Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Michaela and Cara had disappeared. The bloke was leaning on the bar next to Beth, but for his sake, I was glad to see he’d kept some space between them as he tried to chat her up. Not caring if I came across as an arsehole, I inserted myself between them, my hand on the curve of Beth’s arse as I leaned in, giving my back to the stranger flirting with her. “How’s it going here, princess?”
Beth turned into me, her eyes hot as she smoothed a hand down my chest. “The drinks are coming. Did I tell you how good you look tonight?”
I pulled her closer, our lower bodies pressed in a way that was dangerous, but I didn’t give a fuck. “Not as good as you look. This dress.” I skimmed a hand over her taut arse. “You trying to kill me?”
Beth laughed, eyes flashing wickedly as she leaned up to press a soft kiss to my mouth. She murmured, “Maybe a little.”
“Where did your girls go?”
“Took their drinks and went off to dance.”
Leaving her alone at the bar to get hit on. Nice.
Our drinks arrived as Baird and the rest of the guys stopped at the bar to order. John had secured a table at the back of the club, up on a platform near the rear entrance. It offered a modicum of privacy from the rest of the room but not from the music. We sat there with our drinks for a bit, shouting over the music about football and movies and random shit.
Then one of Baird’s favorite tunes came on, so he bounced out into the crowd to dance, John following in his wake.
“Do you dance?” Beth asked.
“Do you want to?”
She nodded.
I stood and held out my hand to her. A soft smile played on her lips a second before she took it and rose. As I turned, I saw Eric zero in on Beth’s arse. “Eyes,” I clipped at him over the music.
The left wing raised a hand in apology, and Beth nudged me toward the dance floor with a huff of annoyance.
Just as we found Baird with John and Cara and Michaela, the music changed to a slow, sexy track by the Weeknd. Beth wound her arms around my neck and moved into my body with confidence. My blood heated as her soft curves pressed up against me, and I wrapped my arms around her waist to bring her closer. She let out a little gasp of excitement as we rolled our hips to the rhythm of the music. Turned the fuck on, because apparently everything she did turned me the fuck on, I kissed her as we swayed.
It was a dirty kiss and there was no doubt she could feel what it was doing to me.
A slap across my shoulder drew me out of it.
Baird, the bastard, grinned at us. “Get a fucking room. You’re arousing us all!”
Laughter broke out among our friends and anyone in the vicinity who heard. Beth shook with amusement as she pressed her forehead against my jaw. I could feel her trying to get a hold of herself. My arms tightened around her. It was true we couldn’t seem to keep our hands off each other.
I’d never experienced this kind of attraction before.
It was all-fucking-consuming.
Unable to help myself, I smoothed my hand over her arse and squeezed.
She chuckled and pulled back to stare at me. Her smile died at whatever she saw on my face, her blue eyes turning hot.
I wanted to pull her tiny dress up and slide my cock inside her right here on this dance floor.
Instead I kissed her, slower this time, but no less dirty.
Beth shivered in my arms and blazing triumph burned through me.
Maybe we could leave early. John would understand.
“Beth!”
The female cry broke us apart. My date blinked rapidly as she turned to greet the gorgeous stranger standing in our personal space. Then she beamed with absolute joy. “Maia!”
The two women embraced and then Beth pulled back to gesture to me. “Maia, this is Callan, my … friend. Callan, this is my cousin Maia.”
I held out my hand to the dark-haired beauty. “Nice to meet you.”
She smiled, eyeing me in consideration. “You too.”
“How are Logan and Grace? And Lachlan?” Beth asked about people I didn’t know.
“All good!”
“Who are you here with? Elliot?”
“No. The girls from work, but we’re heading out.” She waved in a vague left direction.
“And who is this?” Baird boomed, sidling up to us, his gaze fixed on Beth’s cousin.
“Maia.” She eyed him with a playful smile.
Baird stared as if dumbfounded. “Maia, I’m Baird,” he finally replied, “and you are the most stunning fucking woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Maia laughed like she thought he was joking.
“That’s really very nice of you, but”—she flashed her left hand where a large diamond ring winked on her finger—“I’m taken. And you’re too young for me.”