Page 89 of Clinch'd

“How?” I ask, relaxing into the seat. You know you’re pathetic when you’re relieved your fake boyfriend doesn’t want to dump you.

“I keep the bitches at bay and have side pussy,” he says with a filthy smile.

My jaw drops and I watch him blankly before I smack him on his arm, “Ow. Fuck. That’s a disgusting thing to say.”

He just smirks, turning away, and I hide my smile, looking out the window. I’m not completely alone after all.

“Wait, what are we doing here?” I ask when we pull up to Crave.

I haven’t been back since the altercation with Cooper and the resulting showdown with Lorri the following day.

“Relax,” he chuffs. “I arranged for a private room.”

Although better than sharing the VIP section with Cooper it doesn’t mean I’m not going to see him for the first time in weeks. But then again, it doesn’t matter.

He made his choice, both cruelly and firmly. I was nothing but a chick he fucked to get back at Beast, and I suppose I got my revenge at that. Although the dirty deed still makes my skin crawl.

This and I don’t want another showdown with Lorri. I’m still reeling from the last.

Grimly I follow Beast through the crowd, relieved when he takes my hand because it’s packed tonight. My stomach aches uncomfortably and my halfhearted resolve to slow down the drinking fades at the prospect of seeing either of them.

I need a drink—stat.

We move around the dance floor to a door I’ve never noticed before. It’s virtually seamless with the wall until you open it.I’m just starting to relax as we gain the threshold when I feel a tingling along my neck and turn my head.

Cooper is standing at the edge of the dais, with his hands on the railing, watching us through narrowed eyes. He doesn’t so much as twitch when I meet his inscrutable gaze and then we’re through the door and I’m gasping for air.

You would think I’d be disgusted but the sight of him stole my breath. Bastard or not, he’s beautiful. Now that the temps have cooled, he’s traded out his tight t-shirts for the long-sleeved version, and they stretch over his muscles just as deliciously.

He looked like a dark god standing over his minions and sadly as I step up to the two-way mirror set up inside the room, designed to allow the patrons to watch the dancers, I stare at his cold expression and sigh.

I’m just about to turn away from my eye candy indulgence when Lorri stalks up to Cooper with a militant expression. Although I can’t hear them, it's clear she’s laying into him because she’s got that look on her face she gets when she’s angry.

It’s the only time she doesn’t look particularly beautiful, and I take savage pleasure in it when Cooper crosses his arms and stares at her with the same bored expression he has in the cage.

Does she see it? Or does she not care? Maybe not, she was professing her love for Beast just a few weeks ago. It would seem they’re both using each other.

Lorri waves her arms around wildly while Cooper stares before she slaps him, and I gasp. Holy shit.

His brows drop over his eyes and he says something sharp because she backs up but doesn’t stop her tirade. I’m curious what they’re fighting about but it’s none of my damn business and I’m about to step back when Beast says behind me, “Your sister is loco.”

“Oh?” I ask. I mean I know she’s got issues, but she is my sister. I can’t in good conscience trash talk her even if she probably doesn’t feel the same way.

“Yep. She threw a pan at my head, once,” he grumbles.

“Wait? I thought you fuckedonce?” I ask, turning to him suspiciously.

“Who told you that?” he asks, raising his brows.

“She did,” I murmur, looking back to the scene out the window, but they’re both gone.

“Nope. We fucked a few times.”

“How many is a few?”

He glances at me out of the corner of his eye, and I turn to him and poke him in the shoulder.

“Ow, what?” he grunts.

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