As expected, he’s staring at Bianca.
The bartender places the lemonade in front of her, and the girls walk away. I keep my focus on the bottles of liquor lining the shelves straight ahead for a whole six seconds before my head turns to watch them.
Her.
The sway of her hips hidden under the flared dress, how her slim legs glisten in the dimmed lights, how her hair swings, flirting with her bare shoulder blades...
My cock stirs, my head filling with a vision of those dark strands framing my face as she leans over me for a kiss while she rides me, her legs bracketing my hips.
“Here you go.” The bartender slides a crystal glass toward me, ending the erotic clip.
Arthur lifts his glass, taking a measured sip. “You’re into her,” he says, weighing his words as if worried he’s too forward.
He is, but whatever.
“And she’s into Koby,” I grit out, snatching my glass. “Besides, she might be pretty, but she’s a pain in my ass.”
Arthur chuckles, falling into step beside me. “Really? I wouldn’t have guessed.”
My words must’ve put him at ease. Made him think hecanspeak his mind freely. Wrong. We’re not friends yet. We’re acquaintances. The sarcasm dripping from his voice is way too forward. I let him have it though.
Bianca, Hailey, and Violet are engrossed in conversation when I greet the men at the table, sliding in beside Koby.
He drags his attention from the girls, glancing between me and Bianca. He inches closer, dropping his volume to barely above a whisper.
“How do you live withthatand not make a move?”
“Who says I didn’t?”
A slow smirk curves his mouth. “Your body language. You’d be in her space, glowering at everyone if you’d had a taste.”
“She’s... not my type.”
“Too catty?”
“Too cold.”
Koby chuckles into his glass. “She looks fucking hot.”
The muscles in my back tense on cue. My teeth clench so hard I can hardly open my mouth as I lift the crystal glass. As if sensing me staring, Bianca looks up.
She holds my gaze for a beat, then a beat longer, and longer still. I don’t back down, the little contest sending a thrill down my spine. A knowing smile blooms on her burgundy lips before she focuses back on whatever Hailey’s saying.
“Sorry.” Koby elbows my ribs. “I wouldn’t say that about Hailey or Violet so I shouldn’t say it about Bianca.”
“She’s not mine.”
“The way you two are eye-fucking each other says different.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes, any clever retorts and denials flaking on my tongue. Better he thinks I’m considering my move. It should keep him at a distance... unless he’s bored of his teeth now and would prefer to chew gum with his fingers for the rest of his life. In which case, let him try his fucking luck.
18
Ryder
Carter leaves Apollo and Arthur in charge of looking after the girls. Two more bodyguards secure the entrance to the VIP area, and at least eight others are stationed in the main part of the club.
That’s more than enough guns and muscle to keep three women safe... but it doesn’t stop me checking the monitors every few moments, ensuring Bianca’s okay. Broadway and Carter’s eyes swing there almost as often.
