Page 56 of Just Between Us

“Yeah.” She nodded. “He was also saying ... what was it?” Her arms crossed, pushing her tits higher as her cheeks flared. “Right ... that I would be prettier if I smiled more.”

My eyes whipped to Dan, who shrank like a violet withering in the summer sun.

I mirrored her stance by crossing my own arms. “Oh. Is that right?”

One black eyebrow tipped up. “That’s what I heard.”

Dan stammered and struggled to form a response. His hand reached out to touch Veda’s elbow, but she shifted out from under his touch. “Come on, you know I only meant?—”

I held up a hand to cut off his blubbering. “Dan, do you need both arms to play guitar?”

“What?” He shook his head, confused. “Of course, man.”

“Good.” I nodded. “You should remember that, because if you touch what’s mine again, I’ll rip your arm off and beat you to death with it.”

I held my hand out for Veda. “Let’s go, Precious.”

Her laugh was infectious as her hand slipped into mine. I was high on adrenaline andheras I pulled her onto the dance floor and into my arms.

The song playing was a popular eighties ballad, and I swayed with Veda in my embrace. “I’m sorry if I ruined your opportunity to meet the rest of the band.”

She shook her head. Colored lights from the stage danced across her features, and I was utterly captivated. “It’s fine. He was kind of a dick.” Her eyes fell to the dance floor before she looked up at me. “He’s right, though ... maybe I should walk around like this all the time.” She set her eyes wide and smiled in a frighteningly happy grimace that showed nearly all her teeth.

A shotgun burst of laughter erupted from me, and I shook my head. One hand slipped up to catch her chin and hold herattention on me. “I will stand beside every version of you. You can frown all you want to.”

Her eyes went soft, and she leaned into me, melting into my embrace.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the woman from earlier showing her phone to some friends. She nodded, pointing toward me and then back to her phone. My stomach churned, and I wanted to run somewhere I could exist with Veda without rules.

The song ended as the band climbed back onto the stage. “Do you want to stay for the second set?”

She rolled her eyes. “Definitely no.”

I held out my hand. “Then come on, Black Cat. Let’s go have some fun.”

FIFTEEN

VEDA

I knew envious,dagger-filled stares when I saw them. Royal’s presence commanded every room he entered, and the quirky dive bar he’d taken me to was no different. All night women had been soaking up his tattooed, bad-boy appearance. It didn’t bother me—he was hot as fuck. I couldn’t seem to get enough of his strong arms or the way his jeans stretched across his muscular thighs.

I had found it surprising that his gaze didn’t wander far from me. Despite the attention he drew, he focused on me while we laughed and danced along with the jukebox. The car ride back to Outtatowner was no different. I rolled my window down and turned the radio way up. Royal flew down the highway as my arms spread wide, and I belted out every song I knew. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his deep, sensual chuckle filled the cab of his truck as I sang my heart out.

On that long, dark highway, I felt a sense of freedom I had never experienced. It felt too big to hold on to, and yet I found myself gripping it with both hands.

When the truck eased into town, he looked over and cocked an eyebrow. “My place?”

I bit back the grin that threatened to ruin what was left of my naturally cool, aloof demeanor. “Okay, sure.”

Royal shook his head and chuckled like he’d known all along we would end up at his place. When we reached his driveway, the air in the truck went thick with anticipation. Sure, our date had been playful and freeing, but I knew what lay beyond his front door.

Inside that house, I washis.

He parked, rounded the hood of the truck, and pulled open the passenger door. When he held out his hand, I slipped mine into it as he helped me down. The closer we got to his front door, the faster my heart beat. Still holding my hand, Royal dug his keys from his pocket.

A nervous laugh escaped me.

His hand tugged me closer as he moved in and nipped the thin skin just beneath my ear. “Don’t be nervous.”

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