Page 54 of Forgive You

Shit, do I really mean that?

“He can call me Jules.” Her lashes flutter, dropping my heart all the way to the devil’s den, and I take another big gulp. “And yes, you're a very pretty boy.”

That little…

I don’t miss how the mischief in her gaze is illuminated by the flashy lights when she locks them with mine, a satisfied smirk ghosting her lips.

I press my lips together, breathing in through my nose to keep my jaw as slack as possible.

I see what she’s doing.

Focusing on her, I dare her to keep pushing me. She carefully brings her glass to her lips, sipping the liquid while her eyes never leave mine. They widen with something burning, wild, anda level of lust that reminds me of that night she was standing in my hotel room like a dream.

The light of the moon shining on her silky hair, part of her naked body cascaded by the shadows of the night. She was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

It’s forever etched in my brain like a tattoo, and as she swallows slowly, I know she remembers it too. Her lips part, her shallow breaths barely visible in the dim light of the club.

But I see it.

Feel it.

“I’m going dancing!” She jumps up, not waiting for a reply, then darts to the dance floor as if her sexy pants are on fire.

“Did you hear that?” Ford smirks. “She thinks I’m pretty.”

Jordan stifles a laugh, finishing the last of his beer, and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “She also called you aboy.”

“So?”

“Julie dates older. Not younger.” I tear my attention away from Julie’s curves holding me captive like a siren.

“Is that a rule?” Ford pulls a face, finding Julie dancing her heart out.

Her hair bounces around her face, her hips doing all kinds of shit I’d love to see naked.

“Not set in stone, but definitely unwritten. Why’d you think she dated Jacob?” Jordan explains.

“You’re the same age as she is.” Ford throws his hand in my direction, and I shrug.

“Couple months older. Besides, we never dated.”

Saying it out loud feels weird, but so does labeling it any other way. We have all this history, a decade of feelings, yet we were never reallyanything.

My eyes are drawn back to her as I snapshot this sight of her in my brain. How her eyes are hooded as if she’s becoming one with the rhythm. How her skin glistens underneath the pulsinglights. How the people around her fade, like she’s just a figment of a dream.

“Yeah, well…” Ford’s voice turns me to face him.

“Well, what?” I frown, glancing at Jordan in question.

He shuts his eyes and shakes his head, then meets Ford’s laid-back smirk. “Oh, damn. Someone’s looking for trouble.”

Ford slowly gets up, leveling me with a challenging expression. “I think she’ll break that rule for me. I’m going dancing.”

I have never wondered what it feels like to have someone's neck in your palms and to just squeeze. I bet it would feel glorious.

“Unless…you have something you need to get off your chest? Maybe a little confession to make? A claim to stake? No?” Eyebrows up and a questioning look, he waits for an answer that will never come.

Jordan’s shoulders shake beside me, his grin hidden behind his hand while Ford chuckles.

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