Chapter Seventeen Outside #2
The place is packed—bodies jammed shoulder to shoulder, voices fighting with the music, drinks sloshing as people shove past. Through the blur of moving bodies, I catch that messy blonde hair I’d know anywhere, faded low on the sides with the top slicked and combed over to the left like the classic fuck-boy he is.
And that blackout band around his upper right arm, the same one that used to fuck me like he owned me.
Daniel.
Trying to hide what’s going on inside me, I let Arina pull me along, the two of us squeezing through bodies on our way to the bar.
I grab a drink, the cold bottle slick in my palm, condensation dripping down my wrist. One long sip burns my throat just right as I scan the crowd and spot Daniel even clearer now.
I nudge Arina with my elbow. “Bitch, that’s Daniel. Over there.” I tilt my chin toward him, heart pounding even though his back’s still turned. Thank God he can’t see me… yet.
Arina follows my gaze, lips curling. “Oh, shit. What you wanna do? Want me to leave you to go talk to him, or what?”
“Hell. No.” I say, shaking my head, pretending my pulse isn’t trying to out dance the bass. “He’ll see me. He always does. But until then—let’s dance.”
I grab her hand and drag her into the crowd as BIA by Bino Rideaux ft.
Nipsey Hussle shakes the floor beneath us.
The beat slides through my veins, the air thick with perfume, sweat, and the bite of cheap liquor.
Neon lights cut across faces, feeling like the freedom we need.
Arina throws her head back laughing, moving her hips like she’s floating.
Out of nowhere, an arm hooks around my waist, a chest pressing into my back, and a familiar smell tells me exactly who it is.
I turn, and I’m hit with that woodsy cologne I used to get excited for—and those ocean-blue eyes that used to undo me without a single word. My body betrays me instantly, leaning into him as a slow smile pulls at his lips.
His lips are almost on my ear when he murmurs, “Beautiful, you couldn’t hide from me even if you tried.” His tone threaded with a confidence that makes my pulse trip.
He pulls me flush against him, his hand gripping my hip like it belongs there. “I wasn’t hiding,” I say, my voice coming out softer than I intend.
He smirks, his lips now brushing the small of my neck. “Liar.” The word sends a shiver down my spine. The music fades, the crowd dissolves. All I can feel is him—his chest rising against my back, the warmth of his breath, the way his fingers grab at my waist.
His gaze drags over me, his hand gripping my ass like he’s been starving for it. “Damn… I almost forgot how fucking stunning you are,” he growls, licking his lips like he’s about to taste me.
“Thank you,” I reply coolly, pretending I’m not melting inside. “What are you doing here? You came with friends or…?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, Jainey. I’m here with Justin. You know I wouldn’t be talking to you if I was here with some other bitch.” He pulls me closer until I feel his heartbeat thudding against mine.
He loves pretending he hasn’t run through half the city by now. Honestly, with that face and what he’s packing, I’m surprised he’s not off somewhere getting his dick wet instead of standing here with me.
“Whose house is this?” I ask quickly, changing the subject before I let him do something I might regret. “It’s beautiful. Shocked they’d even allow this kind of party to happen in here.”
He smirks. “It’s one of my parents’ houses. They’re gone for the month, so I figured why not? Gives the cleaners something to do.”
I freeze. His party? Great. If I’d known that, I would’ve stayed my ass home.
“Wow. Must be nice,” I tease, my voice edged with sarcasm. “I’m surprised the girls aren’t lined up outside your bedroom door already.”
“The only girl who’s gonna know where my bedroom is tonight… is you.”
“You’ve been ignoring me,” he murmurs, his voice sinking deeper, blue eyes scanning my face. “But you still move like you know I’m watching.”
“I don’t move for you,” I say a little too defensive for it to land right.
His hand slides up, fingertips grazing the side of my ribs until I inhale sharply. “You sure about that beautiful?”
I turn in his arms, bringing us face-to-face, his hungry blue eyes catching the flashing lights. “You shouldn’t touch me like that—I could have my future husband here” I say, even as my body betrays me, leaning closer.
He smiles, hungry and sure of himself, eyes locked on mine like he’s reading every thought I’m too afraid to say. “Your future husband is right here,” he murmurs.
His thumb brushes the side of my jaw as he leans closer. “And you being in my arms right now, in front of everyone, tells me everything I needed to know.”
I don’t move.
I should. But the way his words crawl up my spine keeps me from moving.
“Tell me you don’t feel that,” he whispers, hand tightening at my waist. “Tell me this don’t still belong to me.”
My pulse stutters. The bass from the speakers thunders through the floor, matching the rhythm in my chest. I try to keep my tone steady, but it comes out softer than I want.
“Daniel…”
He smirks, knowing he’s got me right where he wants me. “What, baby?” he teases. “Say my name again. Mmm… the way it rolls off those juicy ass lips makes my dick hard. Makes me wanna bend you over right here just to hear you moan it.”
I drag my hand up his chest, feeling his heart hammer under my palm. “You really still think you get to have me,” I tease, barely breathing the words, even though my body leans toward him like it remembers everything.
He leans in, lips grazing mine. “No—I know I do.”
The words ignite something the fire me. I move before I can think, meeting him halfway, our lips collide softly and too passionately, like my body didn’t get the memo that I’m not doing this whole feelings thing.
His hand grips the back of my neck, pulling me in until I’m melting into him, even while my brain screams I shouldn’t be anywhere near this man again.
As soon as our mouths part, his thumb drags across my bottom lip. “Mmm, and you taste the same.” He murmurs. “Sweet… with that little bite I love so much.”
I smirk, catching his wrist before he pull back. “And you still think you can handle all this.”
His grin turns dark. “Baby, I don’t think. I know. And I’ll remind you exactly how well I can.”
I raise a brow, stepping back. “Is that right? Well I hate to break it to you, but it’s just me and my girl tonight. And I don’t plan on ditching her.”
I glance over and, of course, Arina’s already got her ass against some guy, eyes closed, lost in the beat.
“Damn, like that?” Daniel grins. “Well what can I do to change your mind—I can’t have you walking around my party giving someone else the attention that really belongs to me.”
“Where’s your boy Justin?” I ask, folding my arms.
His jaw tightens. “Why?”
“Because someone’s gotta keep my girl busy if you expect me to leave her alone.” My tone coming out sharper than intended.
He sighs, rubbing his beard. “That’ll be easy enough.” He nods behind me.
I turn—and my jaw drops. Arina’s grinding on a tall, tatted brunette with a cocky grin.
“That’s Justin?” I laugh.
“Yeah. Come on.” His hand slips into mine fast, gripping tight as he pulls me down the hall.
He looks annoyingly scrumptious tonight—white polo hugging his chest, cargo pants hanging loose, fresh white Air Forces. Just one look at him had my body remembering things my mind swore not to remember.
If he wants to fuck, fine. But there’s not a chance in hell that I’ll ever date one of my fuck buddies.
It breaks the fuck buddy rules.
We stop at a bedroom door. He pats his pockets, his face quickly dropping. “Fuck. No keys.”
“Poor Danny,” I tease, smirking. My hand slides down, grabbing his hard dick through his jeans. “Where could they be?”
He growls, licking his lips. “Fuck, it doesn’t matter. Bathrooms aren’t locked.” He yanks me further down the hall and pushes open a door.
We stumble inside, letting the door close behind us. The bass outside turns into a dull pulse. The air smells like cologne, bleach, and bad decisions.
I barely get a breath in before his hands are on me—soft, warm, and all too familiar.
His mouth crashes into mine, stealing the words right out of me, trying to swallow everything we never said.
My back hits the cold tile wall, his tongue sliding against mine like he’s claiming territory he thinks belongs to him.
He pulls back just enough to whisper against my neck, “I’ve been going crazy thinking about you.” His voice is low and raw, right before his tongue drags slowly across my skin.
“Remember when we used to fuck in the pool?”
I laugh breathlessly. “Yeah, I remember.” My voice shakes. “We had a lot of fun… until we didn’t.”
Removing my shorts and underwear, he slides them down to my knees before he kneels, pulling one leg free and placing it over his shoulder. His lips brush my inner thigh, teasing, before his tongue flicks across my clit. He kisses me softly before shoving his tongue inside me.
“Oh, fuck, Daniel,” I moan, gripping his hair, tugging at the strands as if they’ll steady me. I ride his face while his tongue devours me, my leg thrashing on his shoulder.
He stands, urgency radiating off him, shoving his pants and underwear down just enough for his cock to spring free. My breath stutters out of me as he shoves me back against the bathroom door, lifting my leg again and slides inside me, stretching me so deep my knees nearly buckle in my heels.
His mouth brushes my cheek as he murmurs, “let me remind you what you’ve been missing… since it seems like you forgot.”
I cling to him, arms locking around his neck as he pounds into me, raw and hard. His mouth crashes into mine, tongues tangling.
“Look at how fucking needy you are,” he growls against my lips, each thrust harder than the last. “Just be with me, beautiful, I promise I’ll give you whatever you want.”