Page 46 of No, You Hang Up

“I’d really rather bruise that lovely throat with my fingers and my teeth, but you’ve given me such a convenient toy tonight,” Huxley remarks. “And if you think I don’t know how to use it, then you’re very mistaken. Get on your knees, little bunny.”

I don’t. Not at first. Not until he gives the chain another jerk and steps back just enough for me to fall to my knees on the sidewalk, probably ruining my tights in the process. When his hand slips under my chin to cradle my face, I gaze up at him from through my lashes and realize I’m swaying a little bit.

Yeah, I’m a little further than tipsy, I have to admit to myself. I’m not drunk. Not quite. But I’m buzzed enough that the warning bells going off in my gut are muted and ignorable.

“There you go. There’s my sweet, pliant girl.” His voice is a condescending murmur, like he’s both complimenting me and insulting me at the same time. But somehow, that really does it for me, and I’m shuddering with my hands braced against his thighs. His fingers card through my hair, tipping my head back until I’m forced to meet his dark gaze.

“I like you both ways, you know,” he adds casually, his other hand coming down to cradle my jaw. “I love it when you’re such a fighter. You’re just so fucking stubborn and it’s perfect. But I love this, too. This sweet side of you that just wants to be my good girl.”

My stomach twists pleasurably at those two words, but I fight not to let it show on my face. Still, I must fail, because his grin widens and Huxley lets out a soft, scoffing chuckle. “That’s what you want? To be my good, precious girl?”

But I don’t answer him, because I’m sure whatever words might come out of my mouth would be embarrassing at best. And I’m not prepared for that scenario, or for something worse. Still, my throat closes around the air in my throat before I can take a breath as Hux drags me forward by my hair, until my mouth is pressed to the front of his jeans.

“Right there,” he coos. “That’s where you belong. I miss your mouth, pretty girl. Come on. You can’t tell me you don’t miss my cock.”

I can’t, and that’s the problem. With his urging, I drag my nose up the inside of his thigh, eyes closing for a few moments as the rough denim scratches at my face. My nose finds his zipper, and I’m definitely a little too far gone to remember why this isn’t a bad idea. More importantly, I can’t think of why I shouldn’t just take that zipper between my teeth and pull it down.

I’ve missed all of him, but I won’t deny that I lovethisparticular part of Huxley. His fingers massage my scalp approvingly, and I hear his murmurs of praise above me as I breathe open mouthed against the front of his jeans. I’m not quite sure if I’m teasing him, taking my time, or a little nervous.

Maybe it’s all three, actually.

But when the door suddenly opens a few feet to our left, Huxley is quicker than I could ever be. He pulls me smoothly and easily to my feet, letting me rest my back against the wall even as he slips an arm around my waist. Both of us look toward the door, though my confusion is a stark contrast to his irritation at the interruption.

I don’t expect it to be Eric. So when he stumbles out, the wave of shock that goes through me is enough to sober me up just a little, and I find myself gripping at Huxley’s t-shirt, my fingers tight in the stretchy material. Not that he has eyes for anything except the blond.

And God, I really don’t like how he’s looking at the clearly drunk idiot.

“Listen, man.” I can tell immediately that Eric has used these few minutes back inside Revival Room to find more alcohol. It’s given him courage that he shouldn’t have, and he can barely meet Hux’s eyes as he sways on the spot while the door creaks closed beside him. “This is weird, okay? And I’m really not sure she’s into you. Are you like an abusive ex or something?”

There’s a few moments of absolute silence, broken only by a particularly loud car on a street nearby. But after the stupor wears off, Hux is the first one to bark a sharp, unfriendly laugh that sends shivers down my spine. The sound really should send Eric back into the bar with his tail between his legs, but clearly the alcohol in his veins is enough for him to ignore the very clear, very loud warning bells.

“You think she’s not into me? You think I’m anabusive ex?” Hux repeats with disdain clear in the words. “God, you’re stupid, you know that? You should go back inside, little boy.” He pulls me away from the wall and cradles me against him with my back flush to his chest. “You’re too drunk for this.”

With my eyes on Eric, I lean back against Hux; his arms and the knee he slides between my thighs are really the only things keeping me on my feet. My legs feel like they’re made of jelly, and my head spins just enough that I’m not as worried as I should be about the situation.

But I still know Eric is somewhere he shouldn’t be, and I know Hux will have no problem making him regret it. My stomach twists at the thought of Eric dying over a game I took too far because he’s too stupid to back off.

“He’s not my ex,” I breathe, rolling my eyes. “And he’s not abusive. I’m into him, Eric. I just didn’t know he was here.” That part is a lie, mostly, but I try to tell him with my eyes to fuck right off and go find someone else.

But naturally, he doesn’t. Because why would anything in my life go smoothly enough not to be a problem, I think ruefully to myself.

Instead, he takes a step closer, as if he’s trying to be menacing, and I can hear the soft scoff of disdain from Hux behind me, even as he shifts to stand more balanced, even with me in his arms.

“I don’t believe you,” Eric announces like the white knight dumbass he is. “He’s weird and I don’t think you’re in a position to make this decision, Kaira.”

“As if you’re any better?” Hux asks mildly, but all he gets is a heated glance from Eric before the blond takes yet another step forward, his arm outstretched. Behind me, I can feel Huxley tense like an attack dog ready to lunge at a threat.

Though for the life of me, I can’t figure out anything about Eric that could ever be that threatening, or what he could be reacting to.

“Maybe you should have some water,” Eric tries again. He reaches forward, fingers outstretched, and I can’t pull my eyes away from his hand as it comes closer and closer until finally, his fingers close around my wrist.

And that’s what does it for Huxley.

He lunges forward, pulling me to the side like somehow Eric’s hand is going to burn me. He snatches the blond’s wrist in his own, and I hear him snarl as he lets go of me to fist his hand in Eric’s jacket.

Hux has the blond up against the wall in seconds, but it’s certainly not sexy or taunting. With the sneer on his lips and the way his dark eyes blaze, Huxley slams him into the bricks hard enough that I’m sure Eric sees stars.

“Don’t—” I begin, but Huxley gives me a quick, very clear look that has me stepping back and away from him as I sway on my feet.

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