by Claire Adams
Tears filled my eyes and I tilted my head toward the ceiling, trying to blink them back. "It's not that easy, guys. He has my heart."
"I don't like it," Easton mumbled and forced me to look back down at him as he reached up and brushed away a few of the tears that escaped my eyes. "Let me help you tonight. Please."
"It's too dangerous, and I'm not looking for another heartbreak, but thank you." I pulled from him and turned, letting my eyes scan the floor until I spotted him. Jackson was nothing compared to Easton in terms of looks, just a silly, country quarterback against a sexy well-to-do suit, but he still had ten years of my life wrapped around him.
I lifted my beer to my lips and ignored Casey and Easton's hushed conversation. I wasn't interested in playing any part, or I didn't think I was. The minute Jackson glanced up and his eyes widened, everything changed.
Taking a step back, I bumped into Easton and reached back, pulling his strong arm around my waist and pressing against him. Chill bumps broke out across my skin as he complied, taking my demands a step farther and pressing his soft lips to the side of my neck before dragging them slowly up to rest beside my ear.
"I know you're upset with me, but use me tonight. I want to make it up to you. I want us to be friends for a long time." He kissed my ear, and I nodded.
"Okay, but nothing more than this." I turned to brush my nose by his. "Just this night at the club."
"If you end up in my bed, it's because you wanted to." He slid his hand along my jaw and pulled me down for a long kiss.
I forgot all about Jackson and everyone else in the room for a minute. I'd just started to turn to press myself against the front of Easton, when I heard my name spoken reverently from the same voice that lorded over my life for so long.
"Vivian. What're you doing here?" Jackson had his hand wrapped around a pretty blonde's hand, her breasts spilling over the top of her tiny dress and leaving nothing to the imagination.
I turned and took a quick breath as Easton moved to my side a little, but kept one arm wrapped tightly around me.
"Just decided to have a vacation. This is Easton, and of course you know Casey." I moved a little as Easton extended his hand.
"From the small town to the big city, hm?" Easton smiled and shook Jackson's hand.
My ex had a look on his face that I'd seen far too many times. It was a mixture of discomfort and anger.
"Yeah, sure. Not sure what that means, but whatever." He glanced down and shook his head. "You meet this guy here or take him with you?"
"We've been dating for a few weeks now." Easton moved to my side and draped his arm over my shoulders.
"He's big shit in New York." Casey poked Jackson in the chest, and something inside of me cringed. I should have hated him completely, and a large part of me did, but I didn't want anyone hurting him or berating him on my behalf.
"Dance with me?" He turned his attention back to me. "Just one more time."
I realized that he hadn't introduced his girl, but he probably wouldn't. He was a cheating ass, but some part of me believed that the boy I'd fallen in love with and planned my future with still lived inside of him. My mother could turn men into villains all day long, but there was more to it than just black or white. There had to be.
"Go ahead if you want." Easton glanced down at me and smiled. "I'll be right here when you get back."
"Okay." I lifted to my toes and brushed my lips across his, not having to feign attraction at all. Jackson was my past, and though Easton probably had no hold on my future, it didn't mean that I couldn't easily see him having all of it, if he only wanted it.
He pulled me in closely and kissed me sensually, like I was the only woman in the room. Funny how the feeling dissipated the minute he released me. Reality set in, and the thought of not being good enough for neither Jackson nor him threatened to consume me.
I took Jackson's hand and ignored his date's glare as best I could. Glancing back at Casey, I nodded toward the girl. "Be nice."
Casey huffed. "Fuck that. I'm not the nice friend. You are, remember?"
"This isn't good." I glanced up at Jackson as he moved us to the center of the dance floor and turned, pulling me against him and gripping my hips tightly. "Casey isn't going to be nice to that poor girl."
"That girl is a vicious bitch, she'll be fine." His eyes moved across me slowly as he licked at his lips. "You look fucking hot. I haven't stopped thinking about you, you know. Not a damn day goes by that I don't regret what happened between us."
"You moved on, Jack. Plain and simple." I slid my hands up his chest and forced the memories of us making love from my mind. It wouldn't take more than a few kind words from him and I'd limp away from the dance floor, crippled emotionally by the need to get my life back. "And you dumped me, remember? You cheated on me for years and then dumped me when I found out."
"Only because you couldn't forgive me, Viv. You and I are supposed to be forever. I've said that a million times." He pressed his strong body to the front of mine, his erection thick and hard. "If you don't see that, then you're ignorant."
I pushed a little against his chest and shook my head. "No. Those days are over. I thought we would be forever, too, but you changed all of that. Besides, I'm with someone else now."
He laughed and nodded toward the bar. "That guy? He's not even your type, Viv. I'm your type."
"You were my type. You're nothing to me now. How could you be? You traded everything we had for a few nights of passion with others." I glanced to my left, catching Easton's strong gaze. He didn't look happy at all, and the very thought of him being upset over me and Jackson thrilled a part of my heart that was turning icy far too fast.
"I messed up, okay? We both know that." He slid his hands back to cup my rear, and I pushed at his chest, not willing to play his game.
"Yeah, you did, and I'm not sure what the fuck you're doing in Miami when you had to have known that I would be here too." I narrowed my eyes at him. "You knew I was here, didn't you?"
"I actually didn't. I assumed you'd go to Jamaica. Remember we used to always talk about having our honeymoon there." He reached up and brushed his thumb over my cheek. "I love you. I always have. You're the only woman I could even think about spending my life with, Viv."
"I'm not doing this here. I can't." I pushed at his chest once more and broke the contact. "I wasn't enough, remember?"
Tears burned my gaze as he reached for me. "I was being a dumbass. I broke it off because I thought I could find better, but I can't. I want you. I'll always want you."
"She's taken." Easton's voice was low and ominous as he tugged at my arm and moved in between me and Jackson. "And she's dancing with me now, so fuck off."
I turned and moved into Easton’s arms as he wrapped them tightly around me, molding his body to mine and dancing with the music. I pressed my face to his chest and tightened my hold on him as a soft sob racked my body. The very last thing I wanted to do was let Easton know anything about me, especially all my relationship dysfunction. It was something I was hoping to hide for just a few more days from him.
Just a few more days and I would have been on a plane, headed back to my life, and you could get back to yours.
"Shhh. It's okay." He kissed the side of my hair and spoke to Jackson a few more seconds, but I ignored them, needing so badly to forget everything and everyone, even for just a night.
Easton’s strong hands massaged the back of my neck as I lifted my face to his and tried to speak. Nothing came out and he gave me a smile that wasn't filled with pity, but adoration.
"You don't need to say anything. I forced Casey to tell me a little bit about it. You can hate me later." He moved down and brushed his nose past mine. "No wonder you're so guarded."
"I just want to understand why. If I knew what I did then maybe I could–”
"No. People who are cheated on don't do anything to deserve that shit. It's all on him, Vivian. It has little to nothing to do with you." His eyes moved around my face
as his body hardened against mine. "You're so far beyond beautiful, so innocent and kind. He's a fucking idiot."
I pressed against the sexy man holding me and slid my hands over his hips as I closed my eyes and tried to imagine myself as he said I was. It wasn't possible, but it didn't matter. I wanted to feel the intense sensation of being wanted, even if it was a lie that would slip through my fingers the next morning.
"He's all I know." I turned my head to look back at the bar.
Jackson and Casey were in each other's faces, but they had been our whole lives. It was nothing new, and he wouldn't hurt Casey no matter what. They were like siblings, which was half the fun of sharing life with both of them.
"Then you need to get out more. Not everything has to be a heart-breaking love story." Easton slid his hands along my face as I turned my attention back toward him. His piercing green eyes studied me, his lips so soft and wet.
"What if I want a love story? What if I'm not the girl that can have a one-night stand? It's just not in my blood to be anything other than what I am." I spun and pressed my back to his chest, rolling my hips as the song shifted to something sensual and naughty. "How do I become her and live in that life for a while? How do I get that break in reality?"
His hand spayed out across my stomach as he leaned down and licked just below my ear. "I'm not sure, but I want to help you find out. Getting over this dick-wad by the bar might just be the opening yourself up to casual dating for fun. Live a little?"
He was right, and yet another part of me lamented over the fact that all he was willing to give was a few nights of fun. I kept returning to the same conversation with myself over and over about not needing a man in my life. It would seem it was the only sane way to get through any of the shit I had currently facing me.
I lifted my arm in the air and arched my back, pressing my ass against Easton's arousal and moaning softly as he rocked it against me over and over until my body cried out for penetration.
Turning, I glanced up at him and took a sharp breath. "I want to be someone else tonight."
"I like you just the way you are." He leaned down and brushed his lips by mine. "Just stop being mad at me. I'm struggling too, if you haven't noticed."
"One night. One night to see what this is between us." I ran my fingers by his lips and cried out quietly as he sucked two of my fingers deep into his mouth. "I need you."
He pulled back and slid his hands over the curve of my rear as he rocked against me again. "Then let's get out of here and go back to the hotel. I'll give you anything you want. Anything you need."
Lust pumped through me in violent waves, far harder than anything else I'd felt before. I wasn't the type of woman to spend the night with a stranger, but maybe it was time for that to change. My life hadn't panned out so well thus far. Maybe a subtle shift to elevate pleasure above all else would help. Everyone else seemed to do it.
"Get the fuck off my girl." Jackson's tone was loud and immediately set me on edge. He was the kind of guy who loved a good fight more than anything else.
I wanted passion in my life, but I didn't want anything to do with drama.
Chapter 16
Easton
She fit perfectly against me, her body so incredibly tight and pliable as I rocked against her. The fact that her ex-boyfriend had shown up in the club was honestly a little hard to believe. He had to have planned them bumping into each other, or fate was working overtime for the week.
I spread my fingers out wide across her stomach as I rubbed myself against her. She needed to know how far beyond hot she was. The fact that my body was almost shaking with need should have been more than enough to remind her. She was a good girl, the kind of woman I could take home and plan a future with, but she was hurting – a lot.
The tall guy who'd caused most of it stopped in front of us and barked at me to move away from Vivian, as if he had the right to demand anything from either of us.
She lifted her hand and pressed it to his chest. "I don't want any trouble. Seriously."
"Then stop dry humping some dude right in front of me. You're not a slut, Viv. Don't be one just to impress me. It's not becoming." He swatted her hand from his chest angrily.
I tugged her behind me and moved up, looking Jackson in the eye as our height matched up perfectly. He was almost the same body type as me, but had a little more muscle than I did. Had to be because he was still in college and I was living a busy-ass life.
Has to be.
"Fuck off. No one's interested in your attitude or the way you treat women. Find someone else to mess around with. Vivian's mine, and I'm not going anywhere. You messed up. Live with it." I straightened my shoulders and tilted my head just a little, making sure he knew by my stance alone that I had no problem whooping his ass in the middle of the dance floor. Vivian might not be ready to spend the night in jail, but I was if it was necessary. My boss, Jon, was a brawler like no other. He would understand if I called for help. So would my dad.
"Who are you, anyway? Vivian was just in the grocery store crying her fucking face off over me on Sunday." He pushed at my chest, and I moved closer to him as she tugged at my arm.
"Easton, please. I don't like violence." She pressed her breasts to my arm and gave me a pleading look, but I'd already gone too far. If I backed down, the bastard would think he'd won, and he hadn't.
"I'm her new man. Leave her alone, or I'll fuck you up." I turned and took her hand before walking toward the bar. "Let's get out of here. Where's Casey?"
"I don't know. Let me look for her." Vivian wrapped her hands around my hand and tucked herself against my side, setting my body and heart on fire even more for her. She belonged there beside me.
I paid our tab and turned in time to catch a drink to the face. Whiskey stung my eyes, but I had very little doubt as to who'd thrown the liquor at me.
"Don't tell me what to do, mother fucker. This girl you think you've captivated isn't up for grabs. She's been mine my whole life, and I'm not leaving here without her." He swung as I turned slightly, grabbing his arm and pulling him into the bar top.
He hit it hard with his side and doubled over about the time I uppercut his jaw, knocking the big brute onto his ass. Bending down, I got in his face as he rolled onto his side.
"Don't come near her again, or I'll make sure you don't get up for a few days. Got me?" I got in his face and pressed my forehead to his, wanting to make sure he was more than aware of who the alpha was between the two of us. My brothers had pulled this side of me out on numerous occasions. I was comfortable delivering ass-whoopings when necessary, even if Viv didn't like it.
Standing, I realized that she'd moved away from the drama in search of Casey. I followed after her and stopped beside her, sliding my hand onto her lower back as she glanced back at me.
"I got a text from her that she left already. I don't like it."
"She's a grown woman, and any man would be an idiot to mess with her. Let me get the car and we'll get out of here. You can try and call her on our way back over to the resort." I leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Stay up here by the bouncer and don't talk to your ex if he hobbles over here."
"Hobbles?" She lifted her eyebrow at me. The pretty girl must have missed the whole show.
"Wait here." I ignored her question and got the car, texting her to come out after I pulled up. I couldn't help but appreciate how well her little black dress fit her as she walked around the front of the car and got in quickly.
"She knows that I hate it when she leaves somewhere without me." Viv let out a frustrated sounding sigh and buckled up. "Just go back to La Mage and I'll check my room for her."
"Alright. I'm sure she's fine. Keep trying to call her." I pulled out of the club parking lot and took my time getting us back to the hotel. The crowds were thick, and by the time we got back to the hotel, my desire and carnal nature were properly tucked away. The massive amounts of adrenaline that flooded my system both due to my lust over Viv and my anger over her ex empt
ied out, leaving me weary.
"Case, it's me. Please call me back. Easton and I are back at the hotel, and I'm worried about you. I have my cell phone with me. You know I hate it when you do this shit. Call me now, please." Vivian dropped her hands into her lap as I parked in the front of the resort and several valets rushed toward us.
"Let's get something to eat and we can try to reach her again. You wanna change?" I opened my door and moved to the front of the car, offering her my hand. I was almost surprised that she took it, but she did. I used my grasp on her to pull her close to me as we walked into the ornate lobby.
"Yeah, I'm hungry. Let's go to your room and order room service. I'll go change in a little while. I want to find my friend first." She moved us toward the elevator, pulling in front of me a little, which afforded me a beautiful sideview of her incredible body.
Even with my mind running in ten different directions, my stomach tightened and my pulse picked up at the sight of her. I couldn't remember another woman having such a strong sensual pull on me. We got into the elevator and I pressed myself to the front of her.
"Give me tonight. I don't know what tomorrow looks like, but eat dinner with me, laugh with me, let me make love to you. Be that girl tonight that doesn't fall in love, but dives into lust."
"Are you that guy?" Her brow pulled tightly as she reached up and brushed her fingers through my hair.
"Not at all, but I want to be him just in case nothing becomes of this thing between us." I leaned down and brushed my lips over hers as my fingers drug down her legs. "I'm not in the penthouse anymore. Just a nice single bedroom. That okay?"
"Is there a fireplace?" She ran her fingers over the swell of my pectoral muscle, playing with my nipple as she watched me closely.
"Yeah, it's a big room. Tons of space to chill out for an evening." I nipped at her mouth. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't want it so damn bad."
"It?" She pushed at my chest with very little force.
"You." I moved down to lick the long column of her neck. "I want to know what you taste like, Viv. I know it's not right, but I can't stop thinking about it."