Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
But given the way the whole VIP section is watching her, I can’t help but feel that won’t be true. She didn’t want me three years ago, and I know how she is. She only wants what she can’t have. But by next year, she’ll have gotten bored with the chase and moved on.
How the hell can I be ready to risk it all when my heart wasn’t enough before?
Chapter
Fourteen
Emery
When Flynn leans in, I freeze a bit.
I just wanted to dance, but before I can push him away, he asks, “How pissed do you think he’ll get if I grab your ass?”
I snort. “Don’t worry about him. Worry about me kneeing you in the balls.”
His laughter is contagious, but it’s all I have to say to keep him in line. I feel Quinn’s gaze on me, but when I look over at him, he’s deep in conversation with Journey.
Whatever.
“Shots!” Sawyer and Katarina shout, and of course, I’m down. Anything to extinguish the inferno burning inside me. The feel of Quinn’s lips against my ear, how his jaw was so strong in my palm, the way his eyes seared into mine. God, I want him. I miss him. I need him.
But nooooo… He’s engaged.
We throw back a tequila shot, and then another one, before Flynn has somehow talked the DJ into letting us do karaoke. Probably because the only people up here are invitees of Flynn. I laugh and sit as far away from Quinn as possible. That doesn’t mean his scorching gaze doesn’t stay on me. I feel his eyes all over me. Drinking me in. When I meet those blue depths, though, I see nothing but anger in them.
I don’t know what he has to be angry about. I told him I dressed like this for him.
It doesn’t matter who is looking; it’s all for him.
But he won’t take it.
Damn it. This is backfiring on me, because being the center of Quinn’s wanton gaze has me shaking all over. I have to press my thighs together to keep my pussy on lock and to give myself a bit of relief. All I know is that I can’t take it. Which is why I think I start throwing back more shots than needed. Just to feel numb to his intense gaze. I thought this was a good idea. I thought inviting him out would break him, but my plan backfired, and now I’m the one all in knots over him.
When I feel the pricking of tears at the backs of my eyes, I quickly shake my head and walk over to the stage. I tell the DJ what I want, and when Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” starts playing, I belt it out like I’m the queen herself. I don’t sound half as good and I’m pretty sure I’m slurring my words, but I sing the song like I wrote it, and on the dedication page of the album, it reads:
For only Quinn.
I look pathetic. I know I do. Especially when the tears start trailing down my cheeks. All I do is squeeze my eyes tighter and sing for him. Like he has time after time for me. Back when I was dumb and it made me mad instead of feeling unbelievably honored to be on the receiving end of Quinn Adler’s sweet voice. God, I was an idiot.
When I hear our group start singing with me, I open my eyes to find everyone’s phone flashlights on, and they’re all waving them like this is a Mariah Carey concert instead of my pathetic attempt at wooing the man I love. I let out a breathy giggle as everyone scream-sings, but when my eyes fall on Quinn, he looks absolutely enraged. His hands are fisted at his sides, and his eyes are dark and ominous. I don’t understand the rage, but still, I point to him as I sing the chorus.
He doesn’t give me a smirk.
Or even laugh at me.
Or tell me he wants me back.
Instead, he gets up and rushes to the stairwell that leads to the back parking lot.
I drop the mic, much to everyone’s displeasure, or maybe their gratitude, before I take off after him. He’s a good number of steps in front of me, but I rush after him, yelling his name. He ignores me, but I still plead.
“Please, stop.”
He hits a landing that leads to another set of steps and whirls around. “No, Em. What the hell was that? I’m engaged, and you’re singing to me like that?”
“You did it to me!” I yell back, but he shakes his head. “On numerous occasions and in front of our families.”
“Yes, but unlike me, you were never tied down, because tying you down is like caging a fucking badger!”
“I didn’t want to be tied down until now. And now, I want you.”