Adrian's Wrath(38)

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Brea set down the Buttery Nipple and Corona in front of Tristan and Kash. Tristan sat on Kash’s lap, his thick, tattooed arm slung over her shoulder. He murmured something into her ear which had her grinning and smacking his chest playfully. Ever since she met Tristan that first time, their relationship had grown slowly. Kash, another fighter, one that was known as the Champion amongst the underground, fought almost as much as Adrian did, and the two women had started seeing each other more frequently. That first time out with Tristan had started off uncomfortable, and even knowing that Tristan knew there was something up with her past didn’t deter Brea from wanting to spend time with her. It had been so long since she was able to have friends, really sincere ones that actually cared about her and her feelings. It was dangerous and Brea was being selfish, but she wanted the interaction that made her feel like a human being. Brea was still hesitant with new people, but she wouldn’t forget how Tristan had helped her escape when her fear had had a chokehold on her.

Tristan leaned forward, shouting over the drum of noise that surrounded them. “I know we don’t talk a lot, but I was wondering if you’d like to come to dinner at our place next weekend. It won’t be anything big, just a few of our friends. We’re celebrating Kash’s birthday.”

The thought of hanging out with other people, other people that would make her feel more human was tempting, but she couldn’t risk it, couldn’t bring any more people into her fucked-up life. She had already brought Adrian and now Tristan into it, and if anything ever happened to them it would be all her fault and she would never be able to forgive herself.

“That’s really nice of you to offer, but maybe another time.” A frown marred Tristan’s face and Brea didn’t stay around to answer the questions that were sure to come. She didn’t want to make any excuses, because they would all be a lie, and she didn’t want to lie to the person that had first helped her out when she had given up on humanity. She made her rounds and then headed back to the bar to get the drink orders filled. As she waited she looked over her shoulder at the cage, saw Adrian watching her and then wink before he exited and disappeared in the sea of bodies.

When she deposited her drinks and headed back to the bar, big arms wrapped around her and the spicy male scent of Adrian washed through her.

“You know, I couldn’t concentrate while I watched you bent over. All I could think about was lifting up your little skirt and pulling your panties aside.” The sound of his voice was like verbal sex. Pussy now wet and aching, Brea turned around in his arms and craned her neck to look at him. He was a big man, easily a foot taller than her miniscule five-foot-two-inch frame, but no matter how much he towered over her, he always made her feel safe. Never once did he use his height or muscle mass to intimidate her.

“Is that so? You shouldn’t let things distract you. Before you know it someone will get the upper hand.” She placed a hand on his belly, felt the muscles ripple beneath the thin cotton of his shirt, and melted against him. Everything was so very masculine about him. When he leaned down, his breath stirred the tendrils of hair that had fallen out of her messy bun. A shiver moved through her at the sound of his deep voice.

“I can’t think of a better distraction that would cost me a fight than you bent over a table with a tiny skirt on.” The feel of his moist tongue teasing the shell of her ear had her nipples tightening in response. It took all her willpower to place her other hand on his stomach and push him away.

“You’re going to get me fired if you keep this up.”

“Well, we wouldn’t want that.” He backed away, his hands raised in surrender, a lopsided grin on his face. “How about we pick this up later tonight at my place?”

Mouth gone dry, she pictured all of the things they would “pick back up.” All she could do was nod her response. His grin was sexy as sin and had her squeezing her thighs tighter. “You get off soon, right?” She nodded again. “Good.” He took a step toward her and placed his arms on the bar on either side of her. “Meet me at the main doors.” A soft, lingering kiss on her cheek was the only thing she got before he turned and was swallowed by the crowd.

Sagging against the bar, she licked her lips. God, she was getting in way over her head. When she turned back around, giving Travis, the bartender on duty, another drink order, all she could think about was Adrian, naked. It was enough to make a woman lose her sanity.

Someone bumped into her, jostling her into the top of the bar. The wood and metal dug into her belly and she gasped in pain. It wasn’t unusual for her to get a little battered while working in the underground. There were just too many people walking around, jostling each other for the chance to get closer to the cage. Everyone wanted to see the violence, smell the sweat and taste the blood. The next shove had someone’s hand brushing against the back of her thigh. A smile curved her lips as she pictured Adrian behind her again, touching her intimately, but that thought was instantly beaten down when the pain of fingers pulling at her flesh brought her back to reality. She could have dismissed it as someone accidentally touching her, but she knew that touch all too well. Cameron had gotten hard hurting her, and even though a pinch shouldn’t illicit so much pain, he knew just the right amount of pressure to torture her before the real agony began.