Page 7 of Wrecked Rose

“Can I join you?” His eyes flick from hers up to mine.

Does he meanCan I joinbothof you?No. Maybe? Am I about to get to dance with him? Total drunken overthinking going on here.

It’s probably a good thing Daph has quite a lot of alcohol flowing through her system because his question doesn’t seem to faze her. She smiles at him and, raising her voice to be heard over the music, says, “Sure. Micah won’t care. He knows I’m his.”

Griff laughs. “I think everyone knows that by now.” He eyes me as he steps closer and begins to move with us. “Is this okay?”

We’re about the same height—Griff’s maybe an inch or so taller—allowing silent communication to pass between us right over Daphne’s head. I pull my arm away from her stomach and rest it on her hip. His hands fit over mine, and he shifts forward, sandwiching her between us. He moves like a fucking dream. I guess I should have figured he’d dance as well as his brother does.

Shifting my attention to Daph, I can tell she’s having the time of her life, arms up in the air, letting her entire body feel the beat. It’s good to see her letting loose. She gives a slow hip roll as she really gets into it.

In response, Griff grins. I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he remembering when she sneak-attack kissed him at the dance to prove a point to Micah? Remembering her lips on his? Remembering the way her body felt against his as he eagerly accepted her advances? Remembering how he’d touched her?

Fuck.Not something I want to think about. It’s not something that will ever happen again. He knows he has no chance with her because one, Micah specifically told him he and Daph were together. Two, she’s so obviously in love with Micah, it’s not funny.

The burning stare of Griff’s blue eyes grabs my attention and rattles me. I work a hard swallow. Does he even realize he’s doing that or does he bestow that same smoldering look on everyone? Whatever the answer, it’s making my dick stir, and I definitely don’t need that happening while I’m holding Daphne. That’d be awkward.

Unable to hold his gaze, mine wanders over his face. I love that cut jaw with a little bit of blond stubble and would very much like to know what it feels like against my skin. I wet my lower lip before clamping down on it.Ah, fuck.It’d be a little scratchy against my chest as he rained kisses down over me. At the thought, I all but lose it.

I’m saved from my lusty thoughts when over Griff’s shoulder, I spot Micah’s huge form coming our way.Thank God.I squeeze Daph’s hips and whisper in her ear, “Looks like lover boy is on his way over here to rescue you.”

“Micah!” Daphne slips from between us and runs straight into his waiting arms. He lifts her up, spins around, and promptly backs her to the wall, covering her mouth with his. He kisses her like she’s air and he needs her to live. I watch for another few seconds.Hot damn.That’s an act of animalistic claiming right there. I’d say it could have something to do with seeing his girl with two other guys, but it could just as easily be because he’s possessive as fuck with her. He’s never been that way with any other girl, which I like a lot. Daphne needed someone who would be protective but also bring her out of her shell a little bit. Micah was a surprising, yet undeniably excellent choice for her.

I suddenly have a movie reel running in my head of Griff grabbing me and throwing me up against a wall like that. Pinning me there with his strong body. Kissing the fuck out of me with his firm lips and wicked tongue.

I groan at the thought and have to shove the idea aside as real-life Griff closes the distance between us. For a confusing moment, I think he’s going to ask me to keep dancing. And boy, would I love that… His hands on my hips, the heat of his body close to mine. I’d slide my hands up his hard chest and loop them behind his neck, play with the fine hair at the back of his neck, and revel in the closeness as we lose ourselves in a song.

And here I go again, raging hormones taking over.

This. Is. Torture.

I’m slightly disappointed to be pulled from that little fantasy when he touches my bicep and nods toward the kitchen. “Another drink?”

“Sure. I’m down with that. The girls had me doing shots with them earlier.”

“That’s fucking hysterical.” He shakes his head, laughing as we leave the dance floor. “Can I ask you a question? Do you like hanging out with them like you do?”

“I do. Women are great. And they’re way easier for me to hang with.” I shrug with a smile. “I also like guys but I don’t like them thinking that just because I’m gay, I want to test drive every dick I encounter.”

“Noted.” Griff gives me a tiny smirk and leads the way to the kitchen.

All the alcohol I’ve drank has kicked in. I can’t believe I’m about to have more. It’s … quarter after eleven. There’s no way in hell that I’ll be sober enough to leave after the ball drops.

Chapter 4

Max

At five minutes to midnight, everyone at the party gathers outside to ring in the new year—me, my friends, and a whole shit ton of our classmates. Most of them are ridiculously drunk. I hope someone has the foresight to arrange rides home. Maybe there’s a DD. I didn’t even think to ask. I hadn’t planned on getting fucked up because I hardly ever do, but here I am. And I’m actually having a good time.

Daphne presses a plastic flute of champagne into my hands, then leans heavily on Micah. I snort a little because it seems kinda dumb for kids with this much money to drink out of plastic glasses and red Solo cups but we’ve been more careful since the incident where a couple of assholes decided to throw actual glasses down on the patio in their drunken excitement over a water volleyball game.

My eyes connect with Micah’s. He’s leveling a mostly sober stare at me. “You staying here tonight, man?”

I nod. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Good.” He nods and squeezes Daph to his side, giving her a brief kiss to the temple. “She was worried you’d try to go home. Now she won’t worry.”

I shrug and glance at Griff, who has accepted a drink from his brother. “Nah. It’s all good. I’ll stay. I’m not one of those idiots who thinks they’re invincible.”

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