Page 19 of Rocked By the Alpha
“You both looked like you wanted to kill someone,” Layla teases.
“Trust me,” Ash says darkly, “I’m going to fucking kill Kim tomorrow.”
“You’re being dramatic. It wasn’t that bad.”
“Not that bad?” Ash says, staring at his Omega with disbelief. “Natasha Wang gave me the finger. No one gives me the finger.”
“Most entertaining part of the show.” Layla grins.
“Did you know about this?”
Layla raises her palm. “No, seriously, I had no idea. How would I?”
“I bet it was the organisers. They were probably hoping she would punch me or something.”
“I thought she was going to when she came marching towards us. I wonder if those girls planned it with the organisers themselves.”
West glances toward Ruby. The boyfriend is still missing, but she’s talking animatedly to the man who was sitting next to her in the audience. He glances quickly away, back to his friends, and takes a sip of his champagne.
It’s probably best if he changes the subject. The last thing he needs is this stupid feud escalating even further. Not if he hopes to secure his hands on Ruby — once he’s got her to see sense and ditch the pretty boy, anyway.
“How are you enjoying your first awards, Layla?”
“It’s a little overwhelming to be honest. All these superstars everywhere. My jaw aches because it keeps dropping to the floor.” She brushes a lock of hair from her face. “I’m not sure I fit in here.”
“You look fucking amazing, Layla,” Ash says, tugging her closer and nuzzling her neck.
“OK guys, save it for the hotel room.”
Ash winks at him. “We will.”
West shakes his head. He can’t help feeling happy for his friend, even if the insane blissfulness the both of them radiates is a little nauseating at times.
Layla nudges Ash with her elbow, then says to West, “We were going to head up to the suite now actually with Hunter and Trey and some of the others. Have an after party up there. I think it’s wise we get Hunter out of here. He’s stewing and we don’t want this whole thing to blow up. You want to come?”
“Yeah, I’ll come in a bit. Think I’ll stay here for a bit longer.”
Ash gives him a knowing look which he ignores. “I’ll see you later.”
West drains his glass and heads to the bar even though there are plenty of waiting staff circulating with trays full of champagne glasses. From here, Ruby stands only a few metres away. He can smell her scent faintly above many others circulating in the ballroom. It’s definitely stronger than it was. Or is he better at picking it out? It’s sort of like Catnip to him. He can’t get enough of it. He’d like to bottle the goddamn thing.
The drummer from a band they toured with several years back comes to talk to him for a bit and when he leaves West spins around, his back against the bar and gazes across the ballroom, hoping he’s not being too damn obvious when his eyes land back on Ruby. She’s moved closer to him, talking to another group of people, her back still facing him, but he’s sure he sees her bristle slightly under the weight of his stare as if she can feel it.
The black silk dress is cut away at the back too, only thin spaghetti straps zagging across her skin and the outline of her tattoos tracing down her spine.
He’s always loved a woman’s back, the glide of smooth skin, the way it arches when she comes, the dip at the base before the rise to the ass.
He steps a little to his left. People jostle past him, some saying hey or slapping him on the arm. The crowd clears, and she’s closer now too, just a couple of paces away. The bare skin of her back shines under the ballroom and her scent fills his nose. She turns her head slightly. He places his drink on the bar top and spins around, coming even closer. He can see the goosebumps trailing down her arms from here.
More people push passed. He laughs as an old rocker makes a crude comment in his ear.
And then he’s there right next to her, her body almost touching his arm.
She twists towards him, taking a sip of her wine, but not raising her eyes to his.
“Where’s the boyfriend?” he asks.
“I don’t know. I imagine he’s at home banging his boyfriend’s brains out.”
