Page 53 of Chokehold
His pulse thunders in his throat as I trail my lips over the curve of his neck, and I dart my tongue out to tease his earlobe, whispering, “You’re scared of what would happen if I hugged you now. If I held you close and told you how fucking perfect you are. You’d sooner cut yourself open on your own blade than let someone hold you after they’re done fucking you.” Though it pains me to do it, I press my palms to his chest and shove him away.
He stumbles back, and I walk past him. “Don’t worry, Cole. I could never fall for you. You’re safe.”
Lies.
Fucking lies.
Strobe lights flash, music pounding against every wall in the club, and my headache intensifies every minute I stay in this fucking place.
Blaise and Allie are at the bar, and Mia is walking back from the bathroom, her eyes flickering to her boyfriend, to me, then back to the bar.
In her tight little dress, she doesn’t sit where her drinks and bag are, she lowers onto the chair beside me, turning her body so her knees point right at me.
“Can we talk?”
I narrow my eyes. “Talk about what?”
She’s glancing at the bar again. “Not here. Can we slip away and talk? Maybe at the cabin? Your parents aren’t there.”
“Why would I sneak away from my girlfriend to talk to my stepbrother’s girlfriend?”
Nibbling her lip, she fidgets her hands in her lap. “I just thought…maybe…I don’t know? We could talk.”
Her shoulder raises when I blink at her with no words as a response. “Maybe we could try something.”
“Try what? You need to be clearer here, because all I can think is that you want me to fuck you and that’s not happening.”
Her eyes widen to saucers. “That’s not— I mean, we could… I’m…”
“I’m not interested. I’m with Allie. If you drop this, I won’t tell her you’re trying to fuck her boyfriend and you can continue playing the good little angelic girlfriend with the perfect relationship.”
“Allie cheats on you all the time.”
“I’m very aware,” I reply, taking a gulp of my drink. “And it seems you cheat on Blaise too if you’re so eager to get on your knees for me.” I shake my head. “What’s gotten into you? Why are you all of a sudden all over me like a fucking rash? You’re either staring at me, staring at me holding Allie’s hand, or when you’re kissing Blaise, you’re seeing if I’m looking. I don’t get it at all.”
Her voice lowers. “But you’re always looking at me too.”
I pause, because that might come across as true. I’m not looking at her – my eyes are glued to the asshole she’s hanging off of. It’s automatic when I’m near him.
Again, I shake my head. “You’re mistaken. I’m not interested in playing any games with you. How many times do I need to say it before you fuck off back to your own seat and stay on the dick you’re tied to?”
“You’re making me look crazy.”
“If the shoe fits.”
Her face contorts. “Fuck you, Cole.”
“No thanks.” I flatten my lips and my gaze lifts to the bar. “And if you’re trying to be sneaky about whatever it is you’re doing, your loverboy is on his way over with your best friend.”
She darts to her feet and shuffles to her seat, her face going bright red with embarrassment. What’s her deal?
“That took forever,” Allie says, placing drinks on the table while Blaise leans down to whisper something in Mia’s ear. Shegrins up at him—fake as fuck—and then puts her hands on each side of his face and drags his mouth to hers.
I’m glaring. I know I’m fucking scowling at them. But when Mia opens her eyes mid-kiss, they clash with mine, and I want to snap her neck.
A hand rests on my thigh, and I glance down to see Allie’s manicured nails strumming against my pants. She hums along to the song, her head bobbing, before she turns to look at me. The corner of her lips curls, then she rests her head on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” she says over the music. “I know you don’t want me here, but I had to come and try to fix this between us. What can I do?”
