Chapter 8
EIGHT
WREN
“So, you have a boyfriend?” I swayed to the beat in time with Jasper. He’d been so supportive of me last year. Each time I’d had ankle problems, he’d been the one to wrap it for me.
Nodding, Jasper said, “Yes, he’ll be here soon. I met him at work.”
He was the happiest I’d ever seen him. “So, is he older than you?” I glanced toward the table where Eli and his friends stood. I had to take a breather from that situation, and Jasper had been the perfect excuse. Wait, where had Eli gone?
Stopping, I dropped my arm from Jasper’s neck and skimmed the bar area.
Eli, his back to me, was lumbering toward the restrooms.
“Hey, my boyfriend is here.” Jasper waved to a tall, dark-haired man, who strode toward us. “Hey, babe.” He hugged the man, and they kissed. “Cole, meet my old friend, Wren. We were on the gymnastics team last year.”
“Oh, nice to meet you.” Cole extended his hand, and I shook it.
“The pleasure is mine.” I chewed my lower lip, taking a quick sweep of the bar. “Listen, I should return to the people I came here with.”
“Sure, thanks for keeping Jasper company for me.” Cole gave me a warm grin and then turned his attention to Jasper.
“Don’t be a stranger, Wren,” Jasper called out as I hurried toward Malik and Tex.
With a wave behind me, I said, “I won’t.” As I approached the table, Malik gave me a stern look. “What happened to your friend there? Did he find someone he liked better?”
I halted and stared at him. What did he mean by that? “No, he was waiting for his boyfriend, and the boyfriend showed up.” I picked up my drink and sipped it. I wouldn’t waste it, although it was watered down.
Narrowing his eyes, Malik said, “So you’re just friends with that guy?”
“Yes.” I flicked my gaze from Malik to Tex and back again. What were they implying? “We were on the gymnastics team last year. Didn’t Eli tell you that?”
“He did.” Tex huffed and shifted his weight. “Eli thought maybe there was more between you, and I have to admit, it looked that way to me, too.”
“Wren, what are your intentions with Eli?” Furrowing his brows, Malik fixated on me.
“My intentions?” What the hell had Eli told them?
This felt like an interrogation. “I’m trying to give him another chance.
” I snuck a peek toward the restrooms. Where the hell was Eli?
“Look, Eli’s the one who started this. He’s also the one who betrayed me in high school.
” Fuck, was I really bringing that up again? But I had to defend myself.
“He’s doing his best to make up for it.” Malik lifted his chin, towering over me.
“I know he is.” Was he trying to intimidate me? I stepped back.
“Malik, stand down.” Tex grabbed Malik’s forearm and focused on me. “Look, we only want what’s best for our friend. He’s got a good heart, and right now, his heart is hurting.”
My brows knitted. “Why? I’m here, aren’t I? I’m giving him a second chance.” Damn, these two were loyal as hell to Eli.
“I know, but he thought maybe you were flirting with your friend right in front of him, knowing full well how he feels about you.” Tex freed Malik.
“I wasn’t. We were just dancing. I haven’t seen Jasper since last May.” I didn’t like defending myself. I had done nothing wrong. “Eli and I are not together right now. Even so, I wouldn’t do something like that.” As my gut clenched, I glared at the table.
“Okay, sorry, man.” Malik’s gaze softened. “I guess we got the wrong impression. I thought you might play with Eli’s heart.”
“Yeah, me too.” Tex twisted his mouth. “Sorry. We just want what’s best for him, and we don’t like to see him hurt.”
Nodding, I said, “Apology accepted.” Eli was hurt? Had he gone to the restroom because I’d upset him that badly? It was an innocent dance.
Eli stepped to the table. “Okay, what did I miss? You all look so serious.” Picking up his beer, he peeked at me and then took a drink.
Facing Eli, I said, “Hey, Jasper is only a friend. He was waiting for his boyfriend to show up. I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings here.” I arched a brow at Malik. “Because your friends were grilling me about it while you were gone.”
“Were they now.” With a tut, Eli shook his head. “Guys, I appreciate the concern, but let’s tone it down.”
“Dude, we always have your back.” Malik side-hugged Eli.
“It’s okay.” I chuckled. “I’d expect the same thing from my friend Grace if she were here. In fact, if the tables were reversed, Eli might have a stiletto sticking out of his back right now.” Damn Grace could be vicious when she was angry with someone.
“Grace?” Malik narrowed his eyes at Eli. “Isn’t that the roommate you thought he was dating?”
Dipping his head and shuffling his feet, Eli said, “Yeah.”
“I’m seeing a pattern here, Eli.” Tex’s eyes twinkled. “You’ve got it bad, man. You think everyone’s out to get your man.” He slapped Eli’s shoulder. “Chill, dude. Wren’s right here, with you. He came back to you.”
Lifting my chest, I threw a grin at Tex. Was I winning his friends over? “See? Listen to your buddies.”
A slow song started over the bar’s speakers.
Eli turned to me, his dark gaze soft, and held his hand out. “Dance?”
“Yes.” I downed my drink, placed my hand in his and followed him to the dance floor. We’d never danced in high school, with him being in the closet. This would be interesting.
As he found an open space, he turned to me, wrapping an arm around my waist and pushing his leg between both of mine.
“Wren, I about lost my mind when I saw you with Jasper.” He hugged me to him, my cheek resting against his chest. He swayed, holding me in his arms.
My heart burst with warmth. Why did it feel so right every time he held me?
Not even four years of trying to forget him had made a difference.
“I’m sorry about that. He’s just a friend, like I said.
I suppose I could have made it clearer.” I’d hurt him.
How deep were his feelings if watching me dance with another man had hurt him? I wasn’t being fair to either of us.
“No, I saw things that weren’t there.” He nuzzled the top of my hair, breathing me in. “I keep looking for something solid and I—”
Lifting my head, I pressed my mouth against his, skimming my tongue along his lower lip.
The kiss was slow and meaningful, full of years of longing for what never was.
As he slanted his lips over mine, taking more of my mouth in his, I broke the kiss.
I should have known a slow dance with him would destroy my defenses.
As a smile broke on his face, he rubbed his nose against mine. “Now, that’s something solid.” He swayed with me to the beat of the music, our hips inching closer and closer. “That was nice.”
“It was inevitable.” I melted against him, my cock brushing his through our denim. “But yeah, it was nice.”
As his hand lowered to my ass, he melded around me, pressing his swelling dick on mine. “God fucking damn it, Wren, how will I control myself?”
My cock swelled and pulsed against his, a shock of pleasure spiraling through my body.
A soft gasp freed from my throat, and I rocked my hips.
I couldn’t stop myself. “I’m not sure I can control myself either.
” Biting my lip, I fought to keep my cheek on his chest and not look at him.
If I did, I’d be lost, and we’d end up in a restroom stall tonight. Or…somewhere.
As his lips brushed the shell of my ear, he said, “Don’t worry, I won’t let it go too far. I’ll honor what you said earlier.”
I swooned. God damn him. This was the man I’d fallen in love with during high school.
The one who made me feel safe, who I could count on.
How the hell had he let those assholes berate me and not spoken up?
A knot twisted in my gut. This was why we had to take it slow.
I needed time for my brain to process this.
As the song ended, he grabbed both my cheeks and planted a hard kiss on my mouth, held it and freed me. “I had to have one more kiss.” He looked deep into my eyes. “I hope I didn’t overstep.”
“No, no, you didn’t.” What the hell was I saying? I’d lost my mind. Blinking, I stepped away from him and shifted my aching cock to the side. There’d be a jerk-off session before bed tonight for sure.
“You ready?” He ticked his head toward the area of our table.
“Yeah.” Sucking a quick breath, I grabbed his hand and let him guide me through the grinding men toward the table.
As we approached, Malik and Tex’s smiles were impossible to miss, and they both clapped, while Malik whistled.
“Well, those were some passionate kisses.” Malik slapped Eli on the ass. “Time for me to discover who’s out there. Maybe I can find myself a hot little cheerleader.” He wagged his brows at me.
“Dude, if you’re cruising, then so am I.” Tex picked up his beer and walked off with Malik.
“They’re leaving us alone on purpose, you know.” A smirk played on Eli’s mouth. “They’re hoping if they do, you’ll kiss me some more.” He wagged his brows.
As my cheeks heated, I said, “Eli, you might just get what you want.” Who was I fooling?
After a wonderful evening with Eli and his friends, including more passionate kisses, Eli followed me out of the bar. I’d taken an Uber there, and Eli had driven with his friends, but he insisted on seeing me home.
“I’ll call the Uber. Give me your address.” He fished his phone from his jeans pocket and tapped on it as we stepped onto the sidewalk from The Club’s metal stairway. “There’s one a few minutes away.”
I gave him my address, and he added it to his app.
Facing me and with a coy grin, he placed his arms on my shoulders, his gaze fixed on my mouth.
“I enjoyed myself with you tonight.” He planted a quick kiss on my lips.
“Malik and Tex like you.” He kissed me again, harder this time.
“And I like you.” He freed a soft chuckle.
“A hell of a lot.” He claimed me in a toe-curling kiss, his tongue darting across mine and a soft moan slipping from his throat.