Page 105 of Life of the Party

“Why not?”

“Because. None of them are you.”

I smiled bashfully at his answer. The elevator opened onto our floor with a quiet ding, and Grey took my hand in his and squeezed it. I followed him happily down the hallway, pausing as he unlocked the door to his room and then ushered me inside. It was bigger than average, not quite a suite, with two queen-sized beds and a little living area and kitchenette all done in the typical hotel neutrals. The bathroom held both a shower and a Jacuzzi tub. Grey set my bag down and took his coat off, and I looked around, opening the blinds and staring out at the city lights below us, twinkling prettily against the inky night sky.

I could see Grey in the reflection of the window. He strode up behind me, and smirked, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me tightly against him. The room became charged, almost buzzing with the instant electricity that flowed between us, electricity neither one of us could resist. I arched against him as he bent and kissed my neck.

In moments, we were wrapped around each other, frenzied and frantic, and it was all I could do to keep from ruining his clothes; I couldn’t rip them off fast enough. He pushed me back against the bed, pressing me against it, crushing me to him. We flung the rest of our clothes off, quickly, roughly, until there was nothing left between us but skin. My heart sang in my chest the entire time. This was all still so new to me, but it felt so right. There was no denying how good it was.

No denying how good we were together.

CHAPTER 43

My eyes flew open, a wide, ecstatic smile spreading across my face. It was my birthday. I was eighteen! I’d been looking forward to this day for years, and it had finally arrived. Legally, I was an adult. No bar could deny me, no liquor store was off limits, no cigarettes ever had to be booted again. I was finally eighteen.

I turned over and wrapped my arm around Grey’s slumbering form, pressing kisses along his shoulder and neck. I was excited and eager to share my happiness with him, ready to start what was sure to be one of the best days of my life.

“Good morning,” I whispered in his ear. Even my voice was smiling. Grey groaned into the hotel pillow, trying to ignore me, but the corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. I knew he probably wasn’t used to such exuberance first thing in the morning, but I couldn’t help myself. I was too excited to let him sleep.

“Grey,” I gave him a little shake. “Grey, wake up.”

His blue eyes were bleary as he slowly blinked them open, and he looked up at me with affectionate tolerance. “…Why? Is the building on fire?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Is Zakk Wylde on the phone for me?”

“Uh…no.” Who the hell was Zakk Wylde anyway?

“Then why do I have to get up? There’s nothing the least bit exciting going on today.” He resisted, nestling back into the pillow. “Shut the blinds, would you?”

“Grey!” I slapped him playfully. His blue eyes opened abruptly.

“Ouch. What was that for?”

“You know what it was for.”

“Oh, okay, you’re right.” He nodded. “I did forget something important.”

I waited, blinking at him expectantly.

“The fight is on tonight. Good thing nothing’s going on. I really want to watch it…”

Grey couldn’t finish. I attacked him gleefully, trying my best to pin his arms down against the bed. We wrestled around for a moment, laughing, but he was way too strong for me. In a matter of seconds, our roles were reversed, and he’d flipped me over, holding me back against the mattress.

“Grey.” I protested, breathless with giggling. It wasn’t fair that he was so strong.

“What? Was there something else?” His handsome face leaned over me, his blue eyes light with amusement, his lips smirking innocently. “Oh, wait. Now I remember.” He bent down and kissed me. “Happy Birthday, Mackenzie.”

“Thanks.” I smiled up at him, wondrously, gloriously happy.

“So, what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. I wanted to get wasted, that much I knew, but it was a little early for that. There was something else, though, something I really, really wanted to do, something I’d wanted to do for ages. The thought made me giggle with embarrassment. “Okay, there is one thing, but you’re going to laugh at me.”

“Me? Never.” Grey smiled.

“I want to go buy some cigarettes.”

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