Cayden
FIFTEEN
Kissing Luna Bennett might just be the dumbest fucking decision I’ve ever made—and I’ve made a lot of bad ones.
I thought if I could just get one taste—one touch of her lips—that it would be enough to get her out of my system.
But, it’s done the opposite.
I want her even more, and I didn’t think that was possible.
Standing by the railing, I watch her hug Savi and Knox goodbye before walking away with Connor. His arm is on her lower back as he guides her through the crowd. I grip the railing until my knuckles are white, wishing I could be the guy she needs.
She has no clue the turmoil she left me with.
How could she?
No one, not even my teammates know that I haven’t touched another woman since Jules died. Luna’s lips were the first to make the past feel a little farther away. I expected the guilt to crush me, but I never expected the guilt to come from hurting Luna.
I knew she took my pulling away as a sign of rejection, and I let her think that because it’s easier than admitting how scared I am of losing myself in her. I’ve spent years mastering control, and one kiss from her and I’m barely hanging on.
I finally make my way back downstairs just as Knox and Savi are leaving.
“There you are,” Knox grins when he sees me. “Where have you been?”
“Talking to someone I knew upstairs,” I lie. “You guys headed out?”
“I need to get my wife home. She’s been on her feet today long enough.” He holds out her jacket and helps her into it.
“I’ve literally been sitting here on a couch, and before that I was sitting in the stands watching your game,” she laughs, but I don’t miss the way her gaze lingers lovingly on her husband.
“Yes, but our deal was two hours,” he reminds her, taking her hand. “And if I remember correctly, I promised you a nice, long bubble bath and a pint of brownie fudge ice cream if you hold up your end of the deal.”
“Mmm,” she moans, rubbing her belly. “Marrying you was the best decision I ever made.”
“I know. And later I’m going to remind you exactly why that was the best decision you ever made,” he grins.
“Promise?” She gives him a seductive smile that screams later might be sooner than he thinks.
“Yeah, we’re out of here,” he says quickly. “See you tomorrow, Blade.” He whisks her away, and she giggles at his hurriedness to get her home.
“Bye, Cayden!” She calls over her shoulder and waves.
“Bye, Savi,” I chuckle, watching them disappear in the crowd.
Scanning the VIP section, I see McCormick and Kane chatting with some of our teammates at the other end of the bar. I think about joining them, but I’m not in the mood for small talk right now.
“We’re heading out, too.” I hear Hayes say as I turn around.
Foxx is with him, and I raise my eyebrow. It’s not like them to leave so early. “Couldn’t find anyone to warm your bed tonight?” I ask.
“As if that will ever happen,” Foxx smirks. “We’re just changing scenery.”
“We’re meeting Connor and Luna at Pulse. Try something new tonight,” Hayes grins.
“Pulse? The club two blocks away?”
“That’s the one,” Foxx says with a gleam in his eye.
People don’t go to Pulse just to dance. They go to forget, getting lost in the press of bodies and flashing lights. Where hands wander without permission, and no one is looking for anything real.
I scrub a hand down my face, already feeling the irritation settle in my chest. I don’t do places like that.
Too many bodies…too close…too much of everything.
It’s easy to lose control in there, and thoughts of Luna dancing in that outfit pressed up against some random stranger has me grabbing my jacket from the chair before I can talk myself out of it.
“I’m going,” I say, putting my suit jacket on.
“You serious?” Hayes asks, surprised. “You never go out with us to clubs.”
“Guess I need a change of scenery too.” There’s no way in hell I’m telling them the real reason is Luna. I don’t want or need them all up in my business.
“Fuck, yeah,” Foxx grins, slapping me on the back.
“We get Daddy Cayden tonight,” Hayes announces excitedly, leading the way through the crowd and out the side door.
“Don’t ever call me Daddy again. It’s disturbing coming out of your mouth.”
“Too late, you're already saved in my phone as Daddy Blade,” he grins.
Rolling my eyes, I learned a long time ago that it’s easier just to let things go with these two—otherwise, the banter can go on for hours.
We walk the two blocks to Pulse, and I seriously start to doubt my sanity the closer I get to the steady beat of the music that’s wafting through the doors and out onto the street.
The bouncer at the door recognizes us and doesn’t hesitate to move us to the front of the line as he ushers us in.
The bass pulses through the walls and straight into my chest like a second heartbeat.
Bodies are packed tight under strobing lights that flash just enough to make everything feel disjointed.
We hand our jackets to a girl up front who slips them onto a hanger before giving us a receipt. Shoving it into my pocket, I roll up my sleeves, already feeling the heat from all the bodies stuffed in here like sardines.
We push through the crowd, and I remember why I fucking hate places like this so much. Ignoring the stares we bring as the three of us tower over most of the crowd with our six-foot-four height, I scan the bodies, reminding myself why I’m here.
Then I see her, and everything else disappears.
She’s on the dance floor, moving with the music like she belongs here. Like this place was built for her. Her little black dress clings to every curve, riding up just enough with each shift of her hips to make my teeth grind.
Connor is behind her, his hands on her waist. He’s laughing at something she said as he spins her around.
It shouldn’t bother me. I know it shouldn’t.
But something dark and sharp twists in my chest anyway.
“There they are!” Hayes hollers over the music, leading us to where I’ve been watching.
“You made it!” Connor grins when he sees Hayes and Foxx. His eyes shift to me when he notices me standing there. “And I see you brought Mr. Tall and Broody,” he smirks.
“Is there something I missed?” Hayes glances between Connor and me, and it’s clear from our body language that neither one is fond of the other at the moment.
“Nothing important,” I say.
Luna’s eyes widen when she turns around and sees me. “What are you doing here?” she asks, folding her arms across her chest.
“I’m still trying to figure that one out myself.”
“I definitely missed something,” Hayes laughs. “But it will have to wait. I came here to dance, and I heard you're a damn good teacher.”
“Did you now?” Luna grins as Hayes takes her hand.
“Teach me, baby.” Hayes twirls her around, and she laughs at his playful moves. His hands stay respectful, so I breathe a little easier that she’s not his latest conquest.
The warning in my stare could have something to do with that. Or maybe it’s the fact that she’s Savi’s friend, which is a whole other problem in itself if I fuck it all up.
I see Foxx appear next to them, already finding a girl who’s draped over him as their bodies mold together on the dance floor. I’m so engrossed in watching Luna that I don’t notice Connor coming up to me until I hear the low threat.
“I don’t care how big you are or what team you play for…if you hurt Lu, I will kick your ass,” Connor says, pulling my eyes away to where he is standing by my side.
I’m three inches taller than him and have double the muscle mass. I highly doubt he can kick my ass, but I give him credit for looking out for Luna.
“Hurting her is not my intention,” I remark, leaving the rest of my opinions to myself.
“Then what is your intention?”
“Right now? To make sure some asshole doesn’t mess with her.” I stiffen when some guy starts to move against Luna’s backside. Hayes gives him a look, and he quickly backs off as I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Jesus. You really do have it bad. I couldn’t tell at first if it was just a quick fuck you were after, but you really like her, and it’s killing you inside,” he observes, watching me stare at her.
His words get under my skin as I grind my teeth with force.
“What I don’t understand is why you’re fighting it so hard.”
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I remain silent. There’s no use explaining something when I don’t even understand it myself.
“Do yourself a favor, and figure out exactly what it is you want from her before one of you winds up getting hurt. Lu’s the best person I know, and I won’t sit back and watch you fuck with her.”
He walks away, leaving me standing there before grabbing Luna’s hand to dance. They immediately fall into each other’s rhythm, and I can tell that they’ve danced together countless times before.
Hayes shows up next to them with a pretty blonde who’s more than eager to grind against him as I watch him grin and whisper something in her ear.
The crowd gets more packed, and I soon find myself in a swarm of bodies. Keeping a close eye on Luna, I see her get separated from Connor, but she doesn’t seem to mind as she finds two girls to dance with.
It’s when I notice the guy behind her that has me pushing through the crowd in an instant. He’s your typical douchebag with a beer in his hand and a look in his eyes that says he’s had way too much to drink.
He zeros in on Luna, and I get to her just as she’s fighting to get away from his roaming hands that are now holding her against him.
His eyes go wide when he sees me, and a drunk grin splits his face.
“Hey, I know you. You’re that goalie,” he slurs, keeping a firm grip on Luna’s waist.
“Get your fucking hands off of her,” I say in a deadly tone as I get right up in his face.
“Woah, man. I didn’t know she was your girl. My bad,” he says, raising his hands in the air.
A bouncer appears at my side out of nowhere. It doesn’t surprise me. The bouncer at the door probably warned the staff that we were here. Bad publicity isn’t good for business.
“Everything good here, Mr. Blade?”