Page 11 of Room One Hundred & Twenty-One: Kiss of Fire

“Well? Now what?” I ask, my ass on the edge of my seat as I consider our options. Noah still hasn’t spoken while his attention remains locked on Selena.

Then, a tall man with dark hair and full-sleeve tattoos moves in next to her and we’re all on high alert. He’s well dressed, wearing matching black dress slacks with his shirt cuffs rolled up. Leaning on one elbow, he extends his right hand to her. She smiles at him and I clench my jaw, almost cracking my teeth.

He’s not what you need, baby. You belong with us.

The stranger signals for a drink and chats with her while he waits. She’s being polite, yet her body looks tense. I can’t tell if it’s because of the man she’s talking to, or the fact that Noah, Chance, and I are watching her every move like hawks. If she wants us to disappear, it’s not happening.

He pulls out her chair and helps her into her seat as the hem of her dress rises higher up her thighs. I can practically see her pussy from here, and I’m not the only one staring at her smooth, bare legs. His palm rests on her knee as his thumb caresses her soft skin, and I want her to slap his hand away, but she does nosuch thing. Instead, she leans forward, allowing him to invade more of her personal space, and a faint growl escapes me as I watch him touch what’s ours. We need to move now, or I’m going to lose my mind.

“Fuck this,” Noah exclaims, beating me to it as he stalks toward her.

He stops short of the couple and blocks our view of the tattooed stranger, crossing his muscular arms over his chest as he speaks. We can still see Selena, but we can’t hear what she’s saying. Not that we need to, because her pinched expression and clenched fists tell us everything we need to know. Anger radiates from her body while Noah whispers something in the man’s ear. The guy glares with a scoff before walking away.

Thank fuck.

Selena’s scowl is venomous, which only makes her look hotter when Noah grabs her wrist and drags her to our table. She struggles against his hold but it’s no use. He finally releases her as the three of us surround her.

Sheep amidst the wolves. That’s what she is.

“Explain,” Noah demands, standing at his full height.

Selena doesn’t back down from his scrutinizing gaze and straightens her spine as she holds his stare. “I don’t have to explain anything to you,” she seethes.

Curious eyes watch us from the sidelines, probably wondering if they should intervene. But no one dares to move when Noah’s glare cuts to them, and they scamper along to leave us to our business.

“Try again.” His tone is low and gritty and barely more than a growl.

Ever the peacemaker, Chance steps in to diffuse the situation. “Why are you here, Selena?”

“Sex. Same as you.” If the little minx wants to be a brat, then we can show her how good we are at taming them.

“So the guy who dropped you off the other day isn’t satisfying you? Or do you have other boyfriends we don’t know about? Is that why you’re here, dressed like this? Your pussy needs attention?”

Noah’s head jerks to the side when she stamps her handprint across his face. Club security starts to move in our direction, but Selena shakes them off, knowing we’re not a threat to her. My best friend rubs his stinging cheek as he gives our assistant a predatory smirk.

“Fuck you,Noah.” She calls him by his first name, something she’s never done before, while her body trembles with rage. “What I do outside of work doesn’t concern you.” She levels her gaze at all three of us. “Any of you. So leave me alone.”

Then she steps forward, preparing to storm off, until Chance gently places his hands on her bare upper arms. “He didn’t mean it like that, honey. We’re just worried.” His voice is soothing and steady as he rubs his palms over her skin, and she marginally relaxes as he placates her.

I bring her attention to me, needing to see her eyes when she answers. “Why’d you join the club, Selena? What are you looking for?”

She sighs, the fight seeping from her body. “I’m looking for the same thing as everyone else.” She’s frustrated, but I gesture for her to continue. “My friend, Lexi, is a member of the Chicago location and she helped me get my membership. She suggested I check out the club to maybe find…” Selena hesitates as she searches for her words.

“Find what?” Chance asks.

“Honestly, I don’t know.” She releases a loud gust of air. “She’s ridiculously happy, living with her boyfriends, and I guess she thought I could find that kind of happiness too. But trying to date in Seattle has been a joke, and I haven’t found one decent guy since I moved here.”

Did she say boyfriends? Multiple boyfriends? Well, that’s interesting.

“So you’re not seeing anyone,” I press.

“Not that it’s any of your business. But, no, I’m not. My last attempt was a failed coffee date with the unfortunate ending you two witnessed.” She points to me and Chance. “So here I am, checking out the club to see if this is any better.” She crosses her arms, clearly annoyed with this conversation.

“You’ve checked it out. You can go home now.” Noah motions toward the main entrance with a hiked thumb, and Selena looks as if she’s ready to slap him again.

“Excuse me?” she snaps.

“You heard me, Selena. Go home. This isn’t the kind of place for you.”

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