Page 50 of Without Bound
I laugh, pushing on his shoulder. “If you knew I wasn’t twenty-one, why’d you ask if I wanted a drink.”
He shrugs and throws back another swig of his beer. “I wanted to see what you would say. See if you’d tell me how old you really are.”
I arch a brow and purse my lips. “You trouble maker.”
He looks down at his beer bottle as he plays with the label. “So. How old are you? Please tell me you’re over eighteen because if not, I’m going back to my apartment and pout that the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen isn’t even old enough to vote yet.”
“I’m old enough to vote.” I steady him with a look and roll over the lie that I’m almost twenty-one in my head before deciding just to tell him the truth. “I’m nineteen.”
He bobs his head up and down for a moment, his eyes wandering around the club, then looks at me again.
“I’m twenty-three. I’m a rookie playing my first major league season with the Wranglers. I graduated from Oregon State last year and headed to farm league before getting pulled up. I don’t smoke or do drugs. Never been married and never been in trouble with the law. You’re the most jaw dropping woman I’ve ever laid eyes on and I’d love to get to know you. Most importantly, do you have a boyfriend?”
He rattles off his personal stats like they’re his baseball stats and it makes me giggle. My eyes search for Bishop and see him talking with a player, laughing and not giving two shits about me.
“I do not have a boyfriend,” I tell him, and he beams. “I’m from Slidell, Louisiana. I’m a freshman at Rice. I don’t smoke or do drugs –yay for us. I’m addicted to reading romance novels and unlike my uncle, I am horrible at pitching. I’m more of a second baseman.”
We keep exchanging facts and smiles as we continue to talk, and he quickly helps me forget all about Bishop. Well…maybe notallabout him, but enough that I genuinely have a good time with Cole.
“So do you think your uncle would kill me if I asked you to dance?” He slowly begins to stand, his tall body unfolding from his chair.
I look over where Uncle Nix hangs over Viv as they do something that looks like dancing, but it’s pretty wobbly and they look more than a little toasted.
“Well seeing as he isn’t my dad and doesn’t speak for me, I would say that I’d love to dance.” I hold out my hand to him and he takes it, gently pulling me from my seat and escorting me onto the dance floor.
He’s so handsome and nice and sweet, and I could definitely use someone like him to help me get over Bishop. I just don’t know if I could use a guy like that and not feel bad about it.
A club mix ofMusic Sounds Better With You and Fake IDbooms from the speakers and my body rolls and sways. Cole places a hand on my waist and pulls me closer. Not too much to be deemed inappropriate, but close enough that I can feel the heat coming from his body. I slide my fingers along his arm and feel goosebumps spread across his skin.
He leans down and whispers, “I really like you and I don’t want to seem forward, but I would love to go somewhere without all the onlookers.”
He pulls back and I blink, debating on what to do. Honestly, I don’t want to be here any longer under the watchful eye of my uncle and all his friends. I need to get away from Bishop and any thought of him.
I take another look at Uncle Nix and Viv who are lost in their own world, then search for the others who are doing much the same. My eyes begin to wander the room for Bishop, but I stop myself and force my eyes back to Cole.
“Let’s get out of here,” I tell him and take his hand, pulling him off the dance floor and away from the crowd.
When we make it to the elevator banks then I grab his shirt and tug him to me just as my back hits the wall. I pull his face down to meet mine and raise up on my toes, locking my lips to his. It only takes him a moment to unfreeze and quickly wrap me in his arms.
My feet are lifted off the floor and I’m pressed to the wall. My legs climb his body until they circle his waist and my feet lock as I rub up against his tight stomach like a cat scratching a post. The dampness between my legs grows as does the ache.
“Is your apartment close?” I mumble, our lips still locked tight.
He nods, “Yeah, but I didn’t mean that when I asked if you wanted to leave.”
“I did.” I release his kiss and look him straight in the eyes. “Let’s go to your place. My car is in the parking garage.”
“You sure?” He pushes my wild curls from my face and I nod, sliding my hands across his chest. “Okay,” he chokes out.
The bell dings and the elevator doors open. We hurry in and just as the doors are about to close, a hand slams between them, stopping them from shutting and pushing them wide open.
I step further back into the lift and take Cole’s hand in mine, pulling him to me. My heart lodges in my throat when Bishop steps in. His eyes are full of fire and he doesn’t even pass Cole a glance.
“Holy shit. Bishop Michaels,” Cole says, stunned.
That snaps Bishop out of his trance and he looks up at him.
“He’s my uncle's best friend,” I tell Cole. “Can’t you wait for the next lift? We’re in a hurry.”
