Page 39 of Drive
“What?” Reid looked over at me with raised brows.
“You’re right, okay? This is stupid.”
“Fuck that,” he said, clasping his hand with mine and pulling me toward the door.
“Reid,” I whisper-yelled as he ushered us through the entrance. The band was already playing. Dylan was working the small crowd—mostly girls—who were doing their best to get his attention. Reid walked up to the bar with me in tow and ordered a beer. Dylan spotted us, and I saw his eyes light up until they drifted down to our clasped hands. Seconds later, Reid pulled me into his lap, and I gasped at the feeling of him behind me. His breath hit my neck, and I leaned into it.
“Eat your fucking heart out, prick,” Reid murmured into my ear as Dylan’s eyes narrowed and he wreaked havoc on the mic with “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. I adjusted myself on Reid’s lap while he casually sucked his beer, his demeanor cocky and self-assured, and I found it sexy as hell. I was sure if I glanced back at his lips, I would see a satisfied smirk. He was clearly enjoying it. I could tell by his possessive hold and the air coming off of him. My hand rested on his cast and my other on his thigh, the back of my head on his collarbone. Eyes locked with Dylan, I couldn’t help but notice how I felt perfectly molded to Reid’s body. We fit. As tempted as I’d been to hear some sort of apology from Dylan, Reid had my full attention. Behind me, he sat his beer on the bar and pushed the hair away from my neck, his whisper causing more gooseflesh to bubble on my skin and a streak of warmth through my chest and between my thighs. “Right now, he’s thinking: God, she looks so fucking beautiful.” His heated whisper had my eyes closing briefly as I tried not to wiggle in his lap. “He’s thinking of how fucking good you would look spread out before him. How amazing it would feel to taste you.” My breath hitched as his fingers roamed back and forth over my stomach. “He’s thinking of how fucking perfect you would feel when he pressed into you.”
Turned on to the point of no return, and unsure if it was an act for my benefit, I twisted my head, offering my lips. Reid hesitated before he leaned in and brushed his gently against mine. Pulse racing, I pressed in and felt the groan in his chest before he ripped himself away.
“Stop it, Stella,” he said as he pecked my lips to keep up the charade and spread his thighs, putting me on full display between them.
The song ended as all thoughts of Dylan completely eluded me. I could feel Reid stiff beneath me while my heart galloped.
Dylan tossed his mic on the stage and moved toward us, and I hastily got to my feet.
“Let’s go. Take me somewhere.”
“We just got here,” Reid said with a cocky grin, his elbows on the edge of the bar.
“Not cool, Reid, let’s go. I told you I didn’t need this.” Just as I said it, I heard my name called in question behind me. Reid’s gaze fixed past my shoulder, and I turned to face Dylan. Golden-brown hair and deep-blue eyes peered back at me.
“What the fuck is this, Stella?” Dylan was still beautiful. He was still the guy I’d spent two months having sex with on a couch. But when I looked at him, all I felt was Reid’s soft lips and the fire in his eyes.
“This is poor form,” I said, defeated. “Take care of yourself, Dylan.”
He took a step forward. “Can I talk to you?” He paused and looked over at Reid. “Alone?”
“No,” I said as Reid stood and took my hand. “No, you can’t.”
“Really?” he said as he looked past me and swallowed.
“Yeah, really.”
“Stella!” Drew, the guitarist for Meat, called out to me from the stage, and I gave him an unenthusiastic wave. “Looking good, baby!”
“Thanks!”
Drew had been my favorite. He’d been a friend. And just as I suspected, all of my time with Dylan and the rest of the guys came back as a fresh scratch, but in just weeks had transformed into nothing more than a memory. I was no longer hurt about Dylan and felt like as much of an asshole for what I’d just done. Dylan cupped his chin, his features twisted in confusion as he stood there, clueless.
“Let’s go,” I said to Reid, who followed me out of the bar. I let go of his hand and stuck the keys in it before I took the passenger side.
“You okay?”
Angry, aroused, and more than confused, I turned on him. “What was that in there? Why the big show? You were against this whole thing.”
“I’m not as nice of a guy as you think. And sometimes I like to play devil’s advocate.” He shrugged, starting the truck. “Home?”
“No. I’m not going home tonight. My sister is probably having sex right now on the couch I sleep on. IHATEMYFUCKINGLIFE!”
Reid burst out laughing as he pulled away from the curb. “It gets better.”
“Liar.”
“I totally am,” he said, amusement dancing in his eyes as he pushed the hair away from my bare shoulder. “I know a place.”
“Let’s go.”
