Page 19 of Resist

Gripping my beer, I turn and begin to walk away from the bar, but then I glance back. “Are you coming?”

He follows me with a laugh, slipping his hand around my waist as I head to a booth next to ours since not many others are free.

After sliding in, I expect him to sit on the opposite side, but he scoots in right next to me and turns to face me, his arm draped along the back. He’s good, I’ll give him that. He knows exactly how to make someone look at him.

“Model, right?” I guess.

“How did you know?” he responds, his eyes widening in surprise.

“You know how to pose.” I gesture down at him, and he blushes.

“Habit.” He sounds embarrassed. “But it also means I look good without clothes on.”

I can’t help but laugh. “You’re really forward.”

“What’s the point in holding back? I know exactly what I want, and I always get it. Besides, being shy never got me anywhere.”

“And what do you want?” I ask.

“Isn’t that obvious?” he murmurs, placing his hand on my thigh and squeezing. “For you to take me home tonight.”

Rolling my lips in, I eye him. Can I do it? Can I take him home?

Can I be the sort of person who takes something and leaves? It wouldn’t have expectations, just pleasure and fun, but under it all . . . would I be imagining it’shim?

Am I trying to fill the hole Ryker left with others? I probably won’t even remember Team’s face or name, but I’d remember the way it felt to fuck someone, wishing it were my bandmate.

Fuck, I’m so messed up inside.

I don’t know what Team sees on my face, but he leans in. “How about we talk a bit more first? There’s no need to rush this. I have all night, so let’s have some fun.”

“I can do that,” I reply.

Sitting next to Team, I cross my legs and lean back. His arm on the back of the sofa touches my shoulder, and I don’t move away. He leans in to be heard over the music, and his eyes seem to darken. “I have to admit something.”

“Oh?” I lift my beer as I wait.

“I knew who you were at the bar.” I blink, and he grins. “I didn’t think you’d talk to me if I admitted that . . . and I wanted to talk to you—badly.”

I groan. “You aren’t an obsessed fan, are you?” We get some of them, especially for Ry and me. Some even attacked Ry after they saw him walking with one of our friends in public, joking around. They are very protective over our “ship.”

“No, but I might just become one.” He winks.

“No, I want another! I can decide how much I fucking drink,” Ry yells behind me. I glance back and see Strike and Dash sharing a worried look as Ry downs two drinks and then heads to the bar.

“Everything okay?” Team asks, drawing my gaze back to him. “Do you need to deal with that?”

“No, not at all,” I murmur as I smile at him. “He’s an adult, and he can look after himself.”

“Then where were we . . . ? Ah, so being a rock god, what’s it like?”

I burst into laughter.

For the next hour, we talk about everything and anything, just flirty, fun conversation, and it’s nice. He looks at me, smiles, and touches me. He’s very obvious about what he wants, and it’s nice to have someone who wants me like that.

It makes me feel good and desired, not tossed aside and discarded. He’s all I see and hear. It’s nothing deep and lasting, but it’s fun, and I think I need that.

“Come on, Ry, you’ve had enough.” Strike sighs behind me, and I glance over to see him fighting to get a drink out of Ryker’s hand. “Let’s get you home.” He tries to help him up, but Ry slaps him away.

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