Laughing, he grips my waist, pulling me to him. “Jealous?”
No need to deny it.
“No.”
But, no need to feed his big ego either.
“Yes, you are. Your eyes are a little green, right around the iris.”
I smirk, plucking at an imaginary fuzz ball on his fitted navy sweater. “Don’t transfer your jealously issues to me. I couldn’t care less if you have some classless whore rubbing her disease-ridden crotch on your lap.”
His entire body shakes with laughter. “Oh, Alyse. That mouth of yours.”
“You love it.”
His smoldering eyes hold mine as he leans down, a hairsbreadth from my kiss-swollen lips. “Yes. It’s very talented.”
I close the scant distance, showing him just how right he is.
______________
After cleaning up, I splash water on my face and skate over my disheveled appearance in the mirror, willing the just-fucked look away before I have to go back to join the group, who, no doubt knows what we slunk off to do.
I hear the door open. A look in the reflective glass shows me that Addy just walked in, or more like wobbled in, her high heels now becoming a dangerous weapon in her drunkenness. When she spots me, she winks and a shit-eating grin takes up the space where her beautiful mouth usually is.
Sauntering on unsteady legs, she meets me at the sink. I notice her eyes are unfocused. I wonder if she’s managed to get her hands on more liquor in the short time I’ve been gone or if it’s just the half-dozen shots that have finally caught up to her.
“So, you look…satisfied.”
I think I could deny it and she’d never remember, but what the hell. I am. Why deny it? “Very,” I retort. We both dissolve into a fit of giggles, reminiscent of my high school days.
“I like you, Alyse,” Addy slurs a bit.
“Feeling’s mutual, Addy. You all right?”
“I’m good.”
“Feeling no pain?”
Sadness briefly flashes across Addy’s face before she pastes on her happy one again. “Almost.” She turns and heads to a stall before I can say anything else. I decide to wait for her to make sure she’s okay.
Stepping outside the crowded ladies room, I walk a few steps back toward the club and lean against the wall, closing my eyes. Between the drinks and the sex, I’m suddenly feeling very tired and ready for bed, even though it can’t be even eleven yet.
A male voice calls my name and I open my eyes to see Cooper standing in front of me.
“Hi,” I say, surprised to see him here, hoping I don’t look like I just had a quickie. Damn he looks good in his khakis and blue flannel that’s rolled at the sleeves, hanging open over a fitted grey T-shirt. Every time I lay eyes on him, I travel back to almost eight years ago and it takes me a minute to catch my bearings.
“Hi yourself. What are you doing here?” He takes up position next to me, but keeps a respectable distance.
“I could ask you the same thing. Stalking me?”
He laughs. “If you weren’t already taken, I would most definitely be stalking.”
“Good to know you’re a criminal in training. Maybe I should cut ties with you right now.”
Hand over his heart, he says, “I promise I’m harmless. So, you here with your boyfriend?”
“Um, sort of. Bachelorette party for my sister, but the guys showed up a bit ago. I’m waiting on a friend in the bathroom who’s a little drunk. You?”
“Just another Saturday night on the prowl.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Lucky her.”
“I hope so,” he chuckles and winks. “You free for lunch Monday? I can bring the contract. Promise I won’t forget this time.”
I think about my schedule and chance it. I can always cancel if Heather has meetings scheduled. “Yeah, that should work. Same time and place?”
“You got it. Say, I’m here with my cousin. The one I own the studio with. I’m sure he’d love to meet you. Do you have a couple of minutes?”
“Uh…” I’m saved from answering when two things happen simultaneously. I look up to see Asher striding at a clipped pace down the hallway toward me and when his eyes flick to Cooper standing beside me, he does not look happy.
I shake my head and grin, which appears to piss him off further.
At the same time Addy stumbles out of the bathroom, nearly falling when her heel catches and she loses her footing. Luckily Cooper is there to catch her before she face plants.
“Thank you,” Addy mumbles against Cooper’s chest.
Asher stops beside me as this whole scene unfolds, placing a possessive palm on my neck, yanking me close. “What’s taking you so long? I was worried about you,” he breathes against my cheek, eyeing Cooper the entire time.