I wasn’t throwing myself at any man ever again. I’d watched my mother do that for nearly my entire life, and no way in hell did I want to turn out like her.
Thanks, but no thanks.
I was doing just fine on my own. I just needed to keep taking things one day at a time. And all I had to do today was get through one night of being surrounded by happy, loving couples without telling them they were fools for thinking that love and romance even existed.
Oh, and also not fall on my face during my so-called performance.
“Yeah, good luck with that, Sebastian,” I murmured as I hurried through the rest of my shower.
My knee was hurting like a son of a bitch but taking one of my prescription pain pills hadn’t been an option. So I’d settled for popping a couple of ibuprofen. I was hoping it would take the edge off by the time I got to the hotel where the fundraiser was being held. I’d do a short routine that would hopefully satisfy the guests then make polite conversation as I signed autographs and came up with benign responses to the inevitable questions about whether I’d be rejoining my dance company. Then I’d get the hell out of there and celebrate Valentine’s Day like every single red-blooded American did – by eating fattening ice cream in front of the television while cursing the greeting card and chocolate companies for creating such a stupid holiday to begin with.
Hell, maybe I’d go all out tonight and use a glass of wine (or three) to wash down the pain pill I was going to swallow the second I got home.
I couldn’t help but let my thoughts drift to Devon again. He looked like a beer drinker. With those strong fingers, he’d probably break the delicate stem of a wineglass. A shiver snaked through my spine as I considered what those fingers would feel like stroking all over my body. His skin had been rough when he’d shaken my hand, but not in a bad way. They’d been work-roughened hands.
They’d been delicious.
Reel it in, Sebastian. He’s off limits.
Even if he turned out to be gay – which I highly doubted, because life just wasn’t kind enough to plop me down next to the hottest guy I’d ever seenandhave him play for my team – I was going to keep my distance.
Okay, so maybe I’d let myself have a naughty fantasy or two about him tonight when I was drunk off my ass.
Wall sex.
Yeah, we’d have us a little wall sex because I’d always wanted to try that.
Even the idea of Devon pinning me to the wall with his big body as I wrapped my legs around his waist had my dick filling in anticipation. I almost dropped my hand to take care of the problem when my phone beeped.
“Fuck,” I breathed as I glanced at the latest message from Rick.
The kids are counting on you, Seb…
Devon was right. The guy really was a dick.
I snatched up my phone and typed,I’m leaving in a few, hit the send button and tossed my phone into my bag that was sitting on the counter. My costume and other personal belongings like my wallet were already in there. It still went against the grain to put my wallet in my bag, but no way in hell was I going to carry it on my person.
I’d learned the hard way what a mistake that was.
I quickly pulled on the rest of my clothes and grabbed the bag before heading toward the front door. I came to a jolting stop when the doorbell rang.
Holy hell, was the fucker actually coming to escort me to the damn event to make sure I showed up?
I wasn’t foolish enough to think Rick would actually be offering to give me a ride just so I wouldn’t have to take the bus. I almost laughed out loud as I thought about how awkward it would be to ride in the back seat of his and Darren’s car… the back seat I’d let Rick fuck me in more than once before I’d known about Darren.
A sick feeling washed through me, followed by swift anger. What if the asshole had another kind of ride in mind?
God knew it wouldn’t be the first time.
No way, not happening.
Never again.
I strode to the door as best I could, considering my bum leg, and practically ripped it off the hinges as I snapped, “If you think for a second I’m going to let you fuck me—”
That was as much as I got out before my brain caught up to my eyes and I realized my visitor wasn’t my former fuck buddy at all.
“Oh my God,” I breathed as I stared dumbly at the man before me.
