“He’ll be fine, Coen. And no, we weren’t fighting. We’re okay,” I say, putting my hand on his knee to pat him lightly. He tenses and refuses to look away from me.
“Holy shit, Heather, please tell me he didn’t see you do that.”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “Oh stop it, you’re overreacting.”
I decide to peek up at him, and he’s staring at me like I’m torturing him. He breaks eye contact with me and reaches for the bottle of vodka. Before the waitress could even think about pouring him a drink, he’s already downed two double shots. Coen clears his throat and moves my hand off of his knee. “That, Heather,” he says, his eyes on Noah and the vodka, “that is him not okay. That is him planning my funeral, and Dillen encouraging him is not helping worth a shit.”
I look back up at him, and he has a shot glass to his lips again as Dill fills another one and hands it to him.
“Dillen!” I shout over the music to try to get her attention. She looks over at me, grins, and waves happily before pouring herself a shot.
Noah takes his other shot and sits back against the booth, draping his arm over the back of it. Even in his jeans and plain white undershirt, he looks so damn sexy. He and Joel look like they’re in a pretty serious discussion so I move from in between Coen and Lana and let them have their space. I move over to the end of the couch away from all of the couples and pour myself a glass of champagne that’s sitting in the ice bucket in front of everyone.
While I’m staring off onto the dance floor below, I’m lost in thought, off in my own little world. What had transpired throughout the day and into the evening? What happened between us in the closet? How intense things got between us, and now . . . he’s pissed at me for what I said before Lana stepped in. I’m sorry, but it was embarrassing. Being naked in front of a woman you’ve just met recently? Being naked in front of another woman, period. Well, he can just stay angry.
I sit there and sip my drink when my skin begins to tingle. I don’t even look—I don’t have to. I know from the way my skin feels that he’s locked on me. And just as soon as the feeling came, it went.
The bass through the speakers pounds through my chest as I sit there. Everyone is having a great time, flirting, drinking, and dancing. It’s in this moment that I start to realize I’m the only one not having fun. What started off as a fantastic night has quickly spiraled into something entirely different. There’s a storm raging all right, and I’m standing in the middle of it in a flimsy makeshift dress, all alone.
“Heather, sweetie? Are you okay?” My tumultuous thoughts are interrupted by Lana’s sincere voice.
I plaster on a fake smile and turn in her direction. “Huh? Oh yes, I’m fine, thank you, babes. And thank you again for helping me. We got a little out of hand.” I try and play my embarrassment off and take another sip.
“Oh s-stop it,” she says, over-enunciating the word stop.
It makes us both laugh, and she turns back to Coen, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. I don’t notice him until it’s too late; Noah pulls me up to his chest and wraps me in his arms, holding me fast. “Come dance with me.”
I look up at him and almost burst into tears. I offer him my hand, and he leads me to the middle of the dance floor. We’re not dancing as the crowd around us moves, but he just stands there, holding me against his chest. “I love you, sweetheart.”
I stare up at this man and get lost in his dark green eyes. He’s still in a state of arousal, that much I can tell.
“I love you too.”
He pulls me against his chest and holds me in place; we’re both unmoving. I suck in a deep breath, taking in his warm masculine scent mixed with the clean smell of his cologne, now tainted with sex. “Do you want to go home? I can stay at my place tonight. I didn’t mean to hurt you, if I did. You’ve never not wanted to be around me . . . until tonight.”
I hate how I’m being bumped into on all sides, so I move to a secluded corner where we can hear each other better. I turn and rest my back against the wall and look up at him. I’m hurt that he would even suggest that we should sleep alone, but I can’t find the right words to describe it.
He cups my face and presses his lips to mine slowly. “I’m sorry.”
I nod but pull away to speak. I don’t want him to think I’m upset over that. “Don’t be sorry—I’m fine. I’m just really sore.”
“But you pulled away from me . . . and then touched Coen instead. While you could still feel me inside of you.”
“I pulled away because you said you were still pissed. I intended on pushing you more to see how far I could take you,” I say as he leans against the wall with his arm over my head. He loves to trap me like this. “And I just patted his knee as a friendly reassurance, Noah, not to make you upset.”
“I was pissed because you said you were embarrassed that I fucked you. You were embarrassed that Lana would know what we had been doing.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. Men. I grip his white shirt and forcefully pull him down, his lips an inch from mine. “I was embarrassed that she would see me naked. Not that we had sex. I don’t care who knows.”
He looks surprised and interested with his brows raised as his hands move from my hips down to my ass in his shirt. “I don’t like when you pull away from me, Heather.”
“So I’ve noticed,” I quickly reply and push my hips forward, feeling his length again. God this man is a machine.
He circles a hand around my neck and smiles. “Don’t underestimate me, sweetheart.”
My lips part, and my tongue darts out to lick them. Having his hand around my throat is highly erotic, and I can’t help how it makes me react. “I think I enjoyed underestimating you.”
“I believe you did. Now come drink with me.”
I hide my pout when he takes my hand and leads me from the darkened hallway back to our group of friends. I find myself wanting him to be rougher with me; I find myself wishing he would have taken my ass. Maybe soon?
We take our seat in the booth, and he pulls me onto his lap. Lana shoots me a drunken smile and claps her hands excitedly. “I’m so happy you two are all lovey again. Coen and I almost won for a second.”
“Won?” I ask, confused, and bend forward to reach for my champagne.
“Yup, you two are the cuter couple,” she huffs and reaches over Coen to hug me.
I laugh and hug her back. “You’re as ridiculous as Coen is.”
“Maybe I’ll keep him then,” she says excitedly, and my eyes dart to Dillen, who is smiling happily, sitting with Joel.
Everyone looks as if they’re happy and having a good time.
Noah nuzzles my neck and bites my shoulder. “You’re mine.”
I look back at him. “Are we okay now? Am I still in trouble?”
“If you’d like to be, then yes, you are.”
I smile at his playfulness and turn on his lap more. I lean down and rest my forehead against his, testing his boundaries with my next question.
“What would you say if I told you I can’t possibly have sex with you for about a week?”
“A week? Hell, baby, that’s a long time.”
I kiss the tip of his nose and pull away, taking a drink of my champagne. “I guess you should have thought of that before you almost literally tore me apart, Ryan. Now you have to pay the price.”
“Mmm, maybe if you’re lucky I’ll kiss that pussy better.”
I wiggle my ass against his lap and laugh before turning my attention to what’s playing out before me: Joel and Dillen. My shoulders slump minutely and I set my glass down. These two are obviously hot for each other, but I’m wondering if Dill is just playing games.
Noah seems to notice my unease and whispers in my ear, “Go and dance with Dillen.”
I don’t even hesitate to get off his lap and walk over to the two of them. “Dill, dance with me,” I shout over the music and tug on her hand.
She breaks away from his kiss and her lips are red and swo
llen. “My little shit! Where did you get that dress? I want it!” she shouts back as she assesses my ensemble.
I can only giggle at my best friend as we start dancing. I make sure I’m not applying weight onto my bad foot.
“It’s from Noah.”
I watch my Greek god as I entice him with my body. Dill and I are dancing close like we always do and Joel joins Noah on the couch to watch.
Noah leans over and starts talking to him; I love my man and his friendships. What is more attractive than a man knowing what he wants in life? Even down to the type of people he wants involved in it.
Dillen breaks into my train of thought. “Holy fuck, Heather, he is an amazing kisser!”
Oh boy. “Dill, you can’t just play with all of Noah’s friends.”
She stops dancing and looks at me like I’ve just slapped her. I stop dancing as well. “I’m not playing with them . . . we’re just having fun.”
I can see the hurt and anger on her face. “Dill, stop. You might be having fun, but I don’t think either of those guys feels the same way.”
She looks over at Coen, who is happily dancing with Lana, and then over at Joel, who is still watching us along with Noah.
“I know how much you want to be with Coen right now, and I know it hurts, but you can’t hurt Joel in the process of trying to make Coen jealous. I love you, Dill, and I don’t want you getting hurt either.”
I reach for her hand and try to get her to start dancing again and maybe keep this from going any further, but she pulls back.
“We can’t all be blessed with the man of our dreams,” she spits back at me hatefully. I pray it’s just the alcohol talking, but it hurts like hell.
“Dillen . . . please?” I try once more before some guy comes up behind her and starts sensually grinding his crotch into her ass . . . ugh.
She completely ignores me, opting to dance with him, and I feel deflated. I feel like the worst friend. I turn and mask my features before walking back over to sit next to Noah and Joel. They’re laughing and drinking together when I sit back down. I’m hopeful Joel didn’t see any of that. I wish I hadn’t even been a part of it. I should have kept my mouth shut and just let her run wild like she always does. I’m barely listening to the guys’ conversation when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
I turn to look and see Lana and Coen leaning over the back of the booth. “Sweetie, we’re going to go back to his place. My feet are tired and he promised me a foot massage.” She flashes a brilliant smile at me, and I laugh knowingly.
I watch as Coen’s goofy, drunk grin slides to Noah, and he grabs Noah’s shoulder. Noah looks up at him and laughs.
“Have a few too many, dickhead?” he asks, and Coen smirks before holding up his finger, and leaning in close, too drunkenly close.
Coen’s words are slurred and slow as he speaks. “Lemme tell you something, Ryan. There are two things in this world that smell like fish . . . one of them is fish . . .”
He stops speaking, and Lana and I both collectively gasp in shock. Noah busts out laughing and removes Coen’s grasp from his shoulder.
“Is that right, man? Had a few run-ins with that situation, have we?” Noah asks Coen, but he’s too drunk to answer, and his eyes are closed as he sways back and forth.
Lana smacks him on his chest and scolds, “Dammit, Coen, you did not just say that. Agh! You and your Coen-isms.”
I laugh as we watch Lana shove Coen toward the club’s exit.
“Have fun you two. Text me when you make it home.” I wave at her, and she blows me a kiss. I’m really, really loving Lana.
“See ya, sis,” Coen manages as he stumbles out.
Noah kisses my cheek before getting up and walking over to Dillen, pulling the creep off of her and wrangling my best friend back to the booth while he talks to her.
“Heather,” she squeals and hugs me tightly. “I love you too, you little shit. Can we go home? I’m fucking exhausted and drunk.”
I look over at Noah, completely in shock, wondering what in the hell he said to her.
He winks at me, and I know his love for me is unconditional. Noah speaks to the waitress about paying our bill while Joel helps me get the drunkie out to a cab.
We’ve finally folded her into a cab when Noah walks out and climbs in the back with us, while Joel takes the front seat next to the driver. It doesn’t take long to get home, but when we manage to get Dillen inside, she immediately passes out on the couch.
“Thank you for helping, Joel. You really didn’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, I did. I fed her the majority of those shots, so she’d stay away from Coen. I think she’s got some intense feelings toward him, but I like Lana. I believe she’s what Coen needs right now.”
I nod in agreement and sigh as I slip my heels off. I watch, my heart melting, when Joel walks over to the end of the couch and crouches at Dillen’s feet. He methodically takes her strappy heels off and covers her with a blanket. It looks like Joel has feelings for her that he’s not letting on to.
Noah snakes his arm around my waist and kisses the top of my head. “Joel, you’re welcome to crash here. That couch is big enough for an army.”
“I don’t know, man. I wouldn’t want her to wake up thinking I took advantage of her.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, man,” Noah says as Dill snorts in her sleep.
I hold in a giggle and walk past Joel. “Stay here tonight. I’m going to get you two pillows.”
“I’ll grab them, Heather.” He runs after me, and as I pull the closet door open in the hall, he snags the pillows and two blankets.
“You are too nice, Joel,” I say as I snap one of his suspenders.
He winces and moves away from me. “Fuck, Heather,” he says, laughing. He walks back into the living room where Noah is removing the back pillows from the couch to make more room for each of them to sleep.
I walk over and look down at her. “Should I get her into some of my jammies?” I ask Noah in particular, since he’s previously seen her in her bra and panties. “That dress is going to be extremely uncomfortable to sleep in.”
“I think that would be best. I’d prefer not to wake up to a naked Dillen.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back, guys.” I smile to myself as I make my way upstairs and find some satin Victoria’s Secret jammies for her to wear. With the way Joel seems to act around her, I think it could actually work. He may be just the right guy to tame her.
When I come back downstairs, Noah has Dillen sitting up next to him while Joel kneels in front of her, holding up a pink straw to her lips. “Dillen, it’s just water. You need this more than you know.”
I find Joel’s voice soothing and rough at the same time. Any woman can see that this man is gorgeous from the inside out, and I kind of hope Dill can see it too.
Groaning, she pushes the water out of her way and tries to lie back down, but Noah doesn’t budge. He keeps her sitting upright, and the men start to laugh.
“Jesus, she’s a handful,” Joel says through his laughter.
“Yeah, but she’s got a good heart—she just doesn’t know how to show it. And hell, don’t get me started on her tear ducts.”
I’m smiling, listening to them describe my best friend when Joel tries again. “Come on, doll, don’t fall asleep just yet. You need to get some water into your system,” he prods, and Noah shakes her shoulders just a bit to rattle her eyes open.
“Please, I just want to sleep,” she mumbles groggily.
They both laugh again, and I walk over, unfolding the satin pajamas. “Baby, help me get her dress off?”
Joel’s eyes shoot up to me, and he takes a step back. “I’ll wait in the kitchen,” he says, getting up faster than I’ve ever seen him move and goes to the kitchen, keeping his back turned to us.
I pout my lip out at Noah and mouth, “Awww, how cute.”
“Who Joel?” he says softly as he holds Dillen’s limp body up for me.
&n
bsp; I nod and smile as I pull her dress up and over her head. Noah feeds her arm through one of the sleeves and pulls it around her back. “Looks like you’ve done this before, Ryan,” I tease as I get her other arm in.
“Undressing a woman? Yes. Undressing an unconscious woman? No.”
I narrow my eyes at his comment. “Is it me, or is Joel enjoying being around her a lot?” I crouch down at her feet and start maneuvering the pants around her legs. “I think he truly likes her.”
Noah looks up to where Joel is in the kitchen. “Possibly. They are complete opposites, though.”
I shrug at his comment and grunt when I try to get the pants up over her butt. “Are you even helping me?” I joke as I tug them up successfully, and then drop onto the floor out of breath.
Noah lays her down while his chest rumbles with a laugh. “Joel, you’re a good man.”
I hear him rustling in the kitchen before he comes back with another glass of ice water and a sandwich. I start to giggle uncontrollably. “Joel! How did you find the stuff to make that?”
Noah’s looking at him in shock. “What the hell, man? Where’s mine?”
“Dude, make your own because I’m sure as fuck not sharing with you. Heather, I just opened this thing we call a fridge. It’s a great invention.”
I smile and pat my belly as I lie on my back on the floor. “Nu-uh, I’ve got to keep my figure.”
Noah bends over and picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder. “I know what I’m about to eat. Joel, have a good night. Don’t fuck Dillen in her sleep, and we’ll see you in the morning,” he jokes.
“’Night, fuckers,” he replies, and I wave to him as I’m being carried away.
NOAH
I’ve just woken up to my naked ballerina sprawled on top of me. I rub my hand down my face as I try to force myself to wake up. It’s Saturday morning, and I’m usually studying before Heather gets up, but I don’t think I should try to shift her right now.
As my eyes open and focus, I watch her sleep peacefully. I hated how hurt she looked last night when Dillen said that shit to her. There’s only been a few times in my life that I’ve wanted to shake some sense into a woman, and last night Dillen made the cut. Heather has been nothing but sweet and steadfastly caring to her friends and family. She deserves better treatment from everyone, including myself.
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