Chapter 24
Noa
H e had looked right at her with a fervent expression that sent tingles through her entire body.
He had looked right at her like a man starved and he wanted to devour her.
And, in that moment, she might just have let him.
The way his amber eyes, which looked more like swirls of molten lava, seared her skin made her feel like she was naked.
She felt hot and bothered, but it made her come alive all at the same time, and she knew the choice of dress she had picked in an attempt to drive him just a little crazy had done the trick.
She didn’t know why she was playing with fire when there were so many reasons it was a bad idea, but she couldn’t deny she wanted him.
But, true to that hot-and-cold game he’d been playing with her lately, he’d shot straight across the bar.
But not to her. To a gorgeous blonde girl who was all long legs and perky boobs.
His exact type and her very opposite. And he’d remained there all night.
For a while she’d sat staring, like it would cause a trap door to open in the floor and swallow them both up. But when Lola pointed out that she was being as discreet as a birthday flashmob, she’d decided to change her tactic.
Two can play at that game , she thought. In fact, this had played right into her hands, and she couldn’t think of a better way to execute her ‘mess with Alex’ master plan than to give him something to truly go caveman over. It was time to see how far he would really go.
They made their way from bar to bar down the famous Beer Street.
As Alex continued to flirt with the blonde bombshell, Noa decided to up her flirting game herself and thought Marcus was just the man for the job.
He’d been giving Noa heart eyes since they’d met in Koh Tao, and she’d just brushed him off until now.
But, maybe, that was a mistake. Yes, perhaps he had been a bit too clingy and forward, but she wasn’t trying to marry the guy.
He was nice enough, after all. She’d enjoyed hanging out with him and he wasn’t awful to look at. In fact, maybe he was great rebound material. Not to mention he seemed to infuriate Alex without even trying. It was a win-win. So, flirting her ass off is exactly what she did.
T he drinks were flowing a little too easily, and Noa was feeling good.
They were in a bar called ‘The Good Time Bar.’ And that it definitely was.
Music vibrated off the walls as women danced on tables all around her and Noa got the sudden urge to be reckless and join them.
Stumbling up onto the table where they were sitting, Noa started to sway her hips, enjoying the music and the buzz of the alcohol that was flowing through her veins.
She felt sexy as hell with everyone watching her.
The group cheered and that made Alex’s gaze lift to her from the corner where he stood with his hand on Blondie’s waist to see what was going on.
He continued to intensely stare in her direction, and it felt like there was a warning in his eyes.
His jaw ticked and that only spurred her on more. Screw him, she thought.
Seductively waving her finger toward Marcus, Noa beckoned him over and grabbed his T-shirt, helping him onto the table.
His hand made it to her hips as they moved together and she ignored the fact that the touch felt all wrong, trying her best to melt into it.
She continued to dance with the dedication of an exotic dancer, but before she knew what was happening, her world turned upside down or, at least, her view did.
She was hauled over a set of strong shoulders, the scent of tobacco and spices invading her senses, and she realised they were moving toward the exit.
Oh, hell no .
She pounded her fists against what felt like a brick wall and kicked her feet in protest, but Alex didn’t falter.
He just carried her out of the bar like it was nothing.
She was so angry but, still, the thought of his hands on her in any capacity, even now, caused her body to betray her and she could feel a pulsing between her legs .
Now is not the time to get turned on! Stand down! She mentally chastised.
Choosing to ignore it, she continued to fight against his hold, shouting at him without a care for the scene they were causing.
‘Put me down, you brute,’ she shouted. ‘I’m not finished.’
‘I think you are,’ he growled.
‘Oh, here is the bodyguard I’ve been waiting to see. I knew you couldn’t help yourself. Who do you think you are?’
‘The only thing standing between you and that prick having his hands in places they don’t belong.’
She had stopped fighting. It was no use. She whipped her head in is direction, scoffing.
‘And who said I wanted you to stand between us? Maybe that’s exactly what I wanted… his hands, amongst other things, touching me.’
She could see his jaw clench, his teeth grinding together.
Alex let out a humourless laugh and his words dripped in venom, ‘Oh baby, we both know it’s not his hands you want on you tonight. I did you a favour, and you know it.’
Baby . Was she hallucinating? She shook it off because the word had sounded far too sexy coming out of his mouth, and she was in far too much of a compromising position right now. But also, who else’s hands did he mean? His?
‘You want to go running around, dancing on tables and shaking that ass for men that don’t deserve to see it, then you better be willing to take responsibility when they all end up eating their teeth if they touch you.’
She felt the briefest flutter in her stomach, but then it was her turn to let out a maniacal laugh as the lust-induced fog cleared and her anger returned .
He chose that moment to set her right onto her feet and started to pull her through the streets in the direction of their hostel. But she pulled back and set her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
‘Are you for fucking real right now? Again, who do you think you are? You are such a hypocrite! You spend the entire night eye-fucking and flirting with some horny blonde and then have the audacity to dictate who I can and cannot have a good time with. I’m surprised you could tear your eyes away from her cleavage long enough to notice.
Fuck you, Alex!’ She spat out the words and it only made him smirk, his lips lifting up in the corners.
Was he enjoying this?
Quicker than she could process, she was being pushed down a quiet street, her back against a wall and his body pressed to hers. The bricks were cold against her flushed skin as he caged her in.