Page 13 of Forever and Ever

“You’re trying to throw me off balance.” I cut my eyes in his direction. “And I’m sure that works for you with most women—swinging your dick around and smiling at them with that stupid grin on your face. But I’ve dealt with pretty boys chasing me before. Guys only interested because I appear dangerous or forbidden. And I know better. There will be no panties melting, so you can drop the act.”

He’s grinning wider now, looking me over like he’s trying to break my resolve with his eyes.

“Interesting,” he says, his expression growing more devious by the second.

“What is?”

He shifts, and somehow the space in the elevator seems to be shrinking because he’s so close I feel like I’m breathing him in.

“I think I do tilt you off balance, Mercedes Lopez.” His gaze drops to my mouth for the briefest second. “And I think you don’t know what to do with that.”

“I’m not going to have sex with you if that’s what you’re after.”

“It’s not,” Noah says, looking me over once more. “Not that we both wouldn’t enjoy it.”

I let out an unamused chuckle. “Cocky much?”

“Very.” He shoots me a look that snaps something deep inside, just as the elevator pings and the doors peel open. Noah stands tall and takes a step back, waving his hand out. “After you, beautiful.”

“Such a gentleman.” I roll my eyes to prove I’m not affected. Because I’m not—I can’t be. So I do what I do best and glare at him before walking away.

Noah Hayes is infuriating. Delusional. Stubborn.

He might think I’ll break someday. But not a chance in hell.

4

Noah

Whenyou’resober,thereare only so many ways to dull the pain. Only so many ways to quiet the demons. Being balls deep in someone is one of them, which used to be a great solution. But Merry has me so fucked in the head it’s not as enjoyable as it used to be.

Across the club, she’s grinding on some guy. She’s clearly well versed in all sorts of tricks she can deliver with that tight little body of hers. The girl is physical and doesn’t hold back when she wants to have a good time. It’s one of the many fun facts I’ve learned about her since I got out of rehab a month ago. And Vegas seems to be the perfect playground to bring that out in her.

Physical is good, a language I understand.

What I don’t like is watching it play out in front of me with some other guy. My bed might not be cold and empty, but fuck, Merry is tempting enough to drive a man insane.

“What’s your deal with her?” Sebastian asks, leaning over and almost spilling his drink on me when he does.

“Who?”

“Don’t play fucking dumb with me, man.” Sebastian knocks me on the arm. “Merry. You do realize you’re staring, right?”

I am one hundred percent staring because when she’s in a room, there’s really nowhere else worth looking, even when she’s grinding on this guy’s dick and sending my blood pressure skyrocketing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I look at him.

His eyes are glazed over, and it’s clear he’s fucked out of his mind, so even if I told him the truth, there’s no way he’d remember it tomorrow.

“Whatever man.” He waves me off, his eyes moving to the crowd of women slowly forming near our table.

It doesn’t take long for word to spread when the band walks into a club. Eventually, the hordes gravitate in our direction. Kind of takes the fun out of it after a while.

No chase.

No thrill.

Which is why Merry thinks I want her. And maybe at first, she was right. I liked the fact that a woman wasn’t falling all over me for once. She was flat-out denying me, and I couldn’t remember the last time that happened. But that’s not what has kept me captivated by her.

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