Page 15 of Bulletproof Love

I spin to face her. “Wait a second, Bee. We need to think this through.”

“I agree,” Damon adds. Him and I never agree on much, but when it comes to Blake’s safety, we’re of the same mind.

“I’m going to run their names through every database I can,” Leon says, already typing. “We need to find out more before we make any kind of rash decision.” He turns to meet Blake’s gaze. “I’m just as thrilled with this bit of intel as you are, Blake, but after everything that happened recently, we need to be careful.”

“I’ll help,” I say. Finally, something to work with. My hands shake with anticipation.

“We still gonna go to Brooklyn tonight?” Jasper asks. He’s looking straight at Damon, conveying a silent message with his expression. He wants to go.Needsto go. I can’t blame him. He’s been idle too much lately.

Damon turns to Blake and she nods. “You should go. This could be nothing. We shouldn’t abandon all our plans.”

As much as my fingers itch to glide over my keyboard, I can’t take seeing Blake so sad. “We’ll still go to dinner too.”

Her lips curve upward, but the smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Sounds good.”

We spend a few more minutes rereading the email, brainstorming what it’s all about. I have too many theories running through my head. Most of them lean toward this party being a trap, or at the very least, something more nefarious than a normal charity gala.

I leave Leon to his work, grabbing a few empty Red Bull cans on my way out of the room he shares with Jasper. Damon and Blake follow me out into the kitchen.

“Where are you thinking of going tonight?” Damon asks. He’s leaning against the counter, feigning nonchalance, but I know he’s already anxious at the prospect of Blake and I unaccompanied in the city.

“Oh, you know, first I figured we’d hit up the nearest crack house, then go to a bar and grind up on every guy that approaches us, and maybe end the night hopping into a strange white van, see where it takes us. I’m feeling adventurous.” I flash him a wry smirk.

Jasper steps in, coming up to Damon’s side. “Why does he look pissed?”

“He’s not,” Blake says. She softens her expression and wraps her arms around Damon. “What she means is, we’ll probably stay in the neighborhood, grab dinner and a few drinks. Nothing crazy.”

“You’re such a killjoy,” I tease, pouting for extra flair.

But she doesn’t register my jab. She’s too busy swapping saliva with Damon. When they keep going, grinding into each other, the awkwardness grows thick enough to slice with my switchblade. My eyes drift to Jasper and I catch him already watching me. Time stretches into an infinite void with his intense gaze locking me in place. My skin tingles and heat pools in my core. Blake lets loose a small moan and finally the spell breaks. Jasper pulls a hand through his hair, shuffling back a step. “Think I’ll go get some air.”

“Yeah—I’m gonna—” I mumble, feeling my cheeks flame. Turning on my heel, I speed walk into my room and flop face down on my bed.

What the hell was that?

I’m literally panting and all he did was look at me. I’ve gotta find a hook-up. This is a five alarm emergency, I need an orgasm stat situation. I’m in one of the biggest cities in the world. It can’t be difficult to find someone decent to fool around with.

I flip over and grab my phone from my desk, tapping my favorite dating app. While it updates my location, I close my eyes and replay that moment in my mind. Holy sexual tension, Batman. Except, Ican’tmess with Jasper Shea.

He’d be a fun time, for sure. I had a small taste on Blake’s birthday. Holy crap, I’d love to climb him like a tree. But we’re stuck here, living together. On top of that, he’s a mess right now. Neither of us need the complication of a “relationship” or whatever we would call it. I couldn’t live with myself if I caused him any more pain. That is, if he’s even capable of being serious for more than five seconds.

No.

What I need is a complete stranger. Someone hot who knows where the clit is.

My screen loads with an array of options. I’m like a hungry bitch at a buffet. Within two minutes, I find someone.

Hello, Hot Jake who works in finance and loves to mountain bike.

Me: Let’s meet up.

I wait approximately ten seconds before his reply pops up.

Jake: When and where?

Me: Now. Night Shift Bar.

I quickly type out the address of the nearby dive bar and jump up to get ready.I haven’t fucked in a dive bar bathroom since college, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.

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