Diamonds (All that Glitters #1)(11)

“Because I f*cked some other girl after.” He shrugged. “Didn’t f*cking mean anything, Bri. Just made me miss you. So, now, I’m home, and I want you. I want my girl.”

Bryna slapped him across the face. “You said we never broke up!”

He grabbed her hand and pushed it down. “And you f*cking said we did.”

“You can’t have it both ways, Gates! You can’t f*ck some bitch and claim that she didn’t mean anything, and then come crawling back to me. That’s not how this f*cking works, you prick!” She wriggled out of his grasp and sat up on the bed. What an arrogant ass!

“What?” he growled, grabbing her wrists again. She tried to move away from him but he held her steady. “You think you can decide when we’re over and f*ck someone, but as soon as I do, you decide to slap me? Fuck that, Bri. I’ve known you for too damn long not to know your games when I see one. I’m not a game. You break up with me to f*ck some other dude, then you have to f*cking know I’m going to do whatever the f*ck I want.”

She shook her head furiously. “Let me go, Gates. Let me go, and get the f*ck off of me!”

“You are never going to find anyone who gets your insanity as much as I do.” He wasn’t just angry. He was pissed. She could see him gaining momentum in his argument. “And I don’t just like it. It f*cking turns me on. So, get it out of your head that this changes shit.”

“I know exactly how much this changes things.” Her breathing was heavy, her chest heaving, as she pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes.

He looked murderous. His eyes were blazing, and his hands were tightening around her small wrists.

Then, as if the dam broke, his lips were on hers. Their bodies tangled together, and a heated fury seemed to sweep over them, pounding through their veins and overtaking their senses.

Gates ripped her shirt over her head and then removed the remainder of their clothing. Suddenly, the air was thick in the room, and she had trouble breathing. The sexual tension was high. Thoughts shattered as desire took over.

He surged into her, and there was only feeling.

The feel of his body pressed against her, driving into her. The feel of their skin damp with sweat. The feel of him sliding in and out, bringing her to new heights, with the practiced ease of someone who knew her body.

Then, the feel of release, and everything else came back.

The sound of her screams and his grunts of ecstasy. The look of victory that shot across his face. The taste and smell of sex in the air.

Gates rolled over next to her and sighed. “That’s my girl.”

“I’M GLAD YOU FINALLY CAME TO YOUR SENSES,” Gates said.

He sauntered into her bedroom in a tuxedo. His dark hair was perfectly tousled, and he was sporting some well-groomed scruff that he claimed was necessary since he had to be clean-shaven on set.

“Just because I’m going to this party with you does not mean I’ve come to my senses,” Bryna said, rolling her eyes. She was going because Jude still hadn’t f*cking called, and being around Gates was so easy.

“Whatever you have to tell yourself.”

She ignored him and twirled in place. “Well, how do I look?” She had picked out a floor-length white lace gown with a plunge neckline and a slit that ran up to her upper thigh on one side.

“Perfect,” he murmured. “It’s just…”

“What?”

He sent her a bemused smile. “Virginal white?”

“Well, I am so pure.” Bryna slid her hand up her exposed thigh.

His eyes followed the movement, and he stepped toward her.

“I could remind you just how pure you are,” he said, backing her up into the trifold mirror.

Bryna held her head high and gave him a detached look. “Maybe later.”

“I’m taking you up on that. I’ve been back for two weeks. This cat-and-mouse game has gone on long enough.”

She batted her eyes lashes. “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

She brushed past him and then dropped her seductive smile. She had been conflicted about things with Gates since he got back. They had slept together that first day, and even though they had been together a handful of times since then, she was still holding him back and making him work for it.

She just couldn’t stop thinking about Jude. She knew it was ridiculous. He’d never called, which meant he wasn’t interested. Still, she felt like there had been a connection, one she was lacking with Gates. And she didn’t want to lead Gates on. She would always care about him, but she was starting to see more and more that the breakup hadn’t been just because she wanted to sleep with someone else.

“I’m sure you don’t,” Gates said, grabbing her ass, before they walked through the door.

Gates had rented a limo for the occasion, and they sipped champagne on the way into the city. Bryna was pleasantly buzzed by the time they reached the venue. Once they pulled up to the entrance, she stepped out of the limo and into a world of glitz and glamour.

The club was a known celebrity hotspot, so paparazzi always staked out the entrance. A velvet rope held back a line full to bursting. Gates slid out of the car behind her, casually draping his arm around her waist. At a glance, the ushers opened the doors, and they were whisked inside.

The lights were low, the music served as a seductive backbeat, and the people were more beautiful than ever.