Page 31 of Losing the Forbidden
“It’s nowhere fucking near enough. He needs to realise she’s mine before I make him regret ever touching her.”
“Whoa, calm down, caveman. I know I told you to fight for her, but that wasn’t quite what I meant.”
I’m ushered over towards the bar and a glass of whiskey appears in front of me.
When I look up, I’m met by the concerned looks of my best friends. I don’t need to meet their eyes to know I just fucked up.
“Are you going to play nice, or do I have to send you home?” Erica asks with a hard stare and her hands on her hips.
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
I can tell none of them believe me. Hell, I’m not sure I believe me, but I’m not walking out of here and leaving them to grind it up on the dance floor without a care in the world.
Downing my drink, I grab Erica’s hand and pull her into the crowd. Lauren and that prick aren’t the only ones who’ve got moves.
I know everyone’s watching as I twist Erica around in front of me, but there’s only one set of eyes that are burning hatred into me.
Erica’s body is stiff when I force her against my chest and start dancing. “What the hell are you doing? If you want to make her jealous, using me probably isn’t the best idea.”
“You’re right.” Pushing her away, I glance around. It doesn’t take long before I find a woman watching me. She’s not my type in any way, but right now, that’s the last thing that matters. I pull her stick thin body against mine and together we move in time with the music.
She’s clearly drunk and more than willing. Guilt starts to eat at me that I’m taking advantage of her, but I tell myself that I have no intention of doing anything more than dance.
I pin her hips against mine and she moves easily with me. The others join me and lose themselves with their other halves. Joe pulls Lauren to the edge of our group and my teeth grind as I watch his hands run down her back until they land on her arse.
My fingers squeeze the woman pressed up against me and it gives her the wrong idea. Her hand slides up my chest and wraps around the back of my neck.
My eyes stay on Lauren as the woman presses her lips to mine. It takes a second or two, but the moment she notices, she stops moving. Joe stares down at her before following her eye line and also finding me.
He turns back to her, and I do the same, but it’s too late. She’s already gone.
Forcing the woman pressed against me away, I rush in the direction where Lauren disappeared.
“I don’t think so.” I’m toe-to-toe with Joe. We’re a similar height and build, but I’m confident I could take him if need be. He looks like a fucking IT geek with his black-rimmed glasses and slicked back hair after all.
“What the fuck do you know about anything?”
“More than you fucking know. You’ve already caused her enough pain, don’t you think?” he asks, but I’ve already pushed him away in my need to get to her. “Let her go, Ben. It’s too late.”
I hear other calls from behind me, but I pay them no attention.
Racing down the stairs, I search for her, but there’s no sign of her blonde hair or red dress.
“Go in the toilets and find her,” I demand when Erica follows me.
“She’s gone, Ben. Come back and get a drink?” Hope fills her eyes that tonight might not be a total bust, but it’s too late. The damage has already been done.
“I’m going home. Give this to the others for a taxi later.”
She shoves the handful of cash back at me and turns away without saying anything.Great, I’ve pissed someone else off.
I don’t manage to get a taxi before the others come rushing from the club.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Liam shouts as he walks over. He doesn’t stop until he’s right in my face. “You want to fight? You want to hit someone? Come on, then. Take what you need.”
“I’m not going to fucking hit you.”
“Why not?”
