Page 86 of Give Me Love

He takes a glass of bourbon when it’s handed to him by another supermodel staff member. Beautiful women surround him, and he chooses to hang out with me. I look around and see Claire and Austin have walked over to the cake, and Bryce and I are pretty much alone near the door.

Our eyes connect, and I do the opposite of what he would do. I don’t overthink; I walk up and hug him. Because he just made me feel special, and that’s not something I take lightly.

“Thank you for this,” I say into his ear. I pull back a little, my face close to his, my eyes bouncing up to ocean blues.

Lost, I find myself floating mindlessly. I’m scared—there’s no doubt about that—but that doesn’t change anything at this moment.

Is this what falling in love feels like? Terrifying and thrilling at the same time? I want to kiss him so badly. How amazing if when I did it, everyone in here disappeared and we didn’t stop? There’s a strong energy between us. One that can’t be denied no matter how hard we try. Millions of things pass through my mind, but all I can do is smile. I feel his hand on my hip, and he gently pushes me back. I’m disappointed, but what else did I expect?

“You’re welcome,” he says before downing his drink, and I feel like that’s his way of putting out the fire between us.

The night passes with more drinks, cake, and laughs. It’s the best birthday I can ever remember having. Claire dances with me, and Austin spins me around a few times. Jace cracks jokes on Bryce, and Bryce does what he does best. He watches and observes everything. He smiles at his brother’s wisecracks and touches me just enough for it to burn. The man who has no idea how fast he makes my heart beat leaves me wanting more and reminds me constantly that he’s near.

Three a.m. comes and the club closes downstairs. Claire and Austin left about an hour ago, and after telling me stories of the boys growing up on the ranch and riding dirt bikes through the mountain trails, Jace passes out on the couch with a lit cigarette between his fingers. I see the cleanup crew downstairs through the glass wall, and I look over at Bryce. “It’s late,” I say.

He nods slowly and takes his bottom lip between his teeth. “So that guy earlier. Who’s he to you?”

“No one.”

He searches my eyes for a moment, slipping through uncertainty and guardedness. And suddenly I long to be the most important person to him.

“What are we doing?” I ask as fear shows itself in my voice. If he hurts me, he will be my deepest scar.

He smirks. “I don’t know.”

_____________

My nervous system buzzes, and I’m sure I’ve never been this anxious. Butterflies spread wings, soaring in my stomach until I can hardly stand it. The car ride home was full of sideways glances and knowing eyes. Our chemistry is undeniable, and tonight we’ve seemed to stop pretending it isn’t.

“Friends, huh?” he says as we stand at the open door of my apartment. Bryce has a look in his eyes that I haven’t had the pleasure of witnessing.

Sweaty fingers grip the edge of the door and I nod, but inner me is clawing through flesh to touch him.

He licks his bottom lip, and my heart pounds harder. Blood pervades my veins, and I feel the pulse in my wrist thumping against my skin.

“What if I don’t want to be your friend?” he murmurs, his blues dropping to my mouth.

“Then don’t,” I whisper. My lungs shiver, and needles prick my spine. He stares at me, desire thick as lust bleeds through his pores.

My body burns.

My chest aches, and between my legs, my softest place, unbearably begs to be touched.

“This is a bad idea.” His words are gruffly pained, but the way he looks at me… God, it’s soul shattering. I exhale. His pouty lips are slightly open, and his handsome face looks haunted.

What’s going on between us will outlast the sun.

“Let’s do it anyway,” I say breathlessly. I lean up, but he moves his head back. My eyes go to his, and I see uncertainty but a yearning so deep not even he can hide it. Losing inhibition, I move again, my eyes never leaving dark blue, and this time my lips touch his.

I shake with a need so powerful. Hesitation gives, and he bites my bottom lip, dragging it with his teeth as a smokeless fire explodes through my core.

Hands that were gripping the door go to the side of his face and the back of his neck.

His kisses turn frantic and he pushes to be closer, his hands going around my back. Our steps move into the apartment, and his hands slide down the sides of my body until they’re where he wants and he lifts me up.

My thighs instinctively go around his waist, and my ankles link. He swipes the door shut behind us and presses me up against it. His lips taste like bourbon, and it’s now my favorite drink. My shirt lifts when his hands roam, sliding over skin covering my ribs and grazing the lace of my bra, making its way up until he gently but firmly places his hand around my neck.

A thrill shoots through my body as he tightens his hold, kissing me urgently. I nip his lips, and he presses harder. His cock hits between my legs, and I suck in a deep gasp as a sensation so intense makes me feel weightless.

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