Pieces of Us (Confessions of the Heart, #3)(94)

He tipped his ear her direction, and motherfuck, I was gettin’ sweaty.

Hot and bothered and not in a cute way.

He angled back, mouth at the shell of her ear, and Izzy nodded along.

And that was it, all I could take. I drained my beer and slammed the empty on the table. Pushing out of the booth, I rose to stand.

Ian laughed. Smug as all hell.

Asshole.

But I didn’t slow, just strode across the floor, eating up the ground, going after what I refused to ever lose again.

The crew of the band that were playing tonight were setting up. A DJ spun canned music from the speakers, amping the crowd into a frenzied anticipation.

The throng pulsed on the packed dancefloor, shouting their excitement as a guitar screamed with a strum, the clatter on the stage only adding to the intensity.

Alive and vibrating with energy.

I shouldered through the mob.

Every footstep quivered with need.

Shivered with possession.

From the distance, I watched as Izzy introduced him to all the girls, handshakes going up all around. Dr. Dickbag smiled his sleazy, white smile, pretty boy nothing but manners.

Strange how it left me feeling not so polite.

I prowled up behind her and wound an arm around her waist. Pulled her flush to my front.

She didn’t even tense when she leaned back into my hold, like she already felt me coming, the girl perfection in my arms. She rocked her head back on my chest, and those hazel eyes were glimmering with mischief in the light, sexy mouth hitching up at the side.

I grunted, pressed my mouth to the side of her face. “Izzy Baby. You trying to drive me out of my mind?”

A giggle rippled out of her, one I felt rather than heard. “Whatever are you talkin’ about?”

It was a taunt. A tease of that mouth.

I shifted my attention to Izzy’s boss, and I shoved out my hand.

All friendly like.

“Don’t think we’ve officially met. Mack Chambers. Izzy’s boyfriend.”

Could feel the knowing stares of Faith and Grace, two of them knowing exactly what had sent me sniffing around over here.

Busted.

Fine.

I didn’t even think to care.

Courtney continued to dance, oblivious the way that she always seemed to be.

Apparently, this asshole didn’t get the clue. He looked between my hand and Izzy’s face, wary, before he shook my hand. “Trevor Nelson. Good to meet you.”

“You, too. Izzy tells me she loves the new job.”

Did my best to sound gracious.

Pretty sure it came out sounding like I was a hot second from tearing him limb from limb.

He looked at her. “We love having her there. She’s saved our asses in more ways than I can count.”

“She is pretty amazing.” Okay, maybe that time I came off as halfway sane and not some controlling prick, which was the last thing I wanted to be.

But fuck.

This was Izzy we were talking about.

Little Bird.

A flood of self-consciousness rippled across that pale flesh, heat rising. Lust tightened my guts because I would never, ever get enough.

“And I love workin’ there. I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity.”

He glanced away before he looked back at her with a sly smile. “Think I’ll be forever grateful, too.”

Anger surged, and I was assaulted with another rush of jealousy. Teeth grinding at this prick who was outright flirting with my girl. I tucked her closer, and just then the song playing skipped, and the DJ changed beats, his voice coming on the air.

“Who is ready for Carolina George?”

A bunch of shouts went up around us, a wave of excitement sending a swell of energy moving through the crowd.

Everyone turned that way—Faith and Grace, Courtney, Cockroach, too.

Couldn’t forget about him.

All except for Izzy and me.

Slowly, she shifted around to face me. A coy grin danced on that delicious mouth.

She pressed her hand to the jackhammer wreaking havoc on my chest and lifted up onto her toes, those lips so close to mine. Driving me wild. “Are you jealous, Maxon Chambers?”

I grunted again, my dick all too eager, hips surging forward to meet with hers. “Yes,” I growled along her jaw.

No use in denying it.

An uproar lit around us, and I didn’t have to look away from my beacon to know the band had taken the stage.

“Hey, hey, Charleston. I’m Emily, and I’m pretty sure all you ladies know Richard here on guitar, Rhys on bass, and Leif on drums, and we are Carolina George!” The lead singer of the band shouted into the mic.

It almost caused a riot.

Izzy and I were lost in it. I let my arm slip around her waist, and I wedged my knee between her thighs. She groaned a tiny groan. My dick jumped. “You were doing it on purpose, weren’t you,” I rumbled over the bedlam that had struck up around us.

“Maybe you just needed a little reminder of what you’d been missin’.”

I spread my palm out over her hip. “None required. Living without you was enough. I won’t stand by and let some guy who just met you try to make his move.”

She tickled her fingers over my lips. “Awful possessive.”

I nipped at her fingertips. “Is that what you want? Me to let you go? I’ll fight for you, Izzy Lane, but if you really wanted to walk? If you really didn’t feel this burning between us? Then I would let you go. Only because I want you happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”