Before You (Before You #1)(17)

“No, but I have a king.”

“I forgot that a king is wild.”

“So, how long have you and Cam been together?”

“About seven years, but we’ve been friends for much longer.” Bre tossed a few cards on the pile. “What about you and Katie?”

Jax sighed. “Katie and I aren’t together.”

Bre released a sudden bark of laughter. “You’ve told me that before, but every time I see you, she’s around.”

“Katie and I have known each other for a long time—since we were kids. Our families are really close. We have a shared history. I can’t just kick her out of my life because I’m not interested in her as more than a friend.”

“And as an occasional closet buddy,” Bre added, throwing another card on the pile.

“I think I should be offended that you keep bringing that up,” he replied gravely, throwing a card on the pile with a ghost of a smile dancing in the corners of his mouth.

Unable to keep a straight face, Bre picked of the glass of bourbon and drank it. “I don’t have anything that adds up to nine.”

“I think you’re trying to change the subject,” he said smoothly, grabbing her hand as she reached for two more cards. “And I’m out of cards. You lose.”

Her cheeks heated when she felt the warmth of his hand on top of hers. Strange, it was such a simple touch, but one that made her insides flutter. “You cheated. I don’t think you took more than one or two shots!” she blurted out, trying to ignore the confusing feelings swirling inside of her.

“I had a winning strategy. You followed my lead instead of coming up with your own game plan,” he said softly, his eyes trained on her parted lips.

Jax either started pulling her toward him or she started leaning toward him, she wasn’t sure which. The way his thumb delicately stroked her wrist scattered her alcohol-soaked wits, and it took her a few seconds to remember to breathe. Bre stared at his mouth; completely fascinated by the sensual curve of his lips and she just barely resisted the urge to wet her own lips in anticipation.

With his mouth only inches from hers, he whispered, “You can’t look at me like that, Bre. I’m trying to be good. I know you’re Cam’s girl and the band’s important to me, but there’s only so much I can resist, and when you look at me like that I want to ignore all the reasons why kissing you is a really bad idea.”

Unable to speak, she closed her eyes, trying to regain her senses, but it was hard when she could feel his heated gaze and his warm bourbon breath tickling her face. She knew the rational thing to do was push him away, but she didn’t want to. His lips brushed hers, moving slowly, causing a tingling sensation that she suspected wasn’t a figment of her imagination. “Hmmm…” she murmured, draping her arms carelessly over his shoulders, breathing in the smell of him, wanting to be closer to him, wanting more of him, wanting to forget everything but him.

As he wrapped his arms around her waist, his tongue caressed hers once, then twice, and then his fingers began tracing the skin on her thigh just below her hemline at an indecently slow pace. Just as he started lowering her to the floor, inching his body between her legs, she heard laughter outside the still open door. Bre’s eyes popped open.

“Jax always hides out in his room when he gets in his moods.” Bre froze, recognizing Katie’s shrill voice.

“Maybe he knows where Bre is. I haven’t seen her for over three hours.”

“Probably not, you know how Jax is with his personal space.”

Bre’s eyes blinked in confusion. Then, suddenly she scrambled backwards and onto her feet, nearly tripping over the almost empty bottle of bourbon.

“It’s Cam,” she mouthed to Jax, bracing her hands on the footboard of his bed, completely shaken, but oddly disappointed by the loss of contact with him.

Jax nodded, pushing himself from the floor. He walked over to his guitar and started absently playing with the strings.

Cam and Katie walked through the door. Bre’s gaze drifted to Cam’s arm dangling from Katie’s shoulder. Cam stopped abruptly when he saw Bre. Then his eyes landed on Jax.

“Hey, what are you guys doing in here?” Cam questioned his eyes narrowing on the cards spread out on the floor.

“Not much, just leaving to join the party.” Jax’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Cam dropped his arm from Katie’s shoulder and walked toward Bre. “Hey, babe.” He kissed her quick and hard on her lips. Then he pulled back from her, his eyes searching hers. Bre had to force herself to remain still and not wipe her lips clean. Her lips felt dirty. She wanted the tingling sensation back. “What happened to you? I looked all over the house for you. Until I saw your bag in foyer, I started wondering if you went home.”

“Um…” Bre murmured, discomforted by the situation. “Well, I’m right here,” she finished weakly.

“Hey, Katie. Let’s give these two some privacy.” Jax laughed and then grabbed Katie’s hand, threading his fingers through hers and pulling her toward the door. Stopping at the entrance, he looked over his shoulder. “Your bedroom for the night is two doors down, so don’t get any ideas about making use of mine.”

Cam leaned into her, kissing her neck and running his hands up her sides. She couldn’t find the will or desire to respond. Instead, her eyes lingered on Jax’s back as he walked out of the room, hand in hand with Katie, laughing as if nothing happened between them a few minutes ago. Every second of shared laughter poured through her veins like a bucket of ice water. She couldn’t believe she had nearly thrown away her relationship with Cam for a passing moment that obviously meant nothing to Jax. With that thought, the giddiness from the shots of bourbon faded into something that vaguely resembled queasiness.