Page 41 of Miles Apart
“Looks like you missed it.” There’s wall-to-wall people, none of which look like they pay attention to high-fashion magazines.
Brandice scans the crowd under the exaggerated lashes she still has on from the show and gets on her tippy-toes. She comes to my chest with heels on, so I don’t know what she expects to see.
“Guess it did end. I wanted to catch the designer to thank him again.” Her slick ponytail whips over her shoulder in the slinky gold dress she changed into before we got here. “My apartment isn’t far.” She reaches up and wraps her hands around my neck. “Ready for a nightcap?”
I stare into eyes that are a tawny shade of brown and not the moss-green from the dream I haven’t been able to shake for weeks.
Emma gazing up at me.
Underneath me.
On her knees.
Her moans play on repeat, along with the memory of pleasure smeared across her face when it takes over. I haven’t fucked anyone since before the singles’ retreat, and I need a release to channel the tension coiling my muscles.
I’m ready to tell her let’s go until mahogany hair flashes between people on the other side of the bar. I must need to fuck, because ain’t no way I’m hallucinating over Emma, unless…
She’s here.
“What?” Brandice frowns.
Shit, I am losing it.
I should get the hell out of here and take Brandice back to her place, but my mouth and feet clearly have their own agenda tonight.
“Nothing. Let’s get a drink.” I smile, but there’s no energy behind it.
I’m already guiding her to the bar, focused on what I assumed was a figment of my imagination instead of Brandice’s ass shifting the material of her backless dress.
Standing room opens up at the bar, but a Blue and Coke is the furthest thing from my mind.
I dodged the temptation to hack Emma’s travel itinerary in order to prove to myself that no one has me sprung. Yet one peek over my shoulder has me ready to lean into whatever chokehold she has me in. Our eyes lock, and her brow raises, daring me to make the first move.
Giving up a night with Brandice to roll the dice with Emma is dumb as hell. She’s ruthless enough to curve me, which would leave me alone with my dick in my hand. Ignoring her and staying with Brandice is less risky. But would it satisfy me?
Brandice looks at me to order, but I reach into my pocket for my phone with a sigh. “Gotta take a rain check.”
Her voice rises. “Excuse me? What happened to getting a drink and going back to my apartment?”
“Something came up.”
She stiffens, her sharp brows narrowed. It’s a gamble to pass on one woman for another. Emma smirks like she didn’t know what I was about to do. I should’ve ignored her on principle and stayed with Brandice, but the pull is undeniable.
I call a car to scoop Brandice, who’s still staring at me like I lost my damn mind. Her irritation cools when she gets a text about some party in Brooklyn and asks me to reroute her ride so she can meet up with her friends.
No problem.
We’re outside within six minutes, me pecking Brandice on the cheek to see her off and her reapplying makeup for a night out I never would’ve agreed to in the first place. I only go out to meet someone to fuck. My days of partying late are over.
I check my watch and pull up the lapels on my overcoat. If Emma expects me to go crawling in there to beg her, she’s got another thing coming. I’m down for a good chase, but can’t look too eager.
I put on my beanie, throw on gloves, and wait.
Chapter 18
Emma
What are the odds that Miles and I would bump into each other again? Pretty damn high, apparently.
