Page 30 of Losing the Forbidden
Dec orders us all shots of whiskey and I quickly down mine, not wanting to take my eyes off my surroundings for a second.
Tingles run up and down my spine. I know she’s here somewhere. I just need to find her. My mouth waters as my imagination runs wild. I vividly remember us dancing here, the way her body felt against mine. How badly I needed her that night.
It’s only a few seconds before the sea of people in front of me parts just right and my eyes land on her. She’s wearing a deep red dress that’s wrapped around her perfect curves. My fingers twitch to feel them once again as my eyes run down her long, exposed legs to her black high heels.
Fuck me.
Making my way back up over every delicious curve that’s moving in time with the music, I eventually get to her blonde hair that’s pulled away from her slim neck and piled on top of her head.
I’m getting closer before my brain’s even registered that my legs are moving. I’m only a few feet away when someone steps out from the crowd, places their hands on her hips, and pulls her backwards.
My fists clench as my temperature soars. I stare at where he’s touching her and fight my need to rip his hands away.
Raising my eyes, I take in his perfectly pressed white shirt, braces, and then his overly gelled hair. If I didn’t hate him when I saw him touching Lauren at the funeral, then I do now.
Every muscle in my body tenses as I watch their hips grind together.
“Whoa, dude, what’s…oh!” Dec stands beside me, watching the same car crash that I am.
“I need more fucking whiskey for this.” Turning, I walk back up to the bar and order another round of drinks.
“Hey, we didn’t think you were coming,” I hear a familiar voice say behind me.
Spinning around, I find a very happy Erica smiling at me, but when I lift my eyes over her shoulder, I find the same anger on Lauren’s face that I’m sure was on mine not so long ago.
“I think I should leave.”
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Erica warns. The vicious look in her eyes has me rooted to the spot. “Ben, you remember Danni, right?” she says when Lauren’s friend comes to a stop beside her. A similar hatred fills her eyes as she looks me up and down.
“Danni,” I say with a nod.
“Hmm, look what the cat dragged in,” she slurs, curling her lip up in disgust. “You’ve got some nerve showing your face here, you know that?”
“Danni, stop, please,” Lauren begs, coming to stand beside her best friend.
“And this is Joe,” Erica interrupts.
I hold her stare for a few seconds, so she knows just how unhappy I am about this before I look up.
I find him staring down at me with pure hatred pouring from his eyes. I take a step forward, ready to do whatever it takes to show this douchebag that he has something that belongs to me.
“Don’t even think about it,” Lauren seethes, jumping between us.
I stop millimetres from her body. Her heat seeps into me. It’s almost enough to make me forget about the man who thinks she’s his. Mum was right last night. Lauren still cares, so everything is still to play for.
It’s not until her hands land on my chest that I pull my eyes from herboyfriend. My lip curls at just the thought alone.
“Step away, Ben,” she warns. With her shoes on, she’s much taller than usual. It wouldn’t take much for me to lean down and take her lips right now. The idea has my mouth watering for another taste of her.
Narrowing my eyes, I can’t stop the words falling from my lips. “You know you want me to fight for you. I can sense it.” Lowering my head to her ear, I whisper, “I can smell it. He doesn’t make you scream like I do, and you fucking know it.”
Her hand connects with my cheek, and it stings like a motherfucker. Pressing my palm to my burning skin, I look down at her. Her eyes are alight with anger and her chests heaves as she stares back at me.
“I fucking hate you,” she spits.
“No, baby. You just hate that I’m not fucking you.”
“That’s enough, Ben,” Erica shouts, grabbing my arm and trying to turn me away to stop me saying anything else.
