Page 18 of Mister Rival

“I think you’ve had enough champagne.” Gareth looks mortified, and Alina is gaping at me. If I’m not mistaken, her eyes dip to Tristan’s crotch.Back off, bitch!

I’ve never played the floozy before, and I think I kinda like it.

“On the contrary,” I turn to Tristan, linking my arm through his as he grins, “I think this party is just getting started.”

Chapter Nine

TRISTAN

“I think we need to get out of here, honey,” I drawl, tugging her to my side. My eyes draw to the long slit at the front of her floor length, sparkly rose-gold dress. It offers just the right amount of flesh to draw the eye to her cleavage, but giving only a hint of what is under the fabric. And I can only imagine. Fuck, she looks hot.

“That sounds like a perfect idea.” She beams up at me like we really are lovers and not mortal enemies.

“Duty calls.” I shrug toward the idiot ex with a chip on his shoulder. Even seeing him decades later hasn’t put a long enough gap between my utter dislike of him. To make matters worse, knowing he’s here flaunting the woman he had an affair with while he was still married to Ali, makes my blood boil.

Ali and I may be archrivals, but I will fuck anyone up that tries to hurt her.

My attention is snapped back to the present when I feel Ali drag her fingers down my shirt to grapple my tie, giving it a little tug. She pulls me in for another kiss while I steer her away from the still gaping pair. Her mouth is needy and hot and everything I thought it would be. This might just be for revenge’ssake tonight, and she may be slightly tipsy, but I can’t help but wonder what that sexy lipstick would be like all over me.

We pull apart after a moment, my body alight, my blood pounding in my veins, and my lips yearning for more of those soft, delectable kisses with the promise of so much more. Especially when she looks up at me a little wind swept, and if I’m not mistaken, the gleam in her eye outshines the rosy glow to her cheeks.

“You’re a hot kisser,” she breathes, snagging her bottom lip between her teeth as she assesses me. Her eyes trailing down my body.

“So are you.”

“Touch me again, Lucas. I think they’re still watching.”

I grin. Hearing my name on her lips sparks that hot, uncontrollable fire deep within me. Snaking an arm around her waist, I pull her to my side, my mouth finding the side of her neck with ease. Boy oh boy, I never thought I’d be getting this up close and personal to my rival. And she smells utterly divine. It’s a buttery mix tonight, with the same exotic sandalwood and vanilla scent I could smell last time.

As we head for the bar, my hand travels farther down to the small of her back and I swear I feel her shiver. To my delight, she doesn’t slap my hand away. Is she enjoying this as much as I am?

I can only imagine Gareth’s face behind me. I hope he’s fucking seething. He was intent on making Ali uncomfortable, in fact it was his whole MO. Not cool, Gareth.

I was surprised as anyone to even see Ali here in the first place. When I looked across the room, the pretty sparkles on her dress caught my attention, but I didn’t even get to admire her, because I saw the rigid stance and the look on her face. I knew I had to step in when I saw it was Gareth and his fiancé.

I wonder why she changed her mind about coming when she knew he’d be here?

We’re halfway across the floor to the bar when a woman intercepts us, and I sigh with frustration because I want to be alone with Ali for a second to catch my fucking breath. “My, my, is that you, Tristan Lucas?” When I look down at her name tag, I scrunch my brow.Juliedoesn’t ring a bell, nor do I give a fuck about talking to her. All that matters in this moment is Ali, and that she’s okay. “You’re… together?” The words come out like it’s the most unfathomable thing she’s ever seen or heard in her life. The way her eyes bulge and confusion furrows on her face attests to her words.

“Guilty as charged.” I momentarily loosen my grip around Ali’s side to hold up my palms. I hear a faint chuckle from Ali, who has her arm wrapped around me too, and isn’t letting go. Good, I like her touching me.

“So, this one of the Hollywood suits you mentioned earlier?” Julie glances at Ali suspiciously. “How times have changed.”

“In the flesh,” Ali concedes. “Remember what I said about the prawns?” I feel her hand reach for my tie again and it’s stirring more than I ever bargained for when I feel my dick twitch. Who am I kidding? I’ve been hard since she kissed me.

My brow furrows as I glance down at Ali.Prawns?She gives Julie a knowing nod and a secretive smile.

Julie balks. “But didn’t you hate each other in high school? Wait… I remember, you had a big time crush on Ali, right, Tristan?”

It’s coming back to me in slow, uncomfortable waves that Julie could very well have been the girl who loved to stir shit in high school.Jellyfish?Looks like nothing has changed there. “Everyone did,Julie. She was a knockout and still is.”

I feel Ali grip my side a little tighter, I think she’s trying to fight off laughter, or maybe hysteria I’m not sure.

“But she practically floated out of Palm Springs with the quarterback, and we all know how that turned out. Oh, by theway, he’s here. With that floozy he was caught in bed with.” She says the last part behind the back of her hand, like Ali isn’t even there. That annoys me to no end. “He always did have a wandering eye. I’d avoid the east wing if I were you.”

“Just stop it,” I bark.

Julie’s eyes grow wide. “W—what?”

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