Chapter 33
An Hour Later…
Mark
Sitting at a table with a few old college buddies, laughing about the good old days, I look around and notice the crowd thinning out.
Several people have snagged Colin and Sydney off the dance floor and are showering them with hugs, goodbyes, and their final congratulations.
The newlyweds cannot keep their hands off each other, but I’ve never seen Colin so happy.
I was pretty hesitant about how fast things had moved between them at first, but now, I realize that they were just brave enough to acknowledge what they knew in their hearts to be true and didn’t waste a damn minute on the bullshit. I’m really happy for them.
I look down into my nearly empty drink and decide maybe I’m not drunk enough.
I’m glad the venue is directly next to our hotel.
I can get as drunk as I want. I’d had a solid lead on that dark-haired beauty earlier, and I even got her number, but…
things just didn’t really pan out. I could’ve just pulled my usual crap.
I mean, it was working fantastically, but fucking Ava just had to keep staring at me.
She really hates my guts. I don’t blame her though.
I made her feel insignificant. That’s on me.
I haven’t done a whole lot to redeem myself either.
Anyway, her staring got the busty beauty’s attention and scared her off.
Hell, I wouldn’t have wanted to deal with the potential drama if I were her. She was just here for a good time.
Over the past sixish months, I had hoped things would get better.
That Ava and I would at least learn to tolerate each other.
I snort into the last of my drink just before I swallow it down.
Yup, definitely not drunk enough. Making my way to the bar, I signal for the bartender and grab my last one for the night.
Wouldn’t you know, the she- devil herself just so happens to be right here getting her own drink as well.
At least she was smart enough to grab some water.
“Did your conquest for the evening run off to powder her nose, or did you epically fuck something up again?” Ava practically sneers.
If I didn’t know better, she almost sounded jealous. Oh, but I do know better. She loathes me. The feeling is basically mutual.
“Green doesn’t suit you, Ava,” I toy with her, knowing damn well it gets under her skin. She guffaws, turning those big brown eyes toward me, and I have to blink twice. Fuck, I’m more drunk than I thought.
“You think I’m jealous? Of some twit? Get over yourself.”
“Jealous I’m at least capable of getting laid.”
“Fuck you,” Ava grits quietly between her clenched teeth.
“No, thank you,” I grit back, standing from the place I’d been leaning against, crowding her space.
The fire in her eyes is a sight to behold, and I decide to walk away before I do something stupid like suck that bottom lip she just dropped to the floor in between my teeth and drag her off to an empty room.
Say what? Where the hell did that come from?
I shake my head, dispelling that stupid, fucking idea, and walk back to the table with the guys.
I plop down into my chair and work my tie off, loosely draping it around the back of my neck.
That’s better. Ava spares me one more glare before stomping off toward her spot about fifteen feet away with a water and her refilled glass of wine.
I unbutton the cuffs of my sleeves and roll them up to my elbows, not giving a damn if they look stylish.
I’m flipping burning up in here. I lean back in my chair to attempt being more comfortable and unbutton the top button of my shirt as well, huffing as I look over at the woman who’s got me on the fucking edge of…
I don’t even know what. Insanity. That’s the best word for it.
I notice her watching me closely from between Holly and Jane leaning toward each other discussing something with such enthusiasm I could get dizzy watching their fingers and lips fluttering about.
Our eyes lock, and she rolls her eyes, taking a big long sip from her straw.
The movement of her lips rounding around the tip of the straw weirdly piques my interest. I sit up a little straighter, darting my eyes back to the guys and whatever it is they’re discussing.
I lost track before I went to get my drink, and haven’t much been interested in the logistics of whatever corporate bullshit they’re still jabbering about.
My eyes peek back over at the girls and watch as Ava rests her cheek against her palm, twirling her straw around in circles within the glass.
Her dainty fingers slide up and down the straw, the sight automatically shooting my brain into dark corners it has no business taking Ava into.
She leans down to suck up another sip, and I have to look away, but not before our eyes catch again for a millisecond.
I am walking along a very fine and dangerous edge.
It’s just the fucking alcohol. Sure, keep telling yourself that.
When I glance back, I notice her looking at my forearms while I’m adjusting the cuffs I just folded a couple minutes ago.
She’s watching too hard for my liking. I don’t know what to think about it.
I hear a throat clear and look to see several pairs of eyes watching me expectantly as if they are waiting for an answer from me. Shit. Did they ask me something?
“I’m sorry, what was the question?”
“Where’d that hottie you were chatting up earlier go?” the guy next to my old friend Brian asks. For the life of me, I can’t remember his name.
“Ehhh… I don’t think either of us was feeling it.”
Thanks again, Ava.
“Too bad… You should’ve sent her my way.” I huff in return to his answer and glance back at the girls. Jane and Holly have their heads thrown back in laughter, but Ava, for some reason, only has eyes for me.
I shift in my seat, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with my own feelings. Why the fuck do I even care if she’s looking my way? It means nothing. I glower her way, and she bites down a smidge on her lip, and damnit, that does something to me.
I decide to go against every thought and nerve screaming at me to flip her off and return her heated gaze, taking a long sip of my beer before licking my bottom lip slowly. I want to see her reaction.
I watch her eyes follow every motion, and her throat bobs as if she just swallowed a giant bite of a juicy burger. She lifts her wine glass and takes another big pull of the sweet liquid as if she’s mulling an idea over. Her eyebrows scrunch as if she’s thinking better of it and looks away.
I chuckle, my interest definitely sparked.
I might enjoy playing with fire a little too much tonight.
I watch as she jumps into the conversation with the ladies.
Just as I begin to think that that little interlude, or whatever the fuck it was, is over, she looks back my way and blushes a little.
She blinks a few times before shaking her head to dispel whatever she was just thinking.
I’d like to know. I’d like to see a real, deep blush take over that face instead of just that barely noticeable, pretty pink tinge that the other’s likely suspected was from the wine.
She lifts her water glass, looking into it before her fingers work up the straw, and she tilts her head slightly and pushes the tip past her lips again, rolling her eyes back up to mine.
Her lashes flutter, and my breath catches.
She’s toying back with me. Just how far will she take this?
I bite my lip and dip my head nonchalantly as I lean back and get a little more comfortable in my chair.
Taking my movements slow so I don’t draw the guys’ attention, I reach up to grab my tie by one end, pulling it off in a slow slide.
I stretch it from end to end between both hands, enjoying the flames stoking in her eyes as she watches in captivation as the muscles in my hands and forearms flex.
They widen ever so slightly when I wrap the tie around one fist like I would a length of a woman’s hair.
I tug against the tension of the leftover tie and release it back out.
She takes in a deep breath, blowing it out slowly from her puffed cheeks, and I stifle a giggle. She attempts to hide her discomfort by sipping on that damn straw again as she slightly shifts in her seat, but her eyes aren’t leaving mine. A silent dare to keep going. I want to watch her squirm.
I sit back and take a breath, looking around the room like I’m bored, taking in the faces of all the bystanders who are oblivious to our little battle of the wills.
I tilt the corner of one side of my lips up in a slight smirk at her before twisting my wrist purposely and slowly around one side of the tie, making a loop before expertly pulling the other end through to make a makeshift pair of handcuffs.
When I pull the knot tight, her glass lowers a little, and her pretty, plump lips gasp open in surprise with the straw slipping from between them, falling into her glass.
She swallows hard, and I take the victory, smirking darkly at her and winking my acknowledgement of her dirty thoughts.
She scoffs, crossing her arms, but I see the flush creeping up her chest into her cheeks. It’s glorious. She’s turned on and hates me for it, and I bet those crossed arms are hiding perfectly hard nipples poking through that dress.
I chuckle and chew on the inside of my lip, deciding against my better judgement to pull out my phone. I’m a glutton for punishment, but I’m daring myself to be bold. I scroll through my contacts of the wedding party and land on Ava’s number.
Trystan walks over to their table and drops off a round of double shots before bringing a couple over to do with me. We slam them back, whew, tequila… before he slaps my back and takes the other two to Colin and Sydney.
Garrett follows suit, and I dare say the fuzziness clouding my brain within minutes has me staring at the screen a bit longer than I intended in order to figure out what message I’m going to actually send to her.
Me: You look uncomfortable over there. Is there something I can help you with?
I send it, biting my lip while wondering how spectacularly this is going to blow back in my face, but I can’t help myself.
I’m intrigued. I roll my eyes up to her and see when she jumps in her skin a little at the vibration of her phone next to her hand.
She lifts it, searching for the message, and freezes when she reads it.
I lean on my elbow and bite my thumb inconspicuously as I run my forefinger along my bottom lip just waiting for her reaction.
Her eyes flitter up to mine, and she looks around the room as if someone is privy to our secret discussion. She bites her lip before looking back down and typing on her phone. I wait.
Buzz.
She looks back up at me as I smirk again and open my lock screen.
Ava: You’re distracting me.
Me: How’s that?
Ava: You’re toying with me.
Me: I enjoyed making you blush.
Ava: I did no such thing.
Me: Why’d you cross your arms, Ava? Why are you squirming in your seat? Better yet, why have you had your eyes on me all. Fucking. Night?
Ava: You drive me crazy.
I chuckle to myself. I can work with this. I’m crazy, but it’s just my style.
Me: You didn’t answer my questions.
Ava: I’m not going to.
Me: I guess I can answer them for you then, and you tell me if I’ve hit the right spot.
I look up to see her still biting that damn bottom lip. She glances up at me quickly before typing again. The bubbles indicating her typing disappear, and her brow furrows.
Me: I think you’re uncomfortable because I managed to turn you on, and you don’t much like that idea. I think you’re fighting your body’s reaction to me. I think I’m enjoying watching that fight.
I hit send and watch her for a second. She stiffens as she reads the message and looks up to the ceiling. I continue.
Me: Was it me rolling up my sleeves, or was it the tie that did it for you?
She scoffs again at her phone and rolls those damn eyes.
Me: I think you’d enjoy my tie wrapped around those dainty wrists.
Ava: Get over yourself.
Me: Ooohhh, I hit a nerve.
Ava: You hit all the nerves.
Me: Yeah, I do.
I chuckle again because she walked right into that.
Ava: You’re a pig.
Me: You’re spicy.
Me: You still didn’t answer my question from earlier.
Ava: I thought you answered them for me already, Mr. Know-it-all.
Me: So you admit I’ve turned you on?
Ava: I didn’t say that.
Me: You don’t have to. I can see it.
Ava: See what?
Me: I bet if I walked over there right now and pulled you out of your chair up against my chest, your nipples would be pebbled hard against my chest, and fuck that does something for me.
Ava: You wouldn’t dare.
Me: No, I wouldn’t be that obvious.
I get up and make my way to the bar, ordering the ladies another round of shots. There’s no way I’m doing anymore after that tequila, but I need to know.
Ava’s eyes are rounded wide with apprehension because she has zero clue what I’m about to do as I saunter over to the table to deliver.
The woman did dare me though, and I don’t back down.
I walk up behind her and lean over her back to set the shots on the table, careful to let the inner part of my forearms skim back across her breasts as I slowly pull away.
She inhales swiftly, and I chuckle darkly beside her ear on my retreat.
“Enjoy these last shots ladies!”
“Thank you!” they exclaim, none the wiser.
I walk back to my table satisfied and plop down into my chair, grinning like the cat who just stole the milk. Ava just stares at me, shot untouched.
Me: I win.
Her face flushes.
Me: Now answer me. Is there anything I can help you with?
Ava: I hate you.
Me: I know.
Ava: You hate me.
Me: Maybe.
She chews her lip in thought.
Me: You don’t have to like me to fuck around with me.
There, I put it out there. Can’t take it back now.
Ava’s eyes round wide, and she looks up at me.
I have no idea how to read her. She looks around the room again before skating those gorgeous, dark eyes back to mine.
She holds my gaze for a solid minute, and the noise of the room around us fades.
It’s just her and I, warring with our wills against what we think we want, how we think it should be, and what our bodies desire.
I fully expect her to give me the finger, but instead she holds my gaze, lifts her shot and tosses it back, and whispers something to the girls.
She stands, and her satiny emerald green gown shimmers in the candlelight.
She grabs her clutch and walks off toward the hallway leading to the bathrooms and exit.
When she stops and looks over her shoulder back at me, my breath stills in my lungs.
Now that, I did not expect. My throat goes dry.
Oh. Fuck.