Page 67 of Dove
In an instant every warm thought I’d had toward Josh turned into cold hard ice.
“Actually,” I purred, ignoring the acid churning in my gut as I turned my attention back to Torrence with a look I hoped was seductive. “No.”
His answering grin was damn near predatory.
Josh
I was aware of Dove the moment she stepped through the door.
Like a compass pointing north, my head turned, and my breath caught when I saw her standing there, scanning the crowd and biting her lip like she was two seconds away from bolting.
When she beelined for the bar, I ditched my full drink, knowing Eddie or someone from our small group of friends would gladly snatch it up. We were huddled around a high-top near the wall, and I ignored their shouted questions as I strode away without explanation.
She stood patiently at the bar, but I could practically feel the tension radiating off her. A thrill shot through me as I closed the distance, unable to stop myself from stepping in close to whisper low in her ear, and I reveled in the shiver that ran through her body.
The signs of something being there between us grew undeniable every day.
She’d fooled me earlier when Reverie showed up. I’d been ready to leave with her, to drive us to the bar, but the second I saw her friend speeding down the drive, disappointment hit. The fact that she was here now, and had likely always intended to be here, spoke volumes—and I was prepared to find out tonight whether she would step over the invisible line that had kept us apart.
Naturally, I ordered us drinks—partly for liquid courage, but also to celebrate an important milestone of hers I’d missed. A huge part of me regretted missing Dove’s twenty-first birthday. Although if I’d never left, I wouldn't have taken her out, not like this. That duty would have been reserved for her friends, because being around Dove with loose inhibitions sounded like the makings of trouble. Still, I felt horrible I hadn’t at least wished her a happy birthday on her special day.
Never again.
Never again would I miss another, not oneday, even if this didn’t end up going anywhere between us.
Dove had me and only me now, and I’d never let her down like that again.
When I clasped Dove’s hand in mine just after our shots and her bratty comment, my heart soared. I pulled her out onto the dance floor, not caring who saw her body move with mine.
Dancing with Dove felt like the best damn dream I never wanted to wake up from.
With the lights accentuating the curves of her gorgeous body and her smile widening with each beat I spun her on, she looked more likeminethan she ever had. I wanted to take Dove places no one had ever taken her to before. I wanted to make her feel things she’d never felt.
I just wanted her.
The moment I let go of Dove, I knew it was a mistake.
She disappeared into the undulating crowd, and I was left standing there, chest heaving, sporting a semi I’d been attempting to hide since the first ring of her laughter.
I’d find her in a moment. Just a moment.
Her body so close to mine was the loveliest dream and the sweetest torture. Convinced I might still be sleeping, I subtly pinched myself and prayed it wouldn’t snap me back to my bed with a rooster crowing outside my window.
But in the middle of the dance floor we remained, with her eyes shining and her touch—fuck—her touch roaming.
My chest still burned from where her nails had grazed down it, likely on accident, but I had damn near been seared from her touch.
When my mind wasn’t as the air around me, I took a step in the direction I’d lost her in— only to have someone slide right in front of me.
The first thing I noticed was hair that was too blonde, along with eyes the wrong shade of blue.
Stella.
“Josh,” she attempted to purr, but the seduction was lost as she strained to be heard over the music. But the look in her eyes was clear enough. They screamedfuck me,and within their depths I saw all the times we used each other to distract ourselves.
Right now, her distraction was pissing me off.
“Stella,” I greeted amicably, eying over her head to spot wherever Dove might have gone.
