Chapter 25
SYDNEY
“I love this song!” I yell over the booming music.
Kinsley smiles, throwing her hands in the air. “God, I love feeling slightly human again.”
Blake and I laugh as we all continue to move in our little circle. The music shifts and Blake stills, pointing over to the table the lads are sitting down at. “I’m going to go get a drink.”
“Oh! I could go for another sugar-free Shirley Temple,” Kinsley squeals.
I point at my sister-in-law. “That actually sounds good, I think I’ll have one too.”
Together, the three of us push through the crowded dance floor. Blake clears the path in front with me walking behind Kinsley to make sure nobody accidentally bumps into her.
When we make it to the table, Ryder immediately pulls his wife down onto his lap. Jace helps Kinsley settle into the booth as she asks him for three Shirley Temples for each of us girls.
“You don’t want a sex on the beach?”
I follow the deep voice and turn, leaning my back against Lawson’s chest.
“Not tonight.”
He eyes me, concern flashing across his handsome face. I turn my head away before he can see the real reason I don’t want to drink. The man has this annoying ability of being able to read me without me having to say a single word.
And even though I’ve been keeping up with the lessons from our self defense classes he took me to all those weeks ago, there’s still this lingering fear that I won’t be able to keep it from happening to me again.
“If Kinsley can’t drink then I won’t. Plus, you’re not drinking either,” I ramble, the pitch of my voice increasing as I try to deflect.
And fail horribly.
His eyebrows furrow. “I never drink.”
Sighing, I turn in his arms fully and place my hands on his chest. My fingers trace the collar of his black T-shirt and I instantly start to feel my nerves relax.
It’s a habit I’ve sort of picked up ever since that turning point in Australia. And by turning point, I mean the best night of my life.
The way he was able to give me the best orgasm I’ve ever had—granted, there hasn’t been that many—without even touching me? I can only imagine what he’d be able to do if he got his hands on me. When. Please, lord, let it be ‘when’ he gets his hands on me.
It wasn’t just the mindblowing orgasm from that night that’s been replaying in my mind for weeks, though.
It’s the softness in his touch when he grabbed my hand and asked me to stay. The way he pulled me into his side while he taught me to play sudoku on his phone.
But most of all it was when he reached for me in the middle of the night. I laid in his arms, listening to the quiet snores, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest, and memorizing his face that looked so much more at peace in the moonlight.
For hours I traced the patterns of his various tattoos, fighting off sleep and trying to soak in that moment because I didn’t know if I’d ever be there again. Yet it’s almost three weeks later and I still find myself wrapped in his warmth every night.
“Sydney.” His soft voice has me raising my eyes and my chest warms at the dark ones waiting for me. I shuffle closer when he gently lays his hands on my sides. “You can talk to me, you know. About anything.”
I nod, dipping my head to hide the nerves I’ve been battling since the moment we walked through the club’s front door. A finger tucks under my chin and lifts my face towards his.
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours, hm?”
“You think my head is pretty?”
“I think everything about you is more than pretty, but quit deflecting.”
“Caught that, did you?” He quirks a brow and I sigh. “I didn’t want to drink tonight because I knew we were going to a dance club. And…” My words fade as my eyes drift to the dance floor.
A low curse pulls my attention back to the man holding me like I’m his entire world.
“And the last time we were here—”
“Was New Year’s,” I finish for him.
His jaw ticks and hands flex on my sides. The agony that drapes over him has me shifting closer and wrapping my arms around his waist.
“It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“I want you to have a good time.”
“I am.”
“Without being afraid that something like that is going to happen again. Because it won’t. I’m not going to let you down like that ever again, sunshine.”
“Lawson,” I whisper, reaching up and cupping his face between my hands. “None of that was your fault.”
“I told your brother I wouldn’t let anything happen to you and not fifteen minutes later—”
“I know. But it wasn’t your fault that it happened. You saved me that night.”
“Not before he left his mark on you.” As if lost to the past, he reaches up and ghosts his fingers over my arms where the bruises once tainted my skin.
I tilt my head, catching his eye. “So let’s erase it. Replace those memories trying to damn you. Give us both something we can use to finally burn away that night for good.”
He studies me for a moment before pushing off from where he leans against the side of the booth. “Dance with me.”
My eyes widen in shock. That is not what I was expecting him to say.
“What?”
His hands flex as he starts to walk me backwards, the music getting louder as we grow closer to the dance floor.
“Dance with me,” he repeats.
My voice lodges in my throat at the heat-lined determination in his eyes. “Okay,” I whisper.
We don’t look away from one another as he continues to back me through the sea of moving bodies. Soon the stifling heat of the air around us caresses my skin as the floor vibrates beneath our feet with each beat of the music.
Using his hold on my hips, he spins me in his arms and pulls my back against his front. I release a breath of surprise when his hands slide up my body, one lifting my arm until it curls around his neck and the other intertwining our fingers.
He dips, pressing his face into the side of my neck. I drop my head back to give him more access as his hips start to move.
And holy shite, can he move.
In all the years I’ve known Lawson Moore, I have never once seen him dance. Let alone thought I’d be the one he danced with.
Now I don’t ever want to stop.
It’s like we are in perfect sync.
Where his body moves, mine follows.
A dance within a dance.
I don’t know how long we have been out here when his deep gravel-filled voice breaks through the haze.
“Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” he asks, just loud enough to be heard over the music but not bringing attention from those around us.
I turn my head to the side and lift my eyes to meet his. “You can’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes me want things that I shouldn’t be wanting right now.”
He smirks, bending low and I shiver when his breath fans over my ear as he speaks. “What kind of things, sunshine?”
My already flushed cheeks heat and I bite my lip.
“Don’t get shy on me now. I’ve already seen how beautiful you are when you come, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t imagined it every day since.”
I suck in a breath at his dirty words.
“You’ve been imagining me?”
His arms flex around me and a moan slips out at the hard outline of his cock that presses into my lower back when he rolls his hips.
“Every night in the shower. If I didn’t, then I wouldn’t have been able to keep things slow between us like I have. It’s the greatest and worst temptation having you in my bed and not being able to fully make you mine.”
“What if I want you to do that?”
“Do what?”
“Make me yours… fully.”
“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it.”
Turning in his arms, I fist his shirt and press up on my tiptoes to speak into his ear. “I don’t say things that I don’t mean.” I echo his words from all those weeks ago and smirk as he stiffens.
“I’m dangerously on edge here, sweetheart. We agreed to explore this physical side but what you’re talking about is something else entirely.”
What will it take to push you over the edge?
Before I can say anything, a body stumbles into Lawson from behind. He grunts and shifts so he doesn’t tumble into me.
“Shite, I’m so sorry, I spilled my drink all over you,” the drunk girl slurs, eyes tracing over Lawson’s soaked T-shirt. I tamp down the growl of jealousy as her eyes heat with attraction. “I can help you fix that, though.”
She goes to reach for him and I jump forward, snatching her wrist. “Don’t touch him.”
“And who the hell do you think you are?” she asks defensively.
I step closer to her. “Someone you’ll never be. His.”
Her eyes dart between me and the man at my back. “Whatever,” she scoffs and throws her hair over her shoulder, strutting away when I let her wrist go.
I watch as she disappears, startling slightly when arms band around my waist and a face burrows into the side of my neck. His usual woodsy scent mingles with the lingering smell of whatever was in her drink.
“That. Was. So. Hot.” He nips at my skin and I squeal, turning my head towards him.
“Oh yeah?”
He hums. “Fuck yes. I think I rather enjoy seeing you get all jealous over me.”
I turn in his arms and pull his face to mine. He meets my claiming kiss with a fierceness of his own, groaning low when I pull back with his bottom lip between my teeth.
My hands drop to his sides and I jerk back at the sticky liquid soaking through his shirt. He chuckles, glancing down and pulling it away from his skin. “I should go take care of this. I have an extra out in the car.”
I nod. “Okay.”
We walk back over to the table and Ryder eyes the dark material clinging to Lawson’s side. “What happened to you?”
“Nothing Sydney couldn’t handle,” Blake snickers.
I smile and tuck my hair behind my ear as I sit next to her. “Saw that did you?”
“Oh yeah. I love when spicy Sydney comes out to play.”
Her husband laughs and pinches her side. “You just love the possibility of getting to jump in and help her.”
“No,” Blake draws out the word. “My girl can hold her own.”
“You’re such a blood thirsty little thing. Maybe you should have gone into hockey instead,” I joke.
She sighs. “I tried, but I’m too short.”
“Well I think I speak for all of us when I say that I’m selfishly glad it didn’t work out. You’re right where you’re meant to be.”
Ryder gives me an appreciative smile and I wink.
A hand slides over my back and I look up at Lawson as he leans down. “I’ll be right back, okay?” I nod and he brushes his lips over my forehead before disappearing through the crowd.
Blake claps her hands and jumps up. “Well I’m sufficiently hydrated. Ladies, shall we?”
Kinsley opts to stay back for this round but I let Blake drag me out onto the dance floor once again. We get lost in the music and I throw my hands up, closing my eyes.
Large hands slide across my sides and I smile. “That really was fast. Want to continue where we left—” My words cut off when his sour scent hits my nose.
Because it’s not the woodsy warmth I’ve found a home in.
My breath stalls in my chest as the stranger’s breath fans over my neck and I wince at the alcohol wafting off of him.
“Damn, baby, I’ve been dying to get my hands on you all night.”
I glance to where Blake is lost in dancing with her husband a few feet away. Closing my eyes, I stop moving all together and the man grunts in aggravation.
“Why’d you stop? Want to take this somewhere more private already?”
You’re okay.
You can do this.
No one else will ever take anything from you again.
My jaw clenches and I slowly reach for the hand he has yet to take off my hip. “The only thing I want is for slimy bastards like you to learn how to keep your grimy hands to yourself.”
“What did you—” His snarling words cut off with a scream when I latch onto his fingers and bend them back.
I twist and push farther. He tries to contort his arm to relieve the pressure and I dip, pressing his arm until his wrist hits his bicep.
“You. Bitch,” he grits out through clenched teeth.
“Apologize,” I snarl, twisting his fingers further.
He whines, bending at the waist. I feel the heat of someone at my back and Blake places a hand on my shoulder. “I think my friend told you to apologize.”
Ryder steps up to my other side. “You’d be smart to respect their wishes.”
The man’s eyes bounce between the three of us. “I’m sorry,” he rushes out.
I let go, not wanting to touch him for a second longer. “Leave and don’t go touching what isn’t yours again.”
“And while you’re at it, learn the meaning of consent,” Blake adds.
The man scurries off into the crowd, clutching his hand to his chest. I blow out a breath when he disappears from view.
Blake wraps her arms around me. “Are you okay?”
My skin prickles and I look up, freezing when my eyes clash with dark ones. “I will be,” I whisper.
She follows my gaze and gives me a squeeze. “Go.”
I don’t hesitate. I stride through the sea of people separating us until I’m standing right in front of him. “I’m okay.”
“I’m not,” he croaks.
I throw myself at him and he clutches me to his chest tightly. I feel the tension in his body slowly fade as he holds me, until all that’s left is relief.
“I did it,” I whisper, my lips brushing the skin of his neck.
“You did.”
I pull back, a smile creeping over my face. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything, that was all you.”
I shake my head. “Before you I would have frozen. But it’s because of you that I have the knowledge, the ability, and the confidence to make sure I’m never put in that position again.”
His eyes dance over my face and his hands frame the side of my head. I go willingly when he pulls me in for a fierce kiss.
He leans his forehead against mine. “I’m so proud of you.”
I preen under his praise and steal another soft kiss. He straightens and without another word, he pulls me along with him. Our friends watch us with a mix of emotions, Jace standing as if he’s ready to join whatever battle is to come.
Only there won’t be one. Because for the first time, I was strong enough to stop it before anything could really happen.
“We’re going to head out,” Lawson announces, already grabbing my bag from the booth.
The girls pout but something my brother and Ryder see on Lawson’s face has them nodding. “Let us know when you get home safe,” Jace says.
I wave at the girls before Lawson leads me towards the exit. The music from the club fades until it cuts off completely with the slamming of the front door.
I stop once we hit the pavement, close my eyes and tip my head up, breathing in the fresh air. Fingers brush my hair out of my face and tuck the strands behind my ears. Blinking open my eyes I look up into warm pools of dark brown, letting the feeling of safety wash over me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
I wrap my arms around his waist and press the side of my head to his chest, letting the steady beat of his heart soothe me. “I will be.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” he whispers into my hair.