Page 43 of Boost

“Is that right?” he deadpanned, then turned to Greer. “This is Colton’s guy?”

She smiled tightly. “The one and only.”

Sensing some kind of tension between them, I angled away and brought my drink to my mouth. I sipped; the action dismissive and purposefully rude, but I wouldn’t stand for bullshit from assholes like him.

“What was that for?” Boss Lady hissed after her counterpart excused himself.

I lifted my head just enough to look at her from under my brows. “You really have to ask?”

Greer scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“What?” I said with a shrug. “The guy’s an ass. Surely you can see that.”

She set a hand on her waist and leaned close. “He’s also a trusted and close friend, not to mention my business partner.”

My eyes narrowed at her defensive tone. “How close?”

An upright snap of her spine told me all I needed to know.

“Thought so.” Focusing on my drink again, I watched the liquor swirl around the crystal tumbler.

“But you know what?” I asked, not waiting for Greer to answer. “There wasn’t a spark between you and him just now. Not like the one between us.”

“Raf-” she started to protest, until my fingers found the seductive swell of her hip again.

I arched a brow, ignoring how hard my heart hammered beneath the layers of expensive clothing. Its rhythm matched the audibly erratic cadence of Greer’s breath.

“Case in point, mamacita. You can try and lock down your reactions, but your pupils don’t lie. They’re dilated like you’re high as a fucking kite.”

“I’m not high,” she snapped.

A rolling chuckle left my smirk. “I know. Not off drugs, at least. More like high off the thought of what it would be like to fuck me. Oh, the things I would do to you, baby girl,” I whispered against the shell of her ear. My grin turned devilish when I felt her shudder.

Colton’s voice cut through the heightened desire Greer and I were entranced in. “Fuck, you scrub up alright!”

The interruption had me growling and casting a heated look at Greer before turning.

“Finally, someone worth seeing.” I shook his hand, then smiled at the beautiful brunette at his side in a long emerald gown.

Colton introduced us. “Raf, this is Rylee. Ry, meet Raf.”

She smiled widely and extended her hand. “I’ve heard heaps about you, so it’s great to finally meet in person.”

“You too, Rylee. You’ve met Greer already?” I asked, taking the opportunity to smooth my hand along the small of Greer’s back, smirking when her skin pebbled with goosebumps.

“I have. The first thing I wanted to know when we arrived was who the woman was in the stunning red dress,” Rylee gushed.

“Seriously, you’re too kind. That dress is simply gorgeous onyou,”Greer replied while strategically inching away from my touch.

As much as she put up a front, I heard the breathy notes in her voice, and saw her chest rising and falling faster than it did when she was relaxed.

I locked eyes with Colton while the women continued to exchange compliments. He arched a brow, then raised his tumbler in question.

Lifting my chin in confirmation, I angled toward the bar as he reached my side.

“You look out of your depth.” He sniggered into the dregs of his drink when I glared.

“Are these always this tight?” I complained, tugging at the collar of my shirt again. The damn thing was choking the life out of me.

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