Page 10 of Bound By Words

“How am I supposed to know?”

“It’s a wonder you ever get laid with your attitude,” she teased as she rolled her eyes at me.

“It’s a wonder you can walk with how much you’ve run your mouth this weekend. Emory’s hand is bound to get cramped with all the spankings you’re earning yourself.”

“He likes me feisty,” she giggled and sobered up as Emory rejoined us.

“What are you two staring at?” he asked as he pulled Talia into his side with an arm around her waist.

“Nathan has the hots for Evan’s sister.”

“I do not.”

Emory raised an eyebrow at me. I hated that he didn’t even need to speak to compel people to tell him things; his face conveyed everything.

“Fine. I think she’s attractive.”

“Yes, because I stare obsessively at people I find attractive all day,” Talia sighed.

“Tal, I know you’ve got a free pass, but give the poor guy a break. He’s clearly enamored with her,” Emory chuckled as he placed a kiss on Talia’s temple. Once upon a time, he’d been my wingman, not his sassy partner’s.

“Fuck the both of you,” I grumbled, tipping my glass, and draining the contents before signaling to the bartender for a refill.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time if you’re not going to follow through,” Talia giggled, then gasped. I knew enough about their amorous behavior not to look back at them, but I had a feeling Emory’s hand would be sore tomorrow. They may not have been playing this weekend, but I knew they had difficulty keeping it clean in public. It’d be disgusting if I weren’t envious of their connection.

“I think he’s got his sights set on something besides watching us tonight,” Emory murmured as Talia leaned back into his embrace. He was right. I had my sights set on something—someone else, and the more scotch I sipped, the better talking to Kelly about the lingerie I knew she had on under that sexy dress sounded.

“He’s not even listening to us anymore,” Talia giggled.

“He needs to stop worrying about what other people think of him.” Emory was right. Evan’s friendship was important to me, but there was something about his alluring sister I couldn’t resist. Talking to her wouldn’t hurt. It was all the other thoughts that were running through my mind regarding her that might make things complicated.

“This hesitance isn’t because of Marisa, is it?” Talia asked with a hand on my arm.

“No. This is me.”

While Marisa had made me a little gun-shy of dating after things had fallen apart, that wasn’t what had been keeping me from pursuing a new relationship. I hesitated to disclose what I knew was a deal-breaker with some women early in the relationship. It was also the steps I’d already taken to ensure it wouldn’t be an issue, at least not on my end.

People assumed since I was the youngest of three—technically younger, middle child of four—that I’d be quick to jump on the family-making train, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’d already made things awkward with Marisa, and once that dynamic was over, I dreaded going through the vetting process with another potential partner.

I just wanted to enjoy being with a woman again. Learning what made her tick, laughing, talking about inconsequential things. Making her come…listening to the sounds she made…fucking her until she was wild underneath me.

Okay, maybe I needed to get laid.

“We’re going to dance,” Talia announced, and I came out of my haze, scanning the dance floor for the object of my temporary obsession.

“We are?” Emory looked at her with skeptical indifference, but I knew he’d indulge her.

“We are,” she nodded, grasping his hand and tugging him away from the bar. He pulled back on her hand, and she smiled, flawlessly spinning into his chest with a giggle, and I knew I was being left to my own devices for the rest of the night.

The music changed to a slow ballad, and I downed the rest of my drink before dropping a few bills into the tip jar and walking to the dance floor’s edge. The older man from before was dancing with someone else now, and I didn’t see Kelly’s dark, shiny, upswept hair in the sea of guests. Evan was entirely wrapped up in Chase, whispering things in her ear, and I knew now was my chance to find Kelly while everyone else was distracted.

If nothing else, I wanted to tell her she didn’t need to be embarrassed about our run-in this morning in the hallway. While I hadn’t expected to get quite the eyeful I did with her little robe incident, she had absolutely nothing to be self-conscious about. She was all curves, soft skin, dark brown doe eyes, and silky, long, dark hair. I’d always had a thing for women with long hair, and I was dying to pull all those pins out of her hair and wrap that braid around my fist.

I could already imagine the noises she’d make while I held her in place.

As the music shifted into another slow song, I made my way back to the lobby, scanning the small groups of people dotted around the seating areas, coming up short once again. She’d disappeared while I was distracted, but I wasn’t letting her escape deter me that easily. She had to be around here somewhere.

The elevators were empty as I quickly hopped on, riding up to our floor, listening for signs of life coming from the room down the hall. I knocked a few times, hoping she was changing her shoes, but there was no response.

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