Life of the Party (Wayward #1)

CHAPTER 42

I was tingling as the landing gear skidded across the pavement, my heart pounding excitedly as I turned the corner at the arrivals gate, searching the terminal for Grey. I spotted him easily; he was even more gorgeous than the last time I saw him. He smirked as I approached, his blue eyes taking me in. I didn’t want to do the whole embarrassing run-up-to-him-scene, but I couldn’t help myself. He was so close.

I squealed with pent-up excitement and leapt into his arms, and he chuckled, hugging me to him. I snuggled up against his hard chest and breathed deep his delicious smell, a glorious smile on my face. He’d been gone for weeks, but already, it felt like we’d never been apart, like we were picking up right where we left off.

“I’m so happy to see you,” I exclaimed.

“Happy Birthday.” Grey smiled and kissed me. “Did you have a good flight?”

“I guess so. I’ve never flown before, so I have nothing to compare it to.”

“You’ve never flown before?” He laughed and took my bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and then grasped my hand tightly in his. “How did Little Miss Rich Girl make it to eighteen without flying before?”

I slapped him playfully for the Rich Girl comment as he led me towards the exit. “I don’t know. My dad flies all the time for work. If ever we took a vacation, it was within driving distance…but that was years ago. Then they got too busy working and studying and shit to take us anywhere but camp.” I explained.

“Ahh,” he nodded and held the door open for me. We stepped out into the night. The wind was brisk, cooling my flushed cheeks as we walked to the rental car. Grey threw my bag in the trunk and then climbed in behind the wheel .

Once inside, he turned to me, his blue eyes warm as he studied my face. “Now that we’re alone,” he smirked wickedly, “I should welcome you properly.”

I giggled as he leaned across the seat, his hand reaching up to cradle my cheek as he gently kissed my lips. He tasted so good, I’d almost forgotten how good. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer; it wasn’t long before my blood became heated, impassioned by his touch. He kissed me deeper, and the warmth of his hands sank through my clothes until I wished I wasn’t wearing anything at all.

Grey seemed to share the sentiment. Regretfully he broke away from me, but his breathing was shallow, his eyes narrowed lustily. He sat up and started the engine.

“We should go.”

“Where are we going?” I wondered shakily, trying to catch my breath.

“You and I,” he smirked as he pulled into traffic, “are going back to my hotel room.”

Heat washed through me, anticipation, excitement. “Yes, we are.” I smiled.

Grey drove the car much like his bicycle—revving the engine, switching lanes, tearing through the city streets. I was thankful for his frenzied driving; I couldn’t wait to be alone with him again. He put on a Rage Against the Machine CD, and the music came blaring through the speakers, loud and rowdy. I lit a smoke and sat back, letting the music rev me up, getting me in the mood to party, in the mood to go wild.

“Where are we going tomorrow night?” I wondered, yelling to be heard.

“There’s this club we like not far from the hotel. Everyone’s going to meet us there,” he laughed, “I hope you’re in the mood to get fucked up. All the guys from the studio want to meet you…I kind of bragged about how much you can drink. They really want to prove me wrong.”

“I can handle it,” I declared confidently.

“I don’t know. I think it’s going to be crazy.” Grey laughed again.

“Don’t worry, baby,” I smiled and blew out my smoke, “I’ll make you proud.”

He grinned at me. “I know you will.”

We pulled up at the hotel not long afterwards. Grey hurriedly grabbed my bag from the trunk. “This way.” He took my hand again and led me into the lobby.

The girls at the reception desk greeted him warmly—maybe a little too warmly—and threw me a glare as we passed by. I wanted to stick my tongue out at them, but instead, I wrapped my arm around Grey’s waist as we walked through the foyer, tucking my hand into his back pocket. I hoped that would get my point across.

I waited until we were alone in the elevator to let him know.

“Those girls totally want you.” I told him .

“Do they?” He shrugged innocently. “I hadn’t noticed.”

“Yeah, right.” I rolled my eyes. “Come on, I’m sure girls have been throwing themselves at you this whole time.” I tried not to think of the female I’d heard flirting with Grey on the phone. “You can’t tell me you don’t notice.”

Grey just shrugged again, but his eyes were gleaming mischievously.

“Are you ever tempted? Even a little bit?”

He looked down at me, a smirk on his lips, and shook his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because. None of them are you.”

I smiled bashfully at his answer. The elevator opened onto our floor with a quiet ding, and Grey took my hand in his and squeezed it. I followed him happily down the hallway, pausing as he unlocked the door to his room and then ushered me inside. It was bigger than average, not quite a suite, with two queen-sized beds and a little living area and kitchenette all done in the typical hotel neutrals. The bathroom held both a shower and a Jacuzzi tub. Grey set my bag down and took his coat off, and I looked around, opening the blinds and staring out at the city lights below us, twinkling prettily against the inky night sky.

I could see Grey in the reflection of the window. He strode up behind me, and smirked, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me tightly against him. The room became charged, almost buzzing with the instant electricity that flowed between us, electricity neither one of us could resist. I arched against him as he bent and kissed my neck.

In moments, we were wrapped around each other, frenzied and frantic, and it was all I could do to keep from ruining his clothes; I couldn’t rip them off fast enough. He pushed me back against the bed, pressing me against it, crushing me to him. We flung the rest of our clothes off, quickly, roughly, until there was nothing left between us but skin. My heart sang in my chest the entire time. This was all still so new to me, but it felt so right. There was no denying how good it was.

No denying how good we were together.