Page 23 of Inevitable

The guy had mahogany hair that curled slightly around his face and his jaw was strong and angular, giving him a GQ vibe that I was very much digging at the moment. What captivated me were his penetrating blue eyes that were bright aquamarine, almost the color of sea glass. A familiarity tugged at my memory, but I couldn't for the life of me think of why. I know I'd remember seeing him if we met before. If Bash was my number one dream type, this guy would pull in second place. He looked me over with a cocky, but kind smile and when his eyes made their way back to mine, his eyebrow peaked up in interest.

“Well, I'd happily risk claustrophobia if it meant I'd get closer to a pretty thing like you,” he crooned smoothly. Okay, the line was cheesy as fuck, but I was here for it.

I smirked at him and tilted my head to the side, giving off the best flirty eyes I could manage considering I hadn't flirted with anyone in anembarrassingly long time. “And why would you want to get closer to me?” I quipped. His smile grew even more and his enticing blue eyes sparkled.

“So no one else could have you,” he flirted. “I don't know your name yet, but I bet it's as beautiful as you are.”

I couldn't help it, I laughed at the cheesiness of it all, but he didn't seem offended in the slightest. “I'm sorry, do you look this shit up or does it just come natural to you?” I asked, a smile stuck to my face. Blue Eyes laughed in return, shaking his head, his eyes never leaving mine. “I'd like to take credit for that last one, but I saw it in a movie recently. Always wanted to try it out. How did I do?” his eyes narrowed playfully at me.

I made a show of tilting my head back and forth like I was weighing my answer. “Eh, I'd give it solid 7.5, points off for the cheese, but good style.” My answer made his smile grow even more, and he motioned for the bartender.

“Well then, to make up for my shameful attempt at a pickup line, let me get you a drink. I'm Christopher by the way, but I go by Kit,” he said, sticking out his hand to me. I placed mine in his and instantly noticed how different it felt from Bash's hand. Whereas Bash's was warm and hard with some calluses from childhood sports that felt delicious against my skin, Kit's was somewhat cold and smooth, like he'd never worked a day in his life. It wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't Bash.Oh for sweet titty's sake, I can't even have another guy flirt with me without Bash popping into my head. I am downright pitiful.

Kit gave no indication that he was aware that I had disappeared from the conversation for a minute, and simply waited for me to answer him. “I'm Micah. It's nice to meet you. And thanks for the drink, but you really don't have to do that,” I told him.

“Nah, I insist. You look like either a Manhattan kind of guy, or your guilty pleasure is a Cosmo,” he guessed.

I chuckled and gave him an apologetic look. “Sorry, but no dice. I'm a Vodka Tonic purist. Gin on the bad days.”

“Sooo, is this a good day or a bad day then?” he inquired in a flirtatious manner. I could either go with the flow of it, or turn it down and return to Rhys and Bash. At the thought of Bash, I realized that I was presented with a golden opportunity to start breaking down the romantic feelings I had for him, one brick a time and Kit was my sexy metaphorical sledgehammer.

“Well, seeing as you're here, I'd say it's shaping up to be a very good day,” I flirted back. Kit's answering smile was blinding and I tried to get lost in it, but my mind refused to do anything but compare him toBash. I knew it wouldn't happen overnight, but one day I would be able to lose myself in someone else without my best friend overwhelming my thoughts. I hoped Kit would be a good candidate, and I took my attraction to him as a good sign.

We talked for a few minutes, chatting and flirting, and he finally asked for my number and asked me out for coffee sometime. At that moment, my eyes were inexplicably drawn to my left and I felt someone's stare on me.

My gaze met Bash's across the crowd and all I could see in his eyes were anger and bitterness. It stopped me in my tracks and twisted my gut into knots. I swallowed hard, fighting the familiar urge to go to him and soothe his apparent distress. I wasn't given much choice though when he turned and stalked away, disappearing out the front gate that led out to the street. A bone-deep ache shot through me, and it felt like a chunk of me went with him, tied to his presence and unable to be parted from him. Despite that, I rooted myself to the spot and forced my attention back to Kit, his perfect eyebrows raised in anticipation of my answer.

“Coffee would be perfect,” I told him as I wrote my number on a napkin and handed it to him.

*****

Bastian

During the Uber ride to the club, images swamped my brain of all the ways tonight could go terribly wrong. I envisioned Micah kissing some guy on the dance floor, an image of another man pulling him over to a dark corner with him, and yet another vision of Micah blowing a faceless dude against the darkened side of the club. All of it made nausea crawl up my throat and my mind churn in rage. I knew I was being absolutely ridiculous and a jealous mess, but nothing could turn off the never-ending parade of shit streaming through my head.

Micah observed that I wasn't myself, and when his delicate, but strong hand wrapped around mine, I tried my best to calm down and show him that I was okay. I just had to get out of my head tonight.

The club was crammed close to bursting, and the outdoor patio wasn't much better, but at least there was some measure of fresh air out there. While we made our way inside the club, I kept my hand planted on Micah's back at the base of his spine. I hadn't originally intended it as a possessive gesture, but the feeling it brought to me was nothing short of territorial intoxication. It was impossible not to see all thesinful looks Micah was drawing to himself because he was just that intriguing.

Tonight, he had worn a cream knit sweater rolled up to his elbows that hugged his sinewy muscles, and a pair of fitted, black pants that accentuated that perfect, shapely ass of his. His chocolate locks were coiffed back with a swoop falling across his face that made him look windswept and attractive as hell. It was pulling at my memory of that night when I had seen him step out of his bathroom and the air had frozen in my lungs because of how incredible he looked to me. It seemed he was having the same effect on a few of the surrounding patrons, if their lewd glances and blatant observation of him were any indication. An involuntary growl was pulled from my throat as possessiveness and jealousy swam through my blood, and I prayed that Micah hadn't heard it.

When we made it to the dance floor, Rhys and Micah let loose, jumping around and letting the music move them, and I was entranced. Micah was breathtaking. It's not that he was perfect and ethereally gorgeous, but rather he radiated life and vibrancy that drew people to him like moths to a flame. He'd never see it in himself, but he glowed from the inside out and it elevated his already beautiful features into something wholly bewitching. He had me completely under his spell, and I never wanted to be released from it.

As though he could sense my thoughts, Micah spun to face me and his eyes captured mine and wouldn't let go. I was immersed in the intensity that was reflected back at me, matching my own as I surrendered to the heat and energy that drew me to him. Every cell in me was zinging with electricity, making the hair all over my body stand on end as if electrocuted by his gaze on mine. The desire to kiss him raced through me like liquid fire, and it made the breath catch in my throat. Instantly, I came back to myself and blinked away the lust and haziness that had me connected to Micah at that moment.

I had to get out of there. I had to get some space from him so I didn't do something insanely stupid like grab his face and kiss him senseless right there in the middle of the crowd. I made some excuse about the bathroom or needing air, which was fucking dumb since we were outside, but I quickly retreated and felt my brain clear more with each step I took away from him.

I was barely aware of the people around me as I bobbed and weaved through them in a blind quest for the restroom. I found it tucked away and took longer than necessary to finish my business, wash my hands, and exit the room. I was stopped on the way back to Micah and Rhys by a buzzing in my pocket. Taking out my cell, I saw Ainsley's name flash across my screen. I really didn't have the mentalcapacity to put up with her shit, but I answered anyway, thinking it was easier than her stirring up a fight later and it would give me a few extra minutes to gather myself before going back to Micah.

“What is it, Ains?” I asked her gruffly. Her responding scoff told me enough about the mood she was in. “Why haven't you been answering my texts for the last few days, Bastian? You knew I was coming home today, and I thought you'd be free to see me tonight. What the hell?” she asked me angrily. I was already severely regretting answering the phone, but I responded anyway.

“I've been busy,” I said shortly.

“With Micah?” she sneered his name. I tamed the growl working its way up my vocal cords, and calmed myself before responding. “Yes, with Micah. He's my best friend and he hasn't been here all summer. I wanted to spend time with him.”

“Excuse me, but I've been gone all summer too. Did you not miss me at all? I missed you so much, and all I wanted was to see you tonight, but you couldn't even be bothered,” she pouted. My eyes rolled so hard in the back of my head it damn near gave me a headache. “Yeah, Ains, I missed you too,” I said to placate her, “but I needed to see Micah. We weren't in a great spot when he left and we needed time to get back in the groove of things.”

Ainsley barely let me get the words out before she cut in. “Where the hell are you right now? It's so loud where you are. Is that music?”

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