I sometimes feel like a prick stringing her along, but what can I say? I have needs, and she’s a grown-ass woman who can make her own choices. If she isn’t happy with the situation, she can find someone else. I won’t miss her.
As the night goes on, Natasha presses closer to me, her wandering hands getting dangerously close to my dick, until I swat her away. “No thanks, Natasha,” I tell her. But she keeps squirming. I know where she wants this to go, but it won’thappen. I can only take one woman home tonight, and I’ll be damned if I leave Jessi here alone.
When the younger guys show up, their nights are just getting started. I know every single one of them notices Jessi. I watch them watch her and hate it.
Jessi has her golden-brown hair tied up with a bandana, a crop-top shirt shows a sliver of her rock-hard abdomen, and a jean skirt ends right below her round ass. Fuck. I should not think about Jessi with Natasha between my legs. Now Natasha thinks my excitement is because of her.
From across the room, Jessi locks eyes with me and her gaze leaves me in a trance. Yet in the next second her expression hardens, and I’m surprised steam isn’t blowing from her ears. She’s madder than hell.
I sit up straighter. What the fuck did I do? She can’t be mad about Natasha, right?
I try to see the scene from her perspective. Natasha comfortable between my legs, clearly trying to get my attention. Me not doing anything about it.
Well, I guess Jessi has a jealous streak.
As I’m pushing Natasha away, Jessi averts her gaze across the room.Good.
Jessi and I need clear lines drawn. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep resisting her, so maybe it’s best if she stays mad at me.
The door opens, drawing my attention to it. “Wonderful. Tanner,” I say under my breath. “My night keeps getting better and better.”
“He still cold to you?” Natasha asks. She stays close, though she’s not touching me anymore.
I nod. “Ever since his dad died, he hasn’t been the same. He’s off. Won’t talk to anyone.”
“I hear he picks up women okay.”
“That’s the only people he’s ‘nice’ to. He does what he wants with them then tosses them out like the trash.”
Natasha shrugs. “Some of the girls deserve it.”
“Not all of them. It’s like Tanner’s grief has hurt him so much that it’s hardened his emotions. He isn’t the same kid.”
“Why does the club still let him in?”
“Because his dad was one of us, and Tanner has a right to stay close to his dad’s memories, even here.”
Natasha doesn’t say anything.
I watch Tanner’s eyes trail over the sea of people around him. They lock on Jessi, and my stomach drops.
I take a step forward, about to squash whatever he’s planning before it can begin.Over my dead body, bud.
CHAPTER 27
JESSI
My body swims in the music. Wave after wave of sound crashes over me, washing off my problems and leaving me with joy.
It isn’t long before a guy presses in behind me. He’s moving with me, resting his hands on my hips. Under normal circumstances, I’d push him off, but not this time. I go with it for once. His hand drifts across my stomach and then up between my breasts, until his hand surrounds my neck like a choker. The motion is oddly sexy. I relax into him as we continue swaying to the beat long after the song fades.
Mystery Dance Partner rubs his thumb along my jaw and bends his mouth to my ear. “Who the hell are you and where have you been all my life?”
He’s smooth. I’ll give him that.
“Jessi,” I reply, blinking up at him. He’s still holding my throat, but loose enough that I can breathe. “Who are you?”
His glassy eyes flash. “Tanner. Do you have a boyfriend?”
