Page 23 of Stone Cold Bad
I held back a smile.Even though I’d warned him I didn’t want to be owned by another man, I reveled in the idea that Colt was always watching me.
“I’ve never seen him act like this, Jade.What the heck did you do to him?”
“Nothing.We just reached a fun little agreement.”
“Fun?Right.Slade said you two have been going at it like fucking rabbits.”
I blushed and took a sip of my drink to avoid having to respond.She pointed to a spot on the wall near the fire.I sat down next to a nice looking guy, the kind of guy you’d want to bring home to impress your parents, if you had some to impress.
The guy smiled at me, and I thought he could be in a toothpaste ad with his perfect smile.He leaned forward.“Hey, Amy, are you going to introduce me to your new friend?”
Amy shrugged.“Jade, this is Zach.”It seemed that Zach wasn’t high on Amy’s list of likable people.
“Nice to meet you, Jade.Are you visiting?”
“Actually, I’m staying for awhile.I’m working over at Lazy Daze.”
His mouth tightened with disapproval.“That dive?You’re too good for a place like that.”
Amy leaned forward.“God, Zach, still the pompous douchebag you’ve always been.”
“Coming from you, I consider that a compliment.”Zach turned back to me.“When did you arrive in town?And why haven’t I seen you?”
Before I could answer, he reached up and took a strand of my hair between his fingers.“You’re hair is like spun gold.”
Amy snickered at his comment.Then she elbowed me.“This should be good.”
I followed the direction of her gaze.Colt was already across the yard, coming through the wall of chalky smoke before I’d barely turned my head.He stood like a menacing giant glowering down at Zach, who shrank back instantly.
“Hey, Colt,” he said with a hoarse voice.“What’s going on?Oh shit, are you with her?Didn’t know,” he said quickly as if he was begging for his life.“My mistake.”Zach got up and walked quickly away.
Colt glanced at his retreating back.“Damn, was it something I said?”
“You don’t need to say anything with that intimidating scowl, you big bully,” Amy said.She hopped up as Colt sat down.“Speaking of big bullies, I think I’ll go bug Hunter.Haven’t seen him much today, and frankly, I’m behind on being irritating.”
Colt pointed down to my drink.“Is it any good?”
“If you like rum-laced fruit punch, it’s delicious.”I lifted it for him to try, but he declined.
“Never mind.I’ll let you drink it.”He reached behind me and shoved his hand up the back of my shirt.“That way you’ll be good and loose and drunk by the time we leave here.”
“Yes, as opposed to the usual frigid, legs tightly crossed attitude I’ve been throwing your way.If I was anylooser, you’d be scooping me off the floor with a damn spoon.”
He smiled.“You’re such a character.How can you be this gorgeous, this completely fuckable and still be such a character?Guess that’s why you have me doing shit like lumbering across the yard to scare guys away from you.”
“Yeah, about that.”
“About what?”
“You huffing and puffing every time someone talks to me.”
“You better get used to it, darlin’.I don’t see me easing up on the huffing and puffing anytime soon.”
“So, I’m not supposed to even talk to other guys?”
He gazed at me.I would have been more aggravated by his possessiveness if he wasn’t so damn beautiful.Everything about him made me want to submit to every unreasonable demand.Even though it was against everything I wanted and needed.
The rum was getting to my head, and I was in a teasing mood.Or maybe I just wanted to see how serious he was.“If I go over right now to that rather nice looking guy who is filling beer cups and flirt with him, what would you do?In front of all your friends and girls, most of whom you’ve no doubt slept with, what would you do?”
