THRUST(35)

I push his chest a few times and laugh at my stupid behavior that first night. I was hoping the end of that night was just some kind of weird dream.

“I’m down.” I watch him as he watches me. “What?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” I step closer to him and grab his tie, bringing my lips close to his. He looks down at my lips before bringing his eyes up to meet mine. The pained look in them has me clearing my throat and releasing his tie. I grab for my cue stick and smile as if that moment never happened. The last thing I want to do is make him feel uncomfortable.

“You break this time.” I stand back and cross my arms. “I’m pretty sure since I’m sober this time that I’ll be kicking your ass.” I lean over the table and grin at him as he concentrates on breaking. “I promise not to tell too many people.”

He looks up at me and keeps his eyes there while breaking. I’m surprised to see how good of a shot he still made. It was a nice, solid hit.

“Show off,” I mutter.

I stand back and watch as he continuously hits solid after solid into the pockets until he’s down to just one ball. Then, he misses on purpose.

“Really!” I shriek. I slap the end of the pool table and grab for my beer. “You tricked me our first night. You didn’t play nearly that good.”

He gives me a sexy grin as I set my beer down and prepare for my shot. “I didn’t want to scare you away and blow my chances of another game with you.”

“Liar,” I say.

“I’m dead serious.” He leans over me and runs his lips up my neck just as I’m about to take a shot. My hand loses grip and I hear him laugh in my ear. “Oops.”

I playfully elbow him in the stomach, causing him to back up an inch. “That’s cheating. Now back off, big guy. I’m not giving up so easily.”

We both laugh and I can’t stop looking at him. He’s so damn beautiful. That smile . . . how did I miss that it’s the most beautiful smile in the world? I could seriously just stand here all night and watch his mouth and not have a single care in the world. That definitely gives me a reason as to why I should have a care in the world.

No attachments . . . Just for fun.

I have to keep repeating this to myself through the rest of the game. I lost count of how many times I had to mentally voice it to myself.

Tori and Brad appear toward the end of the second game, watching as Kyan takes his shot. Tori takes one look at the pool table before giving me a look hinting that I’m pathetic. Maybe I needed a few more beers to play better. I swear I was better last time, but I’m wrong. Kyan was playing me and it worked. He’s a pro at everything he does. It makes me want to bite him.

I raise my stick to Tori as she’s about to open her mouth. “Don’t even say it.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I wasn’t going to say anything about how badly you’re losing.” She shrugs again. “Really.”

Kyan wins yet another game, so I set my cue stick down and poke him in the ribs. “You’re lucky you’re so damn cute. I usually don’t take losing so lightly.”

He grabs me by the waist and picks me up off the ground, kissing the top of my head, before setting me back down. “I’m going to pay the tab so we can get going.” He grabs the empty beer bottles and walks through the crowd.

“Holy fuck!” Tori grabs onto my arm and pulls me to her. “He is really something else; so, so, so much better than Jordan. He’s almost unreal. Is he real?” She turns to Brad. “Sorry.” Then she turns back to me. “But damn!”

Brad just shrugs his shoulders and says, “It’s all good,” and finishes off his drink. “I’ll be right back.”

Brushing strands of his golden hair out of his face, Brad kisses Tori on the mouth before walking away and toward the bar.

“Can I trade him in?” She raises both brows. “I’ll give you one week with Brad if I can have Kyan for one night. Just one night and I bet he’ll make up for a year’s worth of sex with Brad.”

I push her and cover my mouth in surprise. “That is so mean to say.”

We both look over at the bar. Kyan is standing there with confidence, knowing that one of the girls will fight to get to him as soon as they are free, while Brad keeps jumping around and waving his arms, looking like a helpless little boy.

“He’s not that bad.” I lie. “I mean . . . he’s cute. He has that going for him. He’s just like a little puppy. Girls love puppies.”

She rolls her eyes and pulls out some gloss, coating her plump lips. “Not me, Calla. Definitely not me.”