Page 18 of Control

“Thanks, boss,” he replied, giving a slight nod to Shyam.

Lana squealed by his side and carted him off toward the main floor.Thanks for ditching me again, Lana.

“Fuck yeah! Drinks are here!” Nat shouted. The waitress had returned with a trayful of glassware. Nat grabbed a shot and tossed her head back, downing it like she was dehydrated. “Don’t just fucking sit there and gawk. Drink, bitch!” She slammed shot glasses in front of each of us.

Not surprisingly, Shyam waved his away. “I’ll pass.” Brooding men like him didn’t seem like they were too fond of shots.

Amelia rolled her eyes at her husband. “Boring!” She grabbed a glass and held it in the air in front of her. “Jai, let’s do it!”

He followed suit, lifting his shot glass. “Your turn, Claire.” The way he said my name launched hundreds of butterflies into a frenzy in my belly. The vibrations of their wings fluttered, sending waves of sensation shooting below my waist. I crossed my legs to ease the pressure. Alcohol was needed to get through this night, so I tipped my shot up at them.

“Yeah!” Nat cheered us on as Jai and Amelia downed their drinks. Amelia made a face and coughed from the heat of the liquor, prompting Shyam to rub her back. Jai slammed his down like an expert, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. I was the last to follow, holding the liquid in my mouth, bracing myself for the burn.

“Swallow,” Jai commanded, his voice low so that only I could hear. My eyes locked onto his as my body involuntarily obeyed, the liquid scorching my throat on the way down. His jaw clenched as his eyes followed the liquor’s path down my neck and chest, landing between my breasts.

“Party time!” Nat snatched Amelia’s hand and pulled her out of the booth.

“Claire, come dance with us,” Amelia coaxed as she shook her butt excitedly.

Jai interjected, “You guys go. We’ll stay and get more acquainted.”

I didn’t want to be left alone with him. More like, Ishouldn’tbe alone with him. My usually strong resolve was waning from being near him for too long.

Amelia flashed a suspicious grin in our direction.

Before I could move away from Jai, Amelia launched herself onto her knees with one hand, palm down, on the seat of the booth and yanked on Shyam’s arm with her free hand. “Come dance with me.”

“I don’t dance,” he grunted. He was devastatingly handsome but in a moody kind of a way, in stark contrast to his brother, who was even more gorgeous and reeked of charisma. Jai had the entire package: good looks and a charming personality.

Amelia fluttered her eyelashes to convince her husband. “Be a good boy and I’ll let you do whatever you want tonight?”

Shyam’s eyebrow hitched. “WhateverI want?”

She bit her lip and nodded.

He turned to his brother, shrugging. “Guess I’ll be fucking dancing.”

“Pussy whipped!” Jai called out after him as the three of them left us alone, tucked inside of the booth.

Aware of a sole set of eyes on me, I felt my palms grow slick with sweat. After wiping them quickly on my pants, I grabbed my cocktail and took a sip to wet my parched mouth.

“Where are you really from?” Jai’s question was blunt, catching me off guard, like most things he did.

“France,” I answered automatically to quell suspicion, scratching my forearm to distract my nerves.

He leaned in close to me, one elbow on the table in front of him. “We both know that’s not the truth.”

My pulse sky-rocketed, and the sweat from my palms spread to my entire body. I steadied my voice. “Are you calling me a liar, Jai?”

His body tensed hearing his name on my lips, visibly affected by my candor. Two could play at this game.

“Well, are you one?” His eyebrow perked up in interest.

“I don’t have to tell you shit.” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the back of the booth.

The corner of his lip twitched upward. “I guess you don’t.”

I turned the interrogation back onto him. “Where areyoufrom?”

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