Page 15 of Power Play

I can’t help the moment of sadness that comes from remembering the good times with my brother. I miss them, and I just wish he was more like that now. I wish he didn’t feel the burden of my dad leaving, but I guess you can’t change the past.

Scrunching my face up, I push down the feelings and get back to looking around the bar. There’s a guy by the bar who is covered in oil and grease and has dirty hands. Making me believe he’s probably a mechanic or works on some type of equipment. There’s another lady who brought her briefcase with her and is dressed in a pantsuit, probably a lawyer or a businesswoman. Although if Max were here, he’d say she’s an undercover prostitute and her briefcase is filled with various levels of weird ass sex toys—but that’s Max for ya.

I’m so lost in people-watching that I don’t notice the guy heading in my direction until he’s standing right in front of me. He’s got a flirtatious, sexy smile that I have no doubt gets all the girls’ panties wet, but not mine. I can’t place him, but I feel like I know him from somewhere.

“Hey,” he starts, but immediately pauses when a look of recognition crosses his face. “Wait, don’t I know you from somewhere?”

“I’m not sure. What’s your name?” I ask, trying to figure out where I’ve seen him before. He looks too old for it to be from campus, but I can’t quite tell.

“Harris.”

“Sounds familiar, but I’m still not sure. I’m Sawyer,” I say, reaching my hand out to shake his as a couple more guys head our way with drinks in hand.

“Harris, what are you doing over here bothering the lady. Let her play pool in peace,” a happy voice comes from behind us. Why does that sound familiar too?

I turn around and it’s Trevor from the other night at Atlantis. Looking back at Harris, I realize that’s why I recognize him. He must realize it out too because he’s smiling so big it probably hurts. He’s also looking at me like he knows something I don’t, and it’s terrifying.

Turning back, I smile at him. “Hey, it’s Trevor, right?” I ask as he leans in to give me a side hug.

“Yeah, good memory. How are you?”

“I’m good. We were actually just trying to figure out how we recognized each other, but you just helped us solve that mystery.” I laugh before turning back to Harris. “And by the look on your face, you remember too?”

“Oh, I remember,” he says with a wink and a mischievous grin.

Harris, Miles, and Trevor are all here, but I don’t see Rex or their other friend who I can’t remember the name of.

“So, Sawyer, up for a round of pool? Or are you waiting on someone?” Harris asks, looking around the bar.

“I’m in, I was just waiting for my friend Gwen, but she’s still over by the jukebox, and I don’t see her leaving anytime soon. Go easy on me though, I’m a sore loser.” I laugh, it’s unfortunately true. “Is it just you and I, or are we going to play teams?”

As I finish asking my question, I glance at Trevor, who’s looking over my shoulder intently.

“Teams. Harris, get your own partner,” a gruff voice from behind me says. I would recognize that intense, raspy voice anywhere. It’s been the voice whispering dirty words in my dreams nearly every night since I first heard it at Atlantis.

Rex.

I spin towards him, surprising myself with just how quickly I move, almost knocking the drink out of Trevor’s hand, but he just laughs. It’s nearly impossible not to smile at seeing him again, especially when he looks this fucking hot. He may still have on his grumpy face, looking like he hates the world, but hot damn, the man rocks a pair of jeans so fucking well.

It’s not often that you see a man look this hot in a pair of Vans, dark jeans, and a black t-shirt that fits like a glove. He looks damn good tonight with his muscles on display making me question if he ever leaves the gym.

Fuck. This is Rex.

The same man I gave a lap dance to a few weeks ago.

Now he’s here, in front of me, showing off all his delicious muscles that were hidden underneath his jacket the last time I saw him.

Fuck me.

I bet Rex is the kind of man who could lift you up, slam you against the wall, and have his way with you. He’s probably the kind of guy who takes control. The kind of guy that does more showing than telling, and I fucking love the image that makes in my head. It’s so fucking hot imagining him manhandling me. Tossing me around with ease.

I must have been staring at Rex without saying anything for a while, because I hear chuckling behind me. Obviously, Trevor finds this amusing.

“Hi,” is all I manage to muster out to Rex as he stands next to me holding a cue.

“Hello, Sawyer,” Rex says. “Are you breaking, or am I?”

Harris and Trevor are setting up the table, while Rex and I are off to the side talking.

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