Page 66 of Scarred

His dimpled smile looks mischievous as he twirls me on the dance floor.

“I didn’t know my favorite dance partner would be here tonight,” he grins. “My night just got better.”

“Oh, please,” I laugh. “You’ve got the pick of the litter here to dance with.”

“True,” he smirks before breaking out into a grin, “but you’re the only one I can use to mess with Cayden.”

My eyes betray me, flicking to their table, and sure enough, Cayden’s leaning back in his chair with his hand wrapped tightly around his drink, watching our every move.

“Well, you’re wasting your time,” I say, pulling my eyes back to his. “Cayden doesn’t strike me as the jealous type.”

Jett’s grin widens even further, as if he doesn’t believe a word I just said. “Care to test that little theory of yours out?”

The song changes to a slow one, and he brings me to his chest, holding his hand in mine and his other resting on my lower back.

“Why are you trying to make him jealous?” I feel Cayden’s eyes burn into my skin, but I avoid sneaking a glance, afraid of wanting what I might see.

“Just moving the inevitable along so everyone is happy.” He looks down at me with a raised eyebrow. “I happen to be good at making stubborn people realize what they want. Just ask Knox about Savi wearing my jersey to our game,” he grins.

I know there is a story in there somewhere, but before I have a chance to ask about it, Cayden’s voice is heard from behind me in a low, menacing tone. Heat races through me as every nerve ending on my body becomes alive.

“I’ll take it from here.”

TWENTY-ONE

CAYDEN

Hayes slowly releases Luna, looking amused. “Took you long enough,” he smirks, as I glare at him. “Told you I was good,” he says, winking at Luna. “You two love birds have fun tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He stops to think about it and laughs. “That saying doesn’t really work on me because I’ll try just about anything once.”

I give him an eyeroll, and Luna giggles by my side as he walks away.

Let’s see if he's still smiling in Monday’s practice after I tell Knox to drill his ass with bag skating.

“He’s just messing with you.” Luna’s voice brings me out of my need to punish him.

“Yeah, well, it still doesn’t lessen the need to kick his ass,” I mutter.

Her green eyes meet mine, and Hayes becomes the last thing on my mind as she steps into my arms. I’ve been dying to feel her again all evening as my palm skims over her bare back before resting just above the curve of her ass as I pull her closer.

My hand holds hers over my chest, and it feels dangerously close to filling that missing part of me that I’ve been chasing the past three weeks.

“I watched your last few games,” she says quietly, and I stiffen in her arms.

“Not my best performance,” I manage to scrape out past the aggravation and disappointment that are still weighing heavily on me. “My game has been off lately, and it’s fucking messing with my head.”

“How are your hips?” She asks, peering up at me with concern etched across her beautiful face.

“Tight,” I say, giving her the truth. My whole body feels like one tight coil about to break under pressure at any minute.

She bites her bottom lip as she studies the buttons on my chest before speaking again.

“My dance has been off, too,” she finally admits. “The only time I can get through a choreography without landing flat on my ass lately is when…” She swallows hard, and my heart beats faster in my chest because I know what’s coming next. “Is when you’re watching.”

I don’t even try to deny that I haven’t been lurking in the background when we both feel this bond that neither one of us can seem to break.

“Seems we both have a dilemma,” I say quietly.

“Looks like it,” she says with a dry, humorless laugh.