me, baby?
She checks her phone. Texting her instead of messaging her over DM doesn’t seem to catch her off guard. Instead, the corners of her mouth curl and she flashes me another teasing look. Christ, I want to go over there and drag her against me.
Cole:You’re so damn sexy. Keep it up and I won’t be held responsible. You’re making me want to come over there. Don’t know what I want to do more, dance with you so you can feel what you’re doing to me with my cock pressed against your ass or wrap your hair around my hand and put you on your knees for being so fucking tempting.
She reads it. I can’t hear her laugh from here, but I recognize it’s one of her low, seductive ones by her expression. She peeks at me through her lashes before sliding her hands over her curves with her head thrown back. Her movements drag the hem of her sundress up enough for a glimpse of her decadent thighs. She’s touching herself everywhere I can’t.
My jaw clenches when some guy dances up on her from behind, taking her display as an invitation. It wasn’t meant for him.
Although she’s startled, she doesn’t deflect him right away. Instead, she slides me another tantalizing look while she dances with him. He’s oblivious she’s using him to make another man envious. I slam my beer down harder than I intend.
“You good, coach?” Cameron asks.
“Yeah,” I answer without taking my eyes off Eve.
No. No I’m not fucking good.
Far from it because some other guy is putting his hands all over her and my jealousy is a raging inferno searing me from the inside.
Before I know it, I’m making my way over to cut in. I’m past temptation. She’s mine and no other asshole should be dancing with her.
The guy takes her by the hips to yank her body against his, ignoring her when she pushes at his hands and throws an uncertain look at her friends as he moves further from the circle she was dancing in. My muscles seize at her clear increasing discomfort.
I lose the last shred of my patience at her exclamation when he tries to feel her up. With two strides, I’m at her side before her friends intervene, ripping his hand away from her body.
“Yo, what the fuck?” he barks.
“Get your hands off her if you plan on keeping them.” He flexes against my strong grip, but I don’t let up. “That wasn’t a suggestion. You’re done touching my girl.”
Eve’s wide eyes land on me, swimming with a mix of relief and shock. She has to know by now that if she’s ever in trouble I’ll always come for her.
She tries to move away while I have the guy distracted, but his free arm bands around her waist. White-hot fury sears through my veins.
“Your girlis busy. Fuck off, man,” he says. “We’re dancing.”
My fingers dig in harder and I speak in a slow, dangerous tone. “I said let go of her. Now.”
