Hear Me Now

by Brittany Bly

  “Can’t… breathe…”

  He pulls back only a little, still holding me against his broad chest, my feet dangle off the ground “Better?”

  “A little,” I take a deep breath asking, “Can you put me down?”

  “Can I carry you over to the table?” Cohen asks, leaning back to see my expression.

  “Eh, no. No, you can’t… now put me down” I say raising an eyebrow.

  “Umm, I decided no,” he smiles, carrying me through the bodies. Some people turn and stare while others ignore us altogether. They have probably seen stranger things, possibly even tonight.

  Gritting my teeth, I try to squirm out of his arms, but it proves to be useless. It’s like fighting against steel, so I go lax in his grip and try to enjoy the ride. I see the other guys seated at a booth in the back of the bar… no wonder I didn’t see them when I came in.

  “Look who I found,” Cohen says lifting me a little higher so each of them can see me as if he’s showing off a new toy.

  “Put me down,” I growl.

  Chuckling, he releases me. I fall about a foot, both feet hitting the floor. I glare at him and smooth the wrinkles out of my dress. “Slide in” Cohen shoos me into the booth between him and Axton. Hensley and Blaine are seated on the other side.

  My attention focuses solely on Blaine. Well not so much him but the skank sitting in his lap. Their heads are leaned in close together like they have a secret no one else is supposed to know. Irritation like nothing I’ve felt begins to creep in making a home in my veins. The bastard was playing house at my place just days ago, and now this. Fuck that. Blaine’s green eyes slide my way as he asks, “Enjoy your ride?”

  I flip him the bird and look at Cohen, who’s grinning from ear to ear as I say, “I mean who wouldn’t love being carried around by a huge goon.”

  “Sounds amazing, actually. Could you arrange it for me?” Cohen says bumping shoulders with me.

  “I’m going to arrange something, but it won’t be that” I mumble glaring at him.

  “Someone’s feisty today,” Axton says, sliding a little closer to me.

  “Well, you would think that would be a hint for you not to be your ridiculous self now, wouldn’t you?” I ask snarling my lip.

  “Baby, I only come one way,” Axton gestures at himself up and down.

  Downing the rest of my drink, I ask Cohen to grab the waitress’s attention and order me another. I shouldn’t have been surprised when a new glass is slid in front of me after a few minutes. I should’ve known even the waitresses are waiting in the shadows at a chance with any of these guys. It’s as if there’s a whore gravitational pull around the table. Blaine’s hands are roaming over the skanks body like there’s no one else here… and I’m about to lose my shit. His eyes flick to mine, holding my gaze for only a second before a sexy grin spreads across his lips. His attention is once again on the blonde plastic doll on his lap. He’s purposely trying to be a douche. I’m not sure what brought this on… he had been so sweet. But if he wants to play this game, I can be just as big of a bitch.

  Even Cohen is endlessly flirting with the waitress and every random bimbo that wanders up. Each is trying harder than the one before to take him home, and the kicker is, he looks to be entertaining the idea.

  Shaking my head, I look around trying to find Marissa, it’s her fault I’m even here. If Cohen hadn’t seen me, I would grumpily be sitting somewhere else and not having to witness this horror show. Currently, my scowl is keeping away every man that tries to approach, even if my company doesn’t deter them… well except Axton. He just doesn’t take the hint.

  “Lila, babe?” Axton says in a singsong voice, “Can you fix that bitch face you got going on?”

  “If you don’t like it, look somewhere else.”

  “Oh, you’re mistaken… it’s turning me on” he answers wagging his eyebrows.

  I cut my eyes at him, raising an eyebrow “What is wrong with you?”

  Grinning, he leans in a little closer, “Angry sex is the best, and I can’t help but imagine all the things I could do with you.”

  My face is unchanging as I continue to stare at him.

  “What? Never experienced it? Oh, babe, you’ve been missing out.” His eyes glance toward Blaine as he continues, “Blaine must be lacking in that area,” he says, his gaze locking back on mine “But I would love to show you.”

  A small sexy smile spreads across my lips “Is that so? Think you can handle it?”

  His eyes travel to my lips, “No question, and it would be my pleasure to introduce you to the practice.”

  Glancing around, I have yet to see Marissa. Besides Axton and Blaine, the other guys have run off somewhere. The bimbos are multiplying, now there are two of them. Each is sitting on either side of Blaine, both getting equal amounts of his attention.

  At some point, proper judgment goes out the window, and drinks begin to flow freely. Each one consumed shamelessly, and somehow annoyance turns to flirting. Drunk, Axton isn’t so bad, and luckily my sober self isn’t anywhere around to give an opinion. Together, Axton and I, have our own little party and honestly, I’m content with that. I don’t think any more about Blaine or the girls that would be fucking him later tonight even with them being flaunted right in front of me.

  Drinks continued to arrive. I’m not even sure if I’m ordering them anymore. It’s like an awesome fairy is delivering them to me.

  I throw my head back and shout a thank you to her.

  “Who are you thanking?” Axton slurs.

  Confused, I glance around before looking at him, “What?”

  “What?” he asks, looking as confused as I feel.

  “Okay,” my drunk brain can’t process whatever just happened. My head suddenly feels heavy, and I lay it on the nearest thing which happens to be Axton’s shoulder. Resting there, I begin to hum along with the song playing through the speakers. My head rocks along on its own accord.

  It changes, and my head no longer feels heavy. Perking up, I shake him, shouting, “Let’s dance!” Axton begins hurrying out of the booth, not needing to be told twice. Unsteady movements aside, he makes it.

  “Maybe you guys should stay here,” a familiar voice says from somewhere… I’m not quite sure where. I look around trying to pinpoint the source of the voice, but my head just spins. In my drunken haze, it isn’t as easy as you would think.

  Blaine’s standing beside me when I turn back around. I jump. When did he get there? Craning my head up, I find his face, his eyes scanning my face. I stare at his full mouth, the same mouth that tried to kiss me the other night. That sexy lip ring’s gleaming, just asking me to bite it. He tries to take my hand and lead me back to the booth, but I yank away from him stumbling into Axton. That physical contact thrusts me back to the here and now with thoughts of where those hands have been tonight and even just moments ago.

  “I don’t remember asking you anything,” I scowl, my words coming out in a slur. Turning, Axton and I lead each other out onto the dance floor. The music takes over, and we begin dancing. No words are exchanged. My hips start to sway, and I throw my hands up in the air. From behind his hands grab my hips and he moves along with me. I lean into him, relishing in the feeling of a hard body against mine. One song bleeds into another, and we keep dancing, never slowing. My heartbeat thumps, pulsing my blood through my veins faster and faster. The room tilts as Axton spins me around to face him. Hunger is alive in his eyes, and I don’t stop him as his lips take possession of mine.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The taste of beer coats his tongue as it snakes through my parted lips. The fog from my own drinks clouds any sense I would typically possess.

  All suitable judgment is out the window.

  His lips are rough and in need of chapstick, but right now they are satisfying a need I was unaware I had.

  As soon as the kiss begins, it’s gone as he’s ripped away from me. Stumbling from my only s
ource of balance gone, I open my eyes. He’s several feet away and pinned against the wall glaring down at the man holding him there. I step closer and can now hear the heated words being exchanged. My mind finally processes what’s going on and who’s gripping Axton – Blaine.

  “What the fuck do you think you are doing?” Blaine’s voice is murderous as his hands grip the front of Axton’s shirt.

  “What did it look like?” Axton asks, his tone less than friendly at the moment.

  “Ax, choose your next words very carefully. You better be thanking whatever god you pray to that I haven’t killed you already,” Blaine says visibly shaking.

  My feet move closer, and I stand to the side of them “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing, baby. Just give me and lover boy a minute, and we can pick up where we left off” Axton answers flashing me a sexy smile.

  Blaine slams him into the wall bearing his teeth “What the fuck did I just say?”

  Axton slowly leans in a grin spreading over his face as he says, “Man, she wanted it.”

  God, he must have a death wish.

  Blaine moves so fast, I don’t think Axton even realizes what’s happening. His head knocks back into the wall just as Blaine’s fist connects with his cheek. Seething, Blaine leans in so close that they are nose to nose now “I told you she’s off limits.”

  Axton glares at him, his eye already starting to swell “It’s her choice, man, not yours.”

  Reaching out, I lay my hand on Blaine’s shoulder. He tenses, I can feel him shaking as if he’s using all his self-control to contain himself “Blaine, let’s go outside.” He doesn’t react at first, both of them glaring at each other, daring the other to move. “Please,” I say in a small voice.

  Slowly, he drops Axton releasing him from the death grip. He turns sharply. I get an up-close view of the anger he had just been directing at Axton. My eyes widen, and I take a step back putting some distance between us. I can’t remember ever seeing him mad like this.

  “Are we going outside?” Blaine asks in a hard tone.

  Nodding, I turn, wading through the crowd toward the exit to the back deck. Once we are over the threshold, I head over to the covered patio. I lean over the railing surrounding the courtyard, Blaine follows. The weather’s turned misty since I first stepped into the bar. My mind’s clear now with no signs of the alcoholic fog as flashes of what happened tonight flip through my mind. Eh, what in the hell have I just done?

  “Do you want him?” Blaine’s voice is low and cold.

  Looking over, I scoff, “No.”

  He cuts his eyes in my direction, holding my gaze, “Could’ve fooled me.”

  “It was just a kiss.”

  “If I remember correctly, a kiss can be unforgivable,” he growls his grip tightening on the railing.

  “That’s not the same thing,” I said, gritting my teeth.

  Whipping his head toward me, I can see the anger simmering in his eyes as he says, “Do you care to enlighten me? I would love to hear this explanation.”

  “One big factor is that I AM SINGLE! I can kiss whomever I damned well please!” I yell, lifting my chin. I put my hands on my hips and stand my ground. “And you’ve no right to act like the jealous boyfriend because guess what… you’re not my boyfriend!”

  Blaine stalks toward me, his chest heaving as he leans down in my face “Oh believe me, I’m well aware of that fact.” He leans in, his mouth grazing my ear. Groaning, he runs a finger along my lips “But I won’t stand back and let you place these lips on another man.”

  I swallow, my eyes never leaving his mouth as he speaks. Licking my lips, my tongue grazes the tip of his finger, “You don’t own me. If I want to, I could find Axton and take him home with me… he would come running.”

  “Try it. See what happens.”

  My eyes travel up to his, my lips curling back “So you can be with any and every woman, but I’m supposed to become a nun?”

  “Were you jealous, Scully?” his mouth grazes my ear as he whispers “Has anyone been inside of you since me? Or am I the one you fantasize about?”

  We’re so close, my body is going crazy yearning to touch him. It’s been years since I’ve been close to him or any man. My deprived body’s screaming for me to allow him just one touch. But the defiant bitch inside of me just won’t let it happen. Grinning sexily, I brush my breast against his chest, he visibly shudders “Is that what you think? That I’ve sat around and waited for you?” I run my finger up his chest, and our eyes collide “I’m sorry to disappoint, but you aren’t the last one to fuck me, and you aren’t going to be. Much like I know you’ve gathered a long list since me.”

  Blaine’s spine straightens. Spinning, he cages me against the railing “I’ll be the last.”

  “You’re awfully sure of yourself.”

  His hand roams up my side, brushing the bottom of my breast as he says, “And you won’t be drunk when it happens either. You’ll remember every second that I pleasure you.”

  It’s my turn to shiver as his husky voice describes in detail all the things he wants to do to me. My body hums with anticipation, but I summon the bitch one more time, she pushes all those feelings deep within me “You’ll have to find someone else who’s actually willing to participate because I’m not.” I push past him, he lets me go without a fight. I don’t look back, but his next words ring in my ears, “You can’t run forever.”

  Chapter Thirty

  I fight my way back to the front of the club. None of the guys are to be seen, and I’m thankful for that because the last thing I need is another male trying to interfere. I’m a few steps from the door when my own angel of darkness enters the doorway. Clad in her tight skirt and an almost sheer blouse, Marissa dominates as she walks in.

  “Lila! Where are you going?” she asks, her brows furrowing.

  “Home.”

  “What? Why!?” she squeals, throwing her arms out at her sides.

  “Well, first off, you were supposed to be here an hour ago. Second, I’m sick of being around all these fucking people…” I say running my fingers through my hair, “I just want to go home.”

  “I’m so sorry! Work was crazy, and it took me forever to find a cab!” she says, grabbing my hands and squeezing as she pleads “Please don’t leave me! I really need this… you have no idea!”

  Closing my eyes, I grab the bridge of my nose and pinch. My buzz is nowhere to be seen, and I just want to crawl into my bed and forget tonight ever happened. Marissa sticks her lip out in a pout when I open my eyes, “That doesn’t work on me, you know, I don’t have a penis.”

  “Don’t make me beg” she says her lip bobbing.

  I throw my head back in frustration looking around, the people a blur “Fine! I’ll stay a little bit but this hour that I wasted waiting on you counts as your time, so use your remaining time wisely.”

  “Yay!” she says, bouncing up and down, grabbing my hand, she pulls me toward the bar “Okay, let’s go grab a drink.”

  Marissa looks at me oddly when I order water, but I just shake my head and say, “I had to do something while I waited.” While I sip on it, she throws back a couple bourbon shots while venting about her dick of a boss. Apparently, he’s trying to make her job more difficult out of spite, and she’s having a hard time toeing the line between professional and just unleashing her bitchiness on him. I listen intently, giving her advice the best I can because I’ve had my fair share of shitty bosses. I drain the first glass and start on my second one. The last thing I want is to become dehydrated because of my lapse of judgment.

  Once Marissa has calmed down, some of the mood changes as does the conversation; and soon, we’re talking about Blaine. I try to redirect her to something else, but she’s set on having this particular one. I soon feel as if eyes are watching me and glancing around. I don’t notice anyone. So, I ignore it. But the feeling only increases. I glimpse toward the back of the bar where I’d been ear
lier and find the culprit. Blaine’s leaning against the outside of the booth, just standing there. The other guys are nowhere to be seen, and neither are his bimbos. I turn my back to him. I’m done with this mess. I look at Marissa, and she’s smiling, now I understand her reasons for bringing him up.

  “I’m tired of sitting. Let’s dance, bitch,” Marissa says, tugging me off my stool before I can protest.

  Groaning, I follow, maneuvering through the crowd toward the center of the dance floor. I release all my anger and frustration, letting the music take over and free my mind from all the nonsense that consumes me. I dance with Marissa, laughing and enjoying each song that plays. Closing my eyes, I sway my hips and throw my head back, not once thinking about anything but the music and the way my body moves with it. Sweat beads on my forehead as the temperature rises with all the bodies dancing around us. I welcome it as it slides down my temples and onto my breasts. This is my form of detox, not that hot yoga mess Marissa loves so much. Fingers graze my cheeks, causing my eyes to fly open and collide with Blaine’s. I don’t move as he wipes the sweat from my temples. His green eyes are electric as he moves down my temples to my cheek, then on to my lips. Those light touches send tingles along my skin, and I almost lean into it, but I pull back instead, putting my back to him.

  I resume my dancing, shutting him out and once again letting the music take me. I know he’s still there, I can feel him. He hasn’t moved. He refuses to acknowledge my resistance and takes hold of my hips, pulling me in close and begins dancing with me. Our bodies in sync as they always have been. Unlike my dance with Axton, my body feels alive and clear, not enhanced with the alcohol. Blaine has always had the ability to elicit reactions from my body no one else can.

  My breathing increases as I lean into him, allowing him access to freely roam past my hips. His hands snake up my sides barely grazing my breasts, causing me to shudder. They splay across my stomach as he pulls me closer, allowing me to feel exactly what he’s experiencing himself. I groan, throwing my head back to rest on his shoulder as his cheek brushes against mine, his lips lightly kissing along my jaw. The cold metal of his lip ring, causing me to moan.