Hardwired(50)

We pulled up to the club. A long string of would-be patrons lined the block. While others stepped out of the limo, I realized that we could have a second to ourselves once they left. I wanted to keep him here, to talk about everything that had happened. I wanted to break through this mood that had him so quiet.

Trevor stepped out behind Jess, leaving us momentarily alone. Words caught in my throat but before he could move to leave, I grabbed Blake by the jacket and pulled him to me. I crushed my mouth onto his, kissing him with a wild hunger. He met me full force. Our tongues tangled and I pulled him closer. He slipped his hand under the tight elastic of my dress, cupping my ass and grazing the edge of my panties. I moaned into his mouth, forgetting myself and our surroundings.

He clenched his teeth and growled a little as the driver poked his head in. Blake grabbed my hand and pulled me out after him. The quintessential red velvet rope lifted for our group as we stepped ahead of the line. I offered those we bypassed an apologetic look that was met with eye rolls and catty stares.

Heath led us up a few flights of stairs to the private rooftop deck he’d reserved. The air was still hot, but a steady breeze swept over us making the temperature bearable, a calm reprieve from the heat of the day. Our fingers interlaced, Blake and I meandered to the edge while the rest of the group settled onto a large outdoor sectional that matched the modern outdoor space.

Jazz music hummed, but at a reasonable volume that made communication possible. I leaned forward on the metal railing overlooking the traffic below us. Blake nestled behind me. I sagged into his body, grateful to be with him again and filled with relief that he still wanted me as much as I wanted him. His hands roamed, touching my skin where the dress didn’t cover it.

“You’re lucky I’m here. If I found out you were wearing this in public without me, I’d have to punish you.”

A heat built in my belly at the threat. “You like it?”

“I’ve been hard since I set eyes on you.”

I smiled. I loved that I could do that to him.

“I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I thought you missed me,” he murmured, licking the rim of my ear before biting gently on my earlobe.

A sweet sharp pain speared right to my groin. I sighed and pressed back into him. “I did. I didn’t think I’d see you here though.”

“I have business here, occasionally.” He nuzzled into my neck.

I melted a bit, until an unpleasant thought invaded the moment. Sophia. I chilled at the vision of them together, him seeing her for any reason, platonic or otherwise. She was toxic and spiteful.

“I met Sophia,” I said casually, but I turned slightly to catch his reaction.

He frowned and loosened his hold on me enough to let me turn and face him. My gaze fixed on him. What did she mean to him? If he were planning to see her here, or God forbid if he already had, I couldn’t take it. He had to be here for me.

“She’s a real gem,” I said, unable to disguise my utter distaste for her.

I wondered if he could see past her perfect features. His jaw twitched and he stared out over the horizon, saying nothing.

My insides writhed with the jealousy that had been haunting me since I met Sophia. The way she waved her relationship with Blake around in front of me and that snide fucking smile. I was falling too hard for Blake, and his silence spoke volumes. I winced. I was so naive to believe Heath’s version of the story. She obviously meant more to him than he’d let on.

I moved sideways, feeling trapped between him and the railing, at the mercy of his hands and circumstances that were well beyond my control. I wasn’t about to compete with her. How could I? Before I could get past him, he caught my wrist.

“Where are you going?”

His voice was icy and sent a shiver through me.

“I’m going to go have fun. That’s why we’re here isn’t it?” My tone was clipped, making it clear that I was not enjoying the present moment.

“I came here to be with you,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Me, and who else?”

His features softened for a second, along with his grasp. I slipped easily out of his hold. I found Alli settled on the couch next to Jess, her hand never leaving Heath’s even though they were engaged in two separate conversations. This lovebird routine was starting to seriously wear on my nerves.

“Do you want to go dance?” I asked.

Alli patted Heath’s knee, releasing him from their perpetual connection.

“Let’s go,” she said.

Jess rose with her, already bouncing to the sound of the house music beating rhythmically below us, and together we exited the deck. I hoped Blake was watching me leave, because model or not, I had a hard time seeing Sophia rocking his world the way I had planned to tonight.