Until his gaze descends and he notices George’s hand creeping up my thigh.
Then he looks downright homicidal.
George presses his lips to my shoulder blade. Liquid courage has made him awfully bold tonight. “You’re my girl, right?”
I’m a girl.
“It’s a shame our kiss got interrupted.” His hand travels higher. So high I have to clutch the bottom of my dress for dear life. “But we’ll make up for that tonight.”
Fuck my life. Hard.
The empty glasses on the table rattle, and I see Phoenix get up in my peripheral.
My gaze locks on his retreating back as he leaves the VIP section and walks up the stairs, disappearing onto the crowded dance floor.
The two girls that were sitting beside him share a co-conspiratorial look before they chase after him.
Let him go.
Yet a second later, I’m climbing off George’s lap. “I’m sorry. I need to keep him out of trouble.”
“Phoenix is a big boy,” he argues.
“It’s my job,” I remind him before I take off.
My heart pounds like a drum as I climb the steep steps leading to the balcony in a pair of stilettos Skylar was willing to part with after she saw my limited shoe inventory.
Colorful lights illuminate the packed dance floor. Unlike the fast up-tempo house music playing on the lower level, the music up here is slower. Edgier.
Wall to wall bodies gyrate against one another, moving to the hypnotic beat.
I push my way through the jam-packed crowd, attempting to find him.
Given he’s so tall and a freaking rock star, you’d think the task would be that much easier.
Warm, prickly panic crawls up my chest and I feel dizzy. What if he’s off doing drugs?
I try to ignore the way my heart trips over itself with my next thought.
What if he’s fucking those girls?
My frustration escalates with every passing minute. I’m debating giving up and going back downstairs, but a strong arm wraps around my waist.
I’m about to tell whoever it is to keep their grubby paws off me, but I’m spun around so fast I nearly get whiplash.
I barely have time to register it’s Phoenix before he slams me against the back wall and his lips collide with mine.
His kiss is every bit as dominating as he is. He’s not staking a claim… he’s taking it.
Hand tunneling my hair, he forces my mouth open wider.
A deep groan rumbles in his chest as he feeds me his tongue in ravenous strokes, his fingers digging into my ass.
Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. This can’t happen.
And if I don’t stop him right this second…it will be too late.
Ripping my mouth away, I press a palm to his chest. “What are you doing? I told you last night was a one-time thing.”
He braces his hands on the wall on either side of my head, caging me in. “Not for me.” Biting his lip ring, he peruses my body from head to toe. “And not for you either. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be up here.” Inclining his head, he skims his nose along the column of my throat. “Does your little boyfriend know he doesn’t stand a chance yet?”
Just when I think his resolve can’t get any worse.
“I don’t belong to you. And unlike my song, I’m not something you can steal.”
“You’re right.”
I hold my breath. Is he finally admitting it?
My bubble of hope pops when his lips curve into a pompous sneer. “I can’t steal something that’s already mine.”
Anger, hurt, and lust are a potent mixture in my veins as I shove past him. “You can’t have something you already lost.”
Phoenix is hot on my heels as I make my way through the crowd. I’m approaching the balcony leading to the stairs when he seizes my wrist.
“I didn’t lose you, Lennon. You’re right here.”
Not because I want to be.
His grip tightens, like he’s afraid if he doesn’t hold on to me with everything he’s got, I’ll slip away. He doesn’t realize I’m already gone.
“Tell him about us.”
I can’t look at him as I deliver my next words. “There is no us.”
And he only has himself to blame.
CHAPTER 47
PHOENIX
There is no us.
She knows that’s a fucking lie.
And I’m gonna prove it to her right now.
Because no matter how hard she tries to convince herself she despises me…there’s still one part of me she wants.
And I’m using it to my full advantage.
Curling my free hand around her hip, I press the front of her body against the balcony.