Chapter Eight #3
Cleo complied immediately and turned to get on her hands and knees.
Wraith was only two feet away. Inches too far when her legs gave out under her and she slid down the roof.
Ghost lunged forward, looped his arm around her waist, and guided her to the window.
All the while, her soft giggle sounded. For reasons unknown, it infuriated Wraith even more.
When she was close enough, Wraith grabbed her forearms and pulled her through the window. She stumbled backward, and he wrapped his arm over her shoulder. It was meant to steady her, but Cleo moved in closer, brushing against his chest.
He glanced down at her while Ghost climbed through the window. When he fell to the side, slamming into the wall, Wraith made no move to help his brother. Asshole.
“What the fuck were you thinking? You got her shitfaced on the roof?”
His glare was aimed at Ghost, but he stilled when her hand rested on his chest. “And high.”
Wraith clenched his jaw, scowling at his brother.
Ghost snickered. “It’s her birthday.”
Cleo sucked in a breath and spun around, bumping Wraith’s chest and spreading her hands over his pecs. “Do you want to drink with us?” She held up her hand, pinching together her thumb and index finger. “We only have a little left to go before we get to the worm.”
“No.”
Cleo stuck out her bottom lip, pouting. Her eyes were glassy, her speech slightly slurred, and she struggled to keep herself from swaying.
But he hadn’t seen her like this before.
Happy and carefree, letting her guard down.
That would drastically change tomorrow morning when she woke up, so he wouldn’t rob her of it tonight.
“Come on.” Wraith slipped his hand over her back, guiding her out into the hall. She wobbled to the side, and he gripped her hips and walked her to her door. He had little faith she’d be able to manage the key and lock on her own.
He held out his palm. “Give me your key.”
She turned too fast and butted up against his chest, splaying her hand over his arm.
Even through a layer of clothes, heat raced through his veins from her touch.
In the past, Wraith always made a point to keep his hands to himself.
Touching her was a temptation he wasn’t willing to risk.
He wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop himself.
Cleo, on the other hand, had gotten more brazen in the last year.
The few times she’d made contact, he’d felt it everywhere, down to his cock straining against his zipper.
“It’s in my room.” She blindly reached for the knob and pushed the door open.
Wraith drew in a breath, trying to tamper down his rising frustration. The sole purpose for the lock on her door was to use it. There was nothing to fear from the brothers. But when they had parties, it gave random people access to the upstairs.
“Do you want to come in my room and hang out?”
His words to the woman downstairs replayed over in his mind.
I don’t hang out. I fuck.
He ground his teeth, lifting his chin to her bed. “You need to go to sleep.”
Cleo laughed, shaking her head. “But it’s my birthday. I can’t go to bed at” —She glanced over her shoulder to her nightstand— “Does that say ten thirty-three?”
It did. Very early for a Friday night at the clubhouse. The house wouldn’t fully clear out for another six hours. But Cleo wouldn’t be up to see it.
“Go to bed.”
Cleo released a heavy sigh. “I can’t go back downstairs?”
In her current condition? No fucking way. He ignored her question and bent down, grabbing two water bottles from her mini fridge. He placed them on her nightstand.
“But it’s my birthday. I’m not done celebrating.”
Wraith steeled his features, holding back his smile. He folded his arms over his chest. He was not backing down from this order. “Then you shouldn’t have gotten shitfaced and stoned.”
Her brows knitted. “I’m not doing anything that everyone else in the house isn’t doing. And it’s my birthday!” She tapped his chest, but her finger caressed slowly over his heart. His muscles tightened, and he ground his teeth. They were too close with Cleo closing the small gap.
Fuck!
“Go to bed, Cleo,” he whispered, and she peered up through her lashes.
This was a dangerous position for both of them. They were in her room alone with her bed a foot away. The temptation was too great. She was testing his control, and he wasn’t sure he had the strength to hold back.
Wraith gently nudged her toward the bed.
Her shoulders sagged, and she dropped her ass to the mattress.
She pulled her ankle to her knee, yanking at the laces of her boots.
Her balance was shit, and when she leaned forward, she was heading straight for the floor.
Wraith lunged forward, grasping her shoulders and straightening her to a seated position.
He bent down, untying her laces. He pulled off the boot and tossed it on the floor. Then he did the same with the other.
“When is your birthday?”
He glanced up to see her smiling. Her eyes were glassy, and she wore a goofy grin. Drunk women had never been a turn on for him, but there was something innocently sexy about Cleo’s current state. Her already sweet demeanor had just been amplified.
“Why?”
“So I can remember to do something special for you.”
Wraith scoffed, narrowing his gaze. “You think you’re gonna remember anything from this night?”
She glanced up at the ceiling and scrunched her nose. “Probably not.” She brushed her hair from her face, and whispered, “Tell me anyway.”
“December fourth.”
She leaned closer, and an earthy scent mixed with tequila engulfed his senses. This woman would be in a lot of pain tomorrow.
“December fourth.” She nodded. “I promise I’ll remember, Wraith.”
He scoffed. “I didn’t remember yours.”
She waved her hand. It was a chain reaction, swaying her body to the side. He grabbed her arms, steadying her.
“I don’t expect anyone to remember me.” Her eyes shifted over his shoulder. When he looked back, he saw the vase of flowers. “Except Taryn.”
Cleo had no idea she’d slipped and outed her secret friendship with the Ghosttown East old lady. He’d make a mental note to monitor her the next time she decided to get trashed. Divulging that information in front of the wrong member could get her in a lot of trouble.
“And…” She smacked the back of her hand against his shoulder and lifted her arm, spinning her bracelets. “And Ghost.” Cleo lowered her voice. “But if you feel guilty, you can give me something.”
He scanned her face as she inched closer.
Wraith was crouched down in front of her, putting them at eye level.
It was rare he saw her from this view. He towered over her by at least a foot when standing.
Her smile was loose, a telltale sign of being inebriated.
He glanced over at the open bathroom door.
He needed to grab her aspirin before he left.
He was about to stand when she grabbed his jaw, catching him off guard, and he stiffened.
She’d touched him before but not this intimately.
The pads of her fingers sank into his beard, caressing his jaw, and had his blood heating.
She leaned closer, and before he could pull away, her lips brushed against him.
Soft and unsure as if she was testing the waters on kissing.
He grabbed her wrists, which should’ve stopped her. It didn’t. Cleo jerked forward, moving her lips over his mouth. It would take only seconds to end it. He could overpower her, push her away, and be out the door before she even opened her eyes. It’s what he should’ve done.
Her warm breath spread over his mouth as her lips moved slowly.
Inexperienced. Cleo had no clue what she was doing.
Or so he thought. Her tongue licked the seam of his mouth, begging for entry as she dug her nails into his skin.
She inched closer, and her hair brushed against his neck.
The simple touch heightened his desire and he parted his lips, slipping his tongue into her mouth.
She tasted like a combination of earthy smoke and bitter tequila.
And he couldn’t get enough. He stroked her tongue, deepening the kiss. How long had he waited for this?
Cleo moaned into his mouth, and it set off something in his mind. Finally, a little clarity. What the fuck am I doing? He tightened his grip on her wrists and tore his mouth away. Her eyes were barely open, and a small smile played on her lips.
“I’ve wanted to do that since the day I met you.” Her voice was low, and her words were slurred but clear enough for him to hear her.
“Yeah?” His husky tone did nothing to mask his desire.
She fluttered her lashes, staring at his mouth. “I want to do it again.”
Fuck, so do I!
Wraith didn’t even try to stop her when she leaned forward, sliding her lips across his mouth.
He wanted this way too much and had zero control resisting her.
He slid his hands around her waist and up her back, pulling her closer.
Her tongue tangled with his, and a growling rumble echoed through his chest. He’d waited too long, making it nearly impossible to stop. But…
Wraith pulled away slightly, loosened his hold enough to slowly guide her back to the bed and her head down on the pillow. He gently pulled her hands away from his jaw, settling them by her sides. Her eyes were closed, and she wiggled onto her side, tucking her hand under her pillow.
He walked into the bathroom, grabbing aspirin and her trash can, which he set next to her bed.
He twisted off the cap of her water. She was going to be weak and struggling enough tomorrow.
He didn’t want her fighting with the water bottle.
A soft snore echoed through the room. Her hair was covering half her face, and without thinking he brushed his knuckles against her cheek, swiping it away.
So fucking perfect.
Wraith wasn’t sure if it was Cross’s scolding, Ace’s speech, Cleo’s confession, or a combination of all, but something had changed. He’d waited long enough. They both had. Wraith was done.
He grabbed the keys from her dresser, flicked off the light, closed the door, and locked her inside. He stared down the empty hallway, fisting the keys in his hand. His body was tense, muscles tight, and his cock screamed for release. Just one kiss and she had him hard as a steel rod.
It’s gonna be a long fucking night.