Page 29 of Playing With Fire
“I have something a lot fucking better than beer coating my tastebuds these days, Phoe.” As if to demonstrate, Jake turns and grabs Dylan by the back of the neck and kisses him with so much tongue my fucking dick perks up.
I expect Phoenix to come back with something snarky, but he just keeps his mouth closed and watches them with pinched brows and a clenched jaw. I don’t think he’s aware he’s doing it, but his hand tightens in my shirt where he’s gripping my waist.
“Alright, you two. Are you ever going to stop rubbing your love in our faces? Phoenix is feeling left out,” I tease.
Jake and Dylan break apart, and Dylan leans in and says something to Jake that the rest of us can’t hear. When he pulls back, Jake’s eyes narrow at Phoenix before he nods at Dylan who grabs Phoenix by the biceps. “Come on. You’re coming with me to the dance floor. Jake can’t even clap on beat and I’m dying for someone to grind against.”
Phoenix looks at Jake like a deer caught in the headlights. “I don’t think?—”
“Go,” Jake says, literally shooing them away. “My man wants to dance and you’re the only person I trustandthe only member of this group that has rhythm. Just pretend he’s Cassie.”
Phoenix gives him an exaggerated eye roll. “Not the same thing.”
“Whatever, the whole club will think you have the hottest boyfriend in here. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
I’m surprised Jake is being so carefree about this. He is one possessive motherfucker and doesn’t even like whenwecomment on how hot Dylan is, let alone strangers in a club.
As we watch them go, I inch closer to the bar, waiting for my turn to order when Jake solves the mystery of why he pushed them away.
“So, the Knox and Phoenix told me you have the hots for a married chick. Were you ever gonna clue me in?”
I lean forward to look around him and glare at Knox, who’s clearly uncomfortable in this establishment. He stares at me in challenge and yells, “He was going to find out sooner or later.”
As luck would have it, four barstools open up right in front of us as a group of girls heads to the dance floor. We swoop in to take the seats, but I notice one of the girls lags behind, clearly flirting with Knox.
She must have a daddy kink because although he’s attractive, Knox looks every bit the forty-three-years-old he is.
Jake and I leave him to it as we place our orders with the bartender.
“So, what do you know about her…other than the fact she’s married?” Jake asks.
I spend the next fifteen minutes yelling over the music about every interaction she and I have had, and how I’m going crazy since it’s been so long since the last one, how I hated that the energy between us had shifted, and how I don’t know how to stop thinking about her.
I’m sure I’ll be hoarse the next morning from both the amount of words I speak and the volume at which I have to speak them.
“Look, I’m not telling you to do something crazy, but maybe give yourself a little grace, man. The heart wants what it wants.Doesn’t necessarily mean obtaining it is going to be easy.” He gives me a wistful smile and I know he’s thinking about Dylan. I appreciate that he didn’t immediately jump on my ass for even bringing it up like everyone else. That is…until he opens his mouth again. “But crazier shit has happened than you falling in love with a married woman.”
“Whoa,” I say, holding up my hands. “Who the hell said anything about love?”
“So, you’re telling me that you’d let her risk her marriage, custody of her child, her home, her income, her entire life, just because you think what? She’d be fun to fuck? A good conquest?”
His statement makes my fucking blood boil.
“What? Fuck no! Fuckyou!How could you think that?”
His smile tells me I fell for his trap.Okay, so I feel something, but love is a bit strong for the few conversations we’ve had.
“As I was saying, your options are to pursue her honestly, tell her your intentions, and see if she’s down to explore it or?—”
“Like what?Dateher?” I ask incredulously, grateful when my flight of tequila shots is set down in front of me. I throw two of the six back immediately, because fuck beer for this interaction.
“No, dumbass,” Jake continues. “Just tell her you’re into her. She needs to choose to stay or leave on her own, but I think she should at least know she’s got options if she chooses to go.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?” I ask in disbelief over his advice.
“Of course, it’s too soon, but that leads me to the other point I was trying to make before I was so rudely interrupted.” He gives me a pointed look and I wave my hand.
“Please continue,” I deadpan.
