Page 15 of On The Edge
“I would like two double whiskeys with Diet Coke and three tequila shots with slices of lime on the side, please!” I pull my credit card out of my back pocket, holding it in my hand.
“That’s a good order, sweetheart.” He gives me a crooked grin and I can see him undressing me with his eyes.
From behind me, I hear a gravelly voice chime in, “It is,” sending shivers down my spine. “I’ll have the same.” Markus stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my hips possessively, sending a clear message.
I turn to snap at him, but see Adam standing there as well with a murderous look on his face. I’ve only ever had him look at me with kindness. This time, he’s not looking at me—he’s looking at the bartender.
Snapping out of it, Adam glides forward and grips the man’s shirt, twisting it and bringing him as close as the bar allows.
“Adam…” I put my hand on his bicep, trying to keep him from doing something he shouldn’t, but he shakes me off.
“You don’t get to call her ‘sweetheart,’ do you understand? She’smine,” Adam growls, loudly enough for me to hear him. My heart flutters at his words, at their weight.
Markus pulls me so my back is tight against his chest and he wraps an arm around my waist. The bartender looks at Adam in challenge, but then glances over at how Markus is holding me. Not only that, but Markus is smirking darkly.
“Mine, too.” Markus bites his lip and nuzzles into my neck. “At least, there was a time where you could’ve been.”
My heart beats faster. What’s happening? Are they… Do they know how I felt back then? I thought I’d hidden my feelings for them well; they always treated me like I was one of them, their best friend, but other than a few touches here and a lingering smile there, I didn’t think they wanted me. And now here I am, seven years after theyabandoned me, and they’re trying to stake a fucking claim like it was something that had happened all along?
I’m stunned silent, but Adam shoves the bartender back, barking at him to get the drinks and to add it toOn The Edge’s tab. The bartender’s eyebrows shoot up and he nods, scampering away to do what he was told.
Adam turns to me and his murderous expression melts away. He’s nervous now, like he didn’t just go fucking rogue and declare I was his. What the actual fuck?
“Mel, I don’t know what you saw up there, but…” Adam steps closer, putting his hand on my waist and ripping me out of Markus’ grasp. “Whatever you thought, it wasn’t what was actually happening.”
“I saw a single girl shooting her shot at a single guy. She got a little handsy and you didn’t mind. That’s what I saw.” I shrug my shoulders, turning toward the bar and waiting for the hottie behind the bar to bring my much-needed alcohol.
“Echo, you know that wasn’t it.” Adam covers my body with his, whispering hotly in my ear. I can feel every inch of him pressed against me as he traps me between him and the bar. His heart beats hard against my shoulder as I watch his fingers grip the wooden bar on either side of my body to keep me firmly in place.
God, hearing him call me that so softly, so roughly, sopossessivelyin my ear is delicious and so hot. I’vemissedhearing it so much.
How many times have I fantasized about this exact scenario? Only there weren't as many observers, and definitely not this many clothes between us.
I groan. It’s throaty, reverberating through my body, and I knowhe felt it. Embarrassment burns through me, but right as I’m about to pull away, Adam pushes himself flush against me, leaving not one inch of space between my back and his front.
I can feeleverything. He’s half-hard in his jeans and he grinds his hips against mine so there’s no question if I feel him or not.
“Do you want me, baby? Is that why you’re acting jealous?” Adam’s never been this forward with me, but I guess a lot can change in seven years. He kisses my neck, nipping slightly at the skin beneath my ear and my head drops back against his shoulder. His voice, his hands, his body, the fact that I’m acutely aware that we’re being watched; I feel my pussy clench and my wetness drips into my G-string. “Because I’ve spent the last seven years wanting you.”
My mouth is suddenly very dry as I take everything in. Everything he said, everything he’s doing to me. Everything he just confessed.
“Adam,” I moan. The clinking of a filled tray hitting the bar in front of me jolts me out of the bubble of lust and desire I’m in.
My eyes fly open—when did they close?—and I’m greeted with the sight of the bartender looking at me with disdain as he serves the drinks I ordered.
“Thank you.” I nod to him sheepishly, feeling slightly bad for flirting with him only to turn right around and basically let Adam try to get me off in front of everyone.
I’ll give him a big tip. I go to hand the bartender my card, but Markus beats me to it.
“Just add it to the tab upstairs.” He raises one eyebrow, heavy with smug satisfaction, and the bartender’s eyes widen before he nods in understanding.
“Got it.”
I take my first drink from the tray and quickly down it, the whiskey burning in the best, most familiar way. I have a feeling I’m going to need to be a little inebriated for the rest of the night and all the bullshit they’re going to push-and-pull me with. Especially since Adam hasn’t moved an inch and now Markus is also crowding me.
Slamming the empty glass down, I move on to one of the tequila shots.
“At least let me get one if you’re going to slam them back like that.” Markus picks the one out of my hand. My lips are still damp from the whiskey, but he takes a lime wedge and wets my lower lip with it before setting it in between my teeth. “To new beginnings and second chances.”
