Regardless of how he feels, I won’t pretend to be blind to the little things he does. Like ordering my drinks and knowingexactly what I wanted without having to ask. Or the way his fingers have been absently tracing the inside of my wrist while we wait.
He isn’t one for big, loud displays of affection, and even to my surprise, I don’t mind it. I prefer it, knowing these small, quiet moments are for me.
It doesn’t help the way my heart has been swelling for him.
I enjoy his touch, regardless of how subtle, and that’s a problem in itself.
After a few more minutes of sitting there, sectioned off like royalty, I start to grow antsy between the quiet and almost troubled air between us. I know he’s lost in thought, considering his next moves as always, but that isn’t how I want to spend my night.
Then, I feel as Wyatt leans closer, speaking directly in my ear. “You look restless.”
Letting go of a breath, I drink through my straw tucked into the corner of my lip. “I am.”
A vaguely amused sound escapes him at that. “You could just say you’re bored. I know you aren’t one to sit still long.”
Glancing up at him, I cock a brow. “And what if I’m trying to be nice?”
At that, a small smile pulls at his lips, and his hand drifts down to my thigh, sending a spark of warmth and excitement through me. “If you’re nice for too long, I might start to miss your attitude.”
Pushing the uncertainty away for a moment, I grin. “As you should.”
Wyatt keeps his hand on me in a somewhat possessive yet gentle touch, and part of me leans into it, craving that heat again. The slow, careful brush of his thumb against my skin blends desire with danger.
Still, another part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop, almost like everything else is suspended in time and prepared to land at any moment.
Wyatt moves subtly closer, lips grazing my jaw as he murmurs, “Then it seems I still have to tame you yet.”
The notion makes my stomach squirm, and my thighs part a small fraction. He notices, and the heat between us intensifies as his fingers drift closer. Tempted.
Some reckless whisper in the back of my mind tells me to forget about everything else. To dive into this and take what I want, even if it’s just lust. He’s right here, after all…practically nudging me in that direction anyway.
Just as his lips brush against my neck, stirring so much more than just need in me, a familiar laugh pulls me out of it.
Glancing over, several voices cut through the music. Recognition fills me once I spot them properly, and relief tempers those desires for now.
The girls. Victoria, Kat, and Lily, all walking together through the club with my brothers in tow, letting their wives lead the way as easily as anything.
Normalcy.
Wyatt pulls back with a breath that doesn’t fly beneath my radar, shifting his hand to the small of my back.
“Your family’s here at last…” he murmurs, sounding a little more dejected than I expect.
I smile as the girls wave at me, then I return my attention to him. “Promise there won’t be any problems tonight?”
Wyatt sighs as if I’m asking too much, but the faint tug at his lip gives him away. “I promise. Go have fun.”
Something in me softens a bit, somewhat guilty at the idea of leaving him despite the intimate bubble he tried to make for us. I linger a beat longer before nodding and getting up. “I won’t be far.”
Before I can second-guess myself any further, I get up, peeling away from him with a touch of reluctance. My brother's approach before I can get too far.
I throw them a look of subtle warning and teasing as I pass by them. “Be nice, please.”
Despite his usual stoicism, Roman’s smile sharpens. “No promises.”
Scoffing while they continue on, heading straight for the reserved section to join Wyatt, a funny twist in my gut makes itself known at the thought of him having to endure my brothers and their obnoxiousness on his own.
“Elena!” Victoria says over the music while she approaches, reaching for me with a smile.
