Page 68 of Burn It Down

“We’re supposed to be going as friends,” I remind him, my resolve already fleeing as my body turns toward him without my consent.

“I can’t kiss my friends?” he asks innocently, inching closer to my mouth.

“Do you kiss Knox or Phoenix or Hudson?”

“I might if they’d let me.” He’s teasing, but he licks his lips and I hate the thought of him kissing anyone except me so I sitforward an inch and close the distance between us, pulling his top lip between mine.

“I don’t fucking think so.”

So much for goingas friends. Damn Jake for playing low ball and tapping into my jealousy even after I tried to appease his. By the time we pull apart, I’m sporting a painful erection and I’m ready to ditch this entire night and just drag him to my bed, the consequences be damned.

He must feel the same way because he’s twisted his hips, rubbing his dick along the console between us, searching for relief. I want nothing more than to touch him, to feel him heavy in my palm again, but there’s Cora to consider.

“Jake, come on,” I breathe as his lips move to my neck, clouding my thoughts. “I can’t be the only one to hold strong here or else I’m going to have to stay away from you entirely.”

“Shit,” he mumbles, finally pulling away from me and plopping back down in the driver’s seat. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Hands to myself from now on.” Playfully he adds, “But also, fuck you for looking so goddamned hot. The way that tie brings out your eyes means I’m going to be hard all night.”

“Should make it easier to fuck her after the event at least.” Ihatethis jealous side of myself and try to take it back as quickly as I can. “Damn. That was an asshole thing to say, I’m sorry.” He nods, but stays quiet as he fastens his seatbelt and I know I’ve hit a nerve. “Jake, I’msorry.”

“You said that already.”

“I fucking hate this, man. In the short time we’ve known each other, you’ve got me thinking things, feeling things,wantingthings I can’t fucking have.”

I’m not usually such a Debbie Downer, but this is exhausting.

“Just don’t cut me out.Please,” he begs.“I’m trying to figure something out, but it’s going to take time. I can’t go back, Dylan. I can’t go back to not having you in my life.”

Fuck, I love how he says my name.

He reaches over and laces our fingers and I let him because we both need the comfort. We don’t say anything else until we’re pulling up to the valet and he squeezes my hand before letting go.

We get a few curious glances as we enter the banquet hall together, but Jake wastes no time introducing me as “a good friend of his” and people are gracious enough to accept me and move on. Most likely, they assume I have money and belong here if I’m at Jake’s side.

I learn — and instantly forget —about thirty people’s names before we find Cora. She looks breathtaking in a long, deep purple silk dress. Her blonde hair is in short, thick, fancy waves. It looks effortless, but no doubt took at least an hour to style. She has a stunning gold pendant on a chain around her neck that I’ve seen before. Her fingers are playing with it as if she’s nervous and I suppose nerves are understandable given the number of people in attendance tonight. Her eyes light up when she sees us and she gracefully ends her conversation to give us her attention.

Jake places his hand at the small of her back and gives her a lingering kiss on the cheek. She doesn’t even turn her face to offer him her lips which I find interesting. Perhaps they consider that tacky at these events.Wouldn’t matter what event it was, I’d kiss Jake’s mouth every ten seconds just so people knew who he belonged to.

“Cora, you’ve outdone yourself. Everything is absolutely perfect,” Jake compliments her.

“Thank you,” she beams. “Dylan, I’m so glad you could make it tonight. I always feel so guilty leaving Jacob at the table alone.” She leans in and gives mea kiss on the cheek like she did in Jake’s office and I kiss the air next to her like I’ve seen in the movies. I look over to find Jake hiding his smile, but giving me a nod like I did what I was supposed to.

“Jacob, we’re all at table seven,” she says with a full-wattage smile.

As we turn toward our assigned table, I can’t help but offer Jake the undeniable truth. “She really is a beautiful woman.”

“As beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.”

His words create a low wave of nausea in the back of my throat.

Our table is set for ten which means there are a lot of people around us that I don’t know…and one that I do. The brunette’s eyes widen as soon as we approach the table.

“Hello, Jacob,” Whitney says as Jake leans in to kiss her cheek.

“Whitney,” he replies with a nod after removing his lips from her skin.

“Dylan, you look ravishing.” I expect her compliment to be laced with seduction, or anger over how I left our last encounter, but surprisingly, the whole interaction is benign. I shake her hand instead of giving her a kiss since I’ve only met her once before and I’m afraid she’s going to linger, but she surprises me by dropping my hand quickly.

“Well, what do you think?” she asks, spreading her hands and holding them up, inviting us to take a look around the space.

---