Throttle Me (Men of Inked, #1)(35)

Placing my hands on his shoulders, I tried to keep some distance between us, but Derek didn’t get the hint. His body felt nothing like City’s, there was no hardness to it. Derek’s hands roamed my back as he swayed our bodies side to side to the music as I gave in, letting him control our movement. He didn’t speak as he moved us back and forth to the beat. Time passed slowly and I felt like I had been wrapped in his arms for hours with an escape.

When the song ended Derek broke the embrace and backed up to look at me. He gave me a silly grin, “Thank you.”

“For what?” I yelled as the music began to thump through the speakers.

“The dance, Suzy. I loved having you in my arms,” he said, as he reached for my hand and kissed the top.

“You’re a sweet guy, Derek.” I blushed. He wasn’t a bad guy – he just wasn’t City.

“Another drink?”


“If I didn’t know any better, Derek, I’d think you’re trying to get me drunk.”

He smiled, his face turning pink as he pushed on my back and led me off the dance floor. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

We passed a set of couches and something drew my attention. There before me was a woman in a skin tight barely there dress with red stiletto heels and long brown hair. The woman didn’t draw my attention but the man’s lap she sat on, City. He didn’t notice me as he talked to her, giving her his total attention. His hand rested on her ass as she nibbled on his lips. I wanted to throw up. He didn’t seem to have a problem forgetting me.

Bile rose in my throat at the sight of the two of them together. I’d spent the entire day trying to forget him without success but he had moved on to someone else. “I’ll take you up on that offer, Derek.” No longer able to watch City with another woman, I walked to the bar with Derek right behind me. Derek only had eyes for me tonight and the smile on his face made it clear that I had made him happy with my response.

Even though I had been the one that ignored him, it still stung to see him enjoying the company of another woman. “What’ll it be, sweetheart?” The bartender asked me as she leaned against the bar with a smile in her Euphoria tank top.

“Shot of anything sweet and another raspberry martini, please.”

“I’ll have another Miller,” Derek said before she walked away. “A shot, huh?”

“It’s Saturday night and I could use a little something stronger.”

“I didn’t know you were a drinker, Suzy.” He grabbed our drinks, pushing mine in front of me before throwing down a twenty for the bartender.

“I’m not, but what the hell. Why not?” I shrugged before picking up the shot and smelling it. Raspberry something or other but I wasn’t quite sure. It would do the job and help dull the pang of jealousy I felt from seeing him with the girl in red. “To life and love,” I said, raising my glass before swallowing the sweet concoction.

Derek tipped his beer in my direction and watched me as he raised it to his lips. “Why aren’t you taken?” he asked from behind the brown bottle.

I shrugged. “Looking for the right one.” The martini sloshed the glass as I brought it to my lips too quick. One drink and a shot and I didn’t give a f*ck that some of it splashed on my breasts. Tears stung my eyes as I gulped the martini and hoped that it put my brain in a temporary haze. The feel of a hand touching my breast caused me to jerk sending the last bit of raspberry heaven to the floor. “What the f*ck?” I said looking down to see Derek’s hand move away from my breast.

“Sorry,” he grinned. “Just thought I’d help you with that little spill.” He sucked on his fingers as he stared at my chest.

My lips snarled as I put my face close to his, “No matter how drunk I am, you don’t touch me without asking. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, raising his hand to salute me.

What a cocksucker. Poking him in the chest I spoke very slowly. “I mean it, smart ass. Do. Not. Touch. Me.” I paused after each word making sure he understood. Turning away, I looked in the mirror and saw the red dress still sitting on City’s lap and my fingernails dug into the wooden bar.

“Okay, Suzy. Let me make it up to you since I made you spill your drink. Let me buy you another?”

I closed my eyes, rubbing the bridge of my nose, before turning my attention back to Derek. “I don’t think so, Derek. Will you just take me home?”

“One more, Suzy. I swear I’ll keep my hands to myself. I don’t want the night to end like this. Please.”

I studied his face and he looked genuine with a sad smile and pleading eyes. I held up my index finger to him. “One more and then I want to go.”

“Excellent.” He raised his hand in the air and snapped his fingers, grabbing the attention of the bartender.

Leaning against the bar, my eyes kept wandering back to the mirror. The third martini was easier to drink and my legs felt weak and the bar became necessary to keep me from tipping over. Derek chattered in my ear and kept his distance as we polished off the third drink.

“Ready?” he asked as he set the empty bottle on the counter.

“Are you okay to drive?” I asked. I may be drunk but I knew enough to ask.

“Yeah, I can handle more than three beers, babe.”