Page 118 of Frozen Hearts
My entire body has gone up in flames. Mysoulis on fire as our hips grind and my mind screams for more. “Please,” I plead, not even entirely sure what I’m begging for. Just that I needsomething.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He chuckles darkly. “Is that what you’re trying to do? Get me to fuck you in the hopes I’ll turn my back on my friends and convince Grayson to let you go?” Even though his words are scathing, his low, seductive tone melts like dark chocolate over my skin. “I’m not Logan, and your pussy isn’t magical.”
Turning in his hold, I reach up and grab his face in my hands. My fingers dig into his cheeks as I glare up at him. “Lie to yourself all you want, Royce. But you know as well as I do that whatever this is between us has nothing to do with Grayson.” Leaning in, I trail my nose along the column of his neck, breathing in his scent of leather and something earthy; masculine. Reaching the underside of his jaw, I press onto my toes, dragging my lips along the sharp edge. “Sooner or later, you’ll have to face the fact that you want me as badly as I want you.”
Our gazes collide for a single second before he surges forward, pressing his lips to mine in a hard, demanding, scalding kiss. His hand slides into my hair, wrenching my head to the side as he deepens it. He controls every one of my movements as his tongue glides over mine, the hard planes of his body pressing into me and igniting a fire everywhere we touch.
My hips rock against his, and I shiver as his erection twitches in his pants. Before either of us can get carried away, he uses his hold on the back of my head to tug me away.
“Not here,” he half growls. “You want me, Babydoll, then you can have me back at the house where the others can watch.”
God.There’s something exhilarating and intimidating about that, although I don’t altogether dislike it. The thought of Logan watching is hot and kind of a turn-on. Grayson, however, is less so.
Not giving me the chance to overthink it or change my mind, Royce spins me around and gives my ass a hard slap. “Now go get changed so I can find out just how talented that mouth of yours really is.”
Thank God he can’t see the deep red blush on my cheeks as I totter away. However, as we step out from behind the stage, we come face-to-face with Ben.
His narrowed gaze darts between us before landing on me, and his jaw tics with irritation. “Riley. I’ve been looking for you. I need you to stay late tonight.”
My shoulders drop as I release a silent sigh before nodding. “Sorry,” I mutter to Royce before scurrying off to the dressing rooms to change.
By the time I re-emerge on the main club floor, Royce is standing there waiting for me and Ben is nowhere in sight.
“Ready to go?” Royce asks casually.
“Uh, I have to help Ben tidy up?” My inflection rises at the shadows dancing in his eyes until it comes out as a question.
“Nope. Not anymore.” My gaze narrows on Royce, searching for the hidden meaning behind his words, but he’s an impenetrable fort keeping his secrets locked down tight.
Before I can argue, he moves beside me, pressing a hand to the base of my spine and leading me out of the club. Right before we step outside, I turn to look behind me. My eyes clash with Ben’s, where he stands hidden behind the bar, glaring at us through one eye as he holds an ice pack to his other.
“Did you hit him?” I mutter as Royce pulls me through the door and it slides shut behind us.
He doesn’t answer as he directs me over to his truck, and I wait until we’re inside before repeating more firmly, “Royce, did you hit Ben?”
“Forget about it, James,” he growls, navigating out of the car park with more speed than necessary.
My eyes dart down to his hands perched on the steering wheel, spotting the tell-tale red knuckles that confirm my suspicions.
“I can’t justforget about it,” I snap. “He’s myboss.You can’t go hitting my boss, Royce.” When he remains silent, the only sign that he’s listening at all the whitening of his fingers around the steering wheel, I press harder. “I mean it. If you go causing issues, I’ll be fired. The three of you can play your stupid little games with me, I don’t give a shit, but youcannotinterfere in my life. I still need to have my job once Grayson is done torturing me and the three of you have kicked me to the curb.”
He’s silent for a minute longer, his grip on the steering wheel growing so tight that it groans beneath the pressure. “Fine,” he finally hisses. “I won’t do anything that will result in you losing your job.”
Blowing out a breath, I finally relax against the seat and mutter, “Thank you.” He nods, and we fall into silence as I lean my elbow on the armrest, rest my head in my palm and stare out the window.
We’re nearly home when I glance his way out of the corner of my eye and hedge, “So, why did you hit him?”
His forearms flex, jaw tightening. “Doesn’t matter,” he grunts.
Turning back to the window, I roll my eyes. “Given that it happened at the club and that I have the sneaking suspicion it had something to do with me, I’d say that it does, in fact, matter.”
His only response is the creaking of the steering wheel, and I glance his way out of the corner of my eye, finding him strangling the leather.
We drive the rest of the way home in silence. However, as I open my door and move to climb out, he reaches across the car and, wrapping his large hand around my wrist, stops me. When I turn to look at him, he’s frowning down at the center console before he lifts his gaze to mine. “Just… be careful when you’re around him.”
Brows furrowed, I stare at him in confusion. What the hell transpired between them to warrant this warning? Of course, I know to watch my back around Ben. All us girls do. He’s pushy and a sleaze, but what could he have said to Royce to have him suddenly concerned for my safety? His grip tightens, and I realize he’s waiting for me to agree. Slowly, I nod. “Okay. I will.”
He holds me hostage for a moment longer, gaze searching mine before he relents. “One of us will be with you at all times when you’re at the club.”
