Page 74 of Lured By Shadows

“Girlfriend?” I asked, turning enough to look at him over my shoulder, my voice steady despite the alcohol buzzing warmly through my system.

“No,” he answered too fast. Too certain. His grip tightened against my side as he dragged me closer. “Only a stunner I know, that’s all.”

“Name’s Breeanna,” she said, eyes dragging over me slowly like she was assessing damage. “New around here?”

“Very,” I replied coolly, lifting my cup for another sip of the bitter alcohol. My free hand slipped behind me, squeezing Carter’s thigh while my nails pressed lightly into the fabric of his jeans. “Moved here this week from the U.S.”

Her lips curled with amusement before the edge beneath it turned vicious.

“See why he’s interested then. Exotic and temporary.” Her smile cut deeper the longer it stayed. “He’ll leave you dry by tomorrow. After he’s fucked you raw and moved on.”

I smiled right back, syrup-sweet while pressing harder against Carter’s erection, feeling it twitch beneath every slow roll of my hips.

“I’m not interested in dating Carter,” I said softly, letting the truth settle between us. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy him while it lasts.”

Disgust flashed across her face instantly, but underneath it sat something rawer. Hurt twisted tightly into jealousy. “So you’re a slag?”

“Sure,” I murmured, stepping closer before laying my hand lightly against her shoulder. I leaned in just enough for only her to hear me. “I’m just getting mine while he’s getting his. Why not appreciate what God gave us?”

I still had no clue what a slag was, but context clues were carrying me beautifully.

Her eyes flared. Her jaw locked tight. She slapped my hand away hard enough that the crack echoed over the music.

“What garbage did you roll in tonight, Cart?” she snapped, already turning away with exaggerated disgust. “What a waste of space.”

Her little entourage followed close behind, though their eyes lingered on the way Carter’s hands stayed planted firmly against my hips like he physically couldn’t let go.

I watched Breeanna disappear into the crowd while satisfaction curled warmly through my chest. Not because of Carter. Not because I’d “won.” Mostly because girls like her never knew what to do with someone who refused to play by the same rules they did.

“Ira.”

His voice came low from behind me, thick with embarrassment and lingering heat. When I turned around, I caught the stiffness in his shoulders, the subtle way his gaze avoided settling fully on mine. He was still hard against me from all the grinding, still flushed from where his mouth had been on my neck, but Bree had clearly rattled him more than he wanted to admit.

“Ah, sorry ’bout that,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck with the same hand that had been halfway up my shirt minutes ago. “She can be a bit full-on.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I replied breezily, even while a faint headache pulsed behind my temple. The warning sat there quietly, easy enough to ignore while my skin still burned from his hands.

I slid my arms around his shoulders again, reclaiming the space between us while pressing my hardened nipples against his chest.

“So…” I murmured, my voice warm with alcohol and confidence. “Where were we?”

He stepped back too fast, nearly stumbling into the side table beside him.

The laugh burst out of me completely unfiltered.

I bent forward slightly, clutching my chest while the sound spilled out, loud and real, fueled by the alcohol buzzing happily through my bloodstream. Carter steadied himself with a sheepish grin that somehow made the whole thing even funnier.

“Sorry,” he laughed.

“You’re alright,” I replied once I could breathe again, brushing hair from my face. “Honestly? I think it’s cute.”

“Me? Cute?” He lifted a brow, deeply offended and amused at the same time. “That’s a first.”

“You’ll find there are plenty of ways to describe you, Carter,” I said slowly, letting the words settle between us. My hand drifted lazily down his chest until my fingers brushed the bulge in his jeans.

He sucked in a sharp breath instantly.

“And I can explain some of them better…” I added softly, “…in a more secluded place, if you’d like.”