Out of Bounds (The Summer Games #2)(69)

Brie’s mouth hung open as Noah acquiesced and sauntered away. The jealousy I’d felt watching her with him was enough to provoke me into confrontation. I’d prepared myself for the slew of athletes she’d attract. I’d told myself to give her space and let it happen, but when Noah leaned in close and made her smile, my fists could have crushed coal into diamond. The entire night, I’d wanted to walk over and rip him away from her. One clean punch and he’d never so much as look at her again.

And Brie knew what she was doing. She was long legs in that short black dress, sexy hair dipping down her back, silky skin on full display. The second I’d spotted her on the dance floor, I’d wanted to walk over and steal her, press my lips to hers and brand her as my own in front of everyone, but instead, I’d kept my fist wrapped around my drink and forced my attention back to the group of coaches.

Brie wasn’t mine.

She didn’t belong to me.

For thirty minutes I’d told myself to back off, to let the kid try his best to tame her. He was a much better match for her than I was: simple, easy, young.

Thirty minutes had passed like ten years and now I was finished being patient. I was done watching him touch what was mine.

“Let’s go,” I said, ushering Brie away from the bar and leading her through the crowded room.

She jerked out of my grasp, turning back over her shoulder. “I need to let the girls know I’m leaving so they don’t look for me.”

“I already told them,” I said. “They’ll be leaving shortly as well.”

She stopped and turned. “Then just let me go with them.”

My fists clenched by my side. “Brie, so f*cking help me, if you won’t just listen to me now, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out.”

“Oh please.” She groaned, spitting fire with her gaze. “You think you can just ignore me for two days and then I’ll come crawling after you? Jesus, you’re insane. You completely ignored me in front of all those coaches. Do you know how embarrassing that was?”

I pulled her out of the ballroom, dragging her out onto the street after me. She didn’t stay quiet.

“Let me go or I’ll scream.”

If anyone cared enough to watch us, it definitely looked like I was trying to kidnap her. Fortunately, no one cared enough to stop me.

When we were down the street, in front of a dark alley and away from prying eyes, I turned to her and raked a hand through my hair. Her pupils were dilated, her eyes narrowed in anger. She bit her bottom lip in frustration and waited for me to give her some answers.

“Ask me why I ignored you. Ask me why I had to turn away from you in that group. Ask me why I can’t stand the thought of you going home with that guy. Ask me why I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night, wishing you were on top of me.”

She swallowed slowly, eyes pinned on me.

“Ask me,” I said, backing her up into the alley behind us.

“There you go, always making me ask for something instead of just giving it,” she said, forcing her chin up. “You want me to ask you? Well sorry, but I don’t care.”

She stumbled on something as she walked backward. I reached out to catch her, steadying her against my body.

“Fucking ask me,” I said, bending down to capture her lips in a kiss.

She pulled back, breaking off our kiss before I could even taste her.

“Why don’t you go f*ck yourself?” she asked. “There’s a better question.”

She moved to push past me, but I caught her wrist and spun her around so her back was flush with my chest. I had her arm bent across her body and though she struggled, I didn’t ease up.

“Let me go,” she said with a shaky breath. I could feel her against me. I knew how turned on she was, how much she loved this war between us.

“Say it like you mean it and I’ll obey,” I said, waiting for her to push me away for good.

Silence.

“Who did you wear that dress for? Noah?” I asked, reaching up to guide my free hand over her neck so I could tilt her head back and press a kiss to the exposed skin just above her breasts.

“I wanted to send him a message,” she said.

“Yeah?” I dragged my hand up the inside of her thigh and listened to her take in a sharp breath.

“I wanted him to take me back to his condo and throw me onto his bed and force my legs apart.” She paused. “Noah always knew how to touch me.”

I bit back a smirk. Of course he did. That’s why you’re here right now, about to let me f*ck you against a concrete wall.

“Where did he touch you?” She couldn’t move while I had her arm gripped in front of her chest. “Here?” I asked, sliding my hand beneath her dress, feeling the smooth curve of her thigh. Her panties were lacy, thin, drenched.

“Erik.”

“Does he know how easy it is to make you come? Does he know what you sound like when someone licks you here?”

My thumb brushed against the wetness on her panties and she let her eyes flutter closed.

“Stop.”

“You’re wet. I can feel you and I haven’t even ripped these off yet,” I said, pushing her panties aside. I knew the night air was hitting her bare skin and I knew it was driving her insane that I hadn’t touched her yet. My hand was holding the lace away, freeing her for me. “Does thinking about Noah turn you on? Or are you ready to admit the truth?”