Page 85 of Forever Always

“Is Liam here?” Riley screamed over the DJ playing. I guessed the band wasn’t starting till later.

“Liam!” the woman screamed over her shoulder. “These two cuties are looking for you.”

I snorted. Cuties? No one had called me cute since I was five.

An adorable looking twink with bright purple hair and neon-green bootie shorts bounced up to the bar. It wasn’t what I would pick to wear, but it worked on him.

“Riley! You made it!” He leaned over the bar to hug Ri and air kiss his cheeks. Maybe my nails dug into my butterfly’s palm a little harder than I’d meant and my jaw hurt from clenching it, but I managed not to deck the guy so I took it as a win.

“Thanks for the tickets. This is my man, Beckett.”

My man. I liked that. It sounded so much better than boyfriend. Liam’s eyes sparkled as he eyed me up and down, making Riley stiffen up this time.

“I need to find me a man like that. You look like you could really toss me around, if you know what I mean.” I shifted, uncomfortable.

Riley reached over the bar, cupped Liam’s cheeks in his hand, and physically moved his head so he couldn’t look at me anymore. “Stop. He ain’t tossin’ anyone but me around.”

Liam grinned. “No worries, honey. I was just saying. Let me get you hooked up and I’ll take you upstairs.” He bent down and dug under the bar before grabbing two hot-pink wristbands.

“Drinks are on the house if you’ve got these on. There’s a bar upstairs, but it doesn’t open till right before the band starts, so let me get you one now. What’ll it be?”

Okay, maybe he wasn’t so bad. Riley ordered a whiskey sour for me and a vodka Sprite for himself. Once the drinks were made, Liam led us through the crowded club, up rickety steps, and into what they called the VIP area.

It was basically just a wide-open space. There weren’t any seats or anything fancy about it, except there were only a quarter of the people up here that were downstairs, and there was a private bar. Fuck, I could get used to this.

Riley looked around. “Thanks, Liam. This is so fuckin’ nice. I really appreciate it.”

Liam shrugged. “Tickets would’ve gone to waste otherwise. Alright. I gotta get back to work, but holler if you need me.” He looked toward me. “Nice meeting you, Beckett.”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, thanks.”

Hips swaying, Liam left us alone.

As soon as he disappeared down the stairs, I whirled on Riley, and pushed him against the wall. He laughed but still tilted his head, so I had full access to his neck, and I buried my face into his nape. He cried out, his fingers clawing into my bicep when I began to suck.

“Fuck, Becks. What’re you doin’?”

“Markin’ my territory.”

He snorted and pushed at my shoulders until I reluctantly pulled off. “My turn.” Riley’s teeth latched into that sensitive spot between my neck and shoulder.

“Fuckin’ Christ, butterfly. What’re you, a vampire?”

He licked along the spot before finally letting go with a grin.

“Nobody else better be thinkin’ about you, in the bedroom or anywhere else. Mine.”

I palmed his ass cheeks and squeezed. I loved this side of Riley. He might’ve been a little thing, but he was fierce and it fuckin’ did something to me when he claimed me like that.

“Yours,” I promised him.

He looked up at me, suddenly a little more vulnerable than he was just minutes ago.

“Forever?”

I kissed his nose.

“Always, butterfly.”

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