Where Lightning Strikes (Bleeding Stars #3)(36)

He huffed in frustration. “I know exactly who you are, my friend. And you’re nothing but a fool.”

Tamar took that moment to duck under the bar to come strutting our way, looking like my favorite fantasy. Flimsy-white blouse, tight black leather pants, five-inch killer heels. She stirred up a tornado in her path. She turned every damned head in the place as she went, every guy panting for a taste when the girl was only looking my way.

Red.

That side of her was in full force.

Damn. The girl was a gorgeous nightmare.

My chest tightened like a fist.

Maybe I had met my match.

She balanced a tray on her hand, all fire and sass when that gaze bounced around our table. She set a tiny shot of Jager in front of Zee. “There you go, handsome,” she said.

A ripple of embarrassment bled out in Zee’s laughter. “Are you trying to make me look like a sissy boy? I know I’m the youngest and all…but seriously, I think I can handle a whole shot.”

He was grinning full by the end.

“Nah.” She smiled at him with a wink. “I just know you’re way smarter than these two who seem to think it’s a good idea to drink their weight in alcohol night after night.”

“Ouch.” Ash slammed his hand over his heart. “Just what are you implying, darlin’?”

She placed a tumbler down in front of him, the short, fat glass swimming full of near-black liquid. “Don’t worry, you know I love you.”

Ash gave her his best dimpled smile. “Oh, Tam Tam, you are my dream girl. Bringing me drinks without even having to ask for them.”

“And it’s a triple,” she said.

“I’m in love. That’s it, someone find me a ring. I’m dropping to one knee and proposing right now.”

She laughed and pushed at his shoulder. “Save your breath, buddy.”

Ash grabbed her hand. “Come on, Tam Tam, we’d make magic together. Almost as good as the magic I make in the studio. Let’s do this.”

He slanted me a wide-eyed glance, baiting me, while Zee looked at me with a sly grin. “You gonna sit there and let him talk about your girl like that?”

My girl?

What the f*ck?

Assholes. Both of them. Goading me like I had something to give.

Both of them were so good at pointing out what wasn’t there.

As if I’d ever deserve her.

Tamar’s expression softened when she turned toward me. Everything about her seemed to turn timid. She leaned down and looked at me from under her lashes and slowly slid a drink toward me. It was completely unlike the others.

Bright neon-blue liquid danced within the walls of the glass.

Hypnotic.

Just like her.

At the thought of the special red-headed slut she’d made me, I eyed it warily, though excitement went twisting through my gut at the same time. “What’s this?”

“It’s a Blue-eyed Angel.” She whispered it close to my ear, where only I could hear. Her warm breath tickled at my neck. All my blood went stampeding south.

Blue.

And I got it. She was offering a side of herself to me that she didn’t let anyone else see.

The innocent side.

The side that was broken and soft and pure.

And she was trusting me with it.

I grabbed the drink and tossed it back.

Yeah. Assholes were right. At least for a little while, the girl was mine.





I GLANCED AT THE clock.

Five minutes to go. I felt anxious. Excited and nervous as if I was welcoming an old friend home, mixed with an undercurrent of fear.

Standing in front of my full-length mirror, I took in my appearance, my skinny jeans ripped at the knee, tight-fitted black tee with a cool print, and the only boots I owned that didn’t have a heel.

Yeah, my hair was pinned up the way I knew Lyrik liked it, because when it came to him, I was a sucker like that.

Wear something comfortable because I want you on the back of my bike.

That’s what he’d told me while we were saying goodbye at my door last night. He’d insisted on following me home after work, then informed me he was taking me out today since it was Sunday and I had the next two days off.

He’d shot me one of those deadly smiles and dropped a peck of a kiss against my lips, before he’d backed away while I’d melted against my door.

I’d been disappointed he didn’t ask to come in.

I guess that was the answer to all my questions, what-ifs, and internal warnings.

I wanted him.

I wanted what he was willing to give, even though I had the sinking feeling it was never going to be enough.

This boy was going to scar me in an entirely different way.

Three knocks echoed from the door. Taking in a deep breath, I strode from my bedroom, then opened it without all the reservations I’d expected to feel.

That breath left me in a whoosh.

Lyrik stood in my doorway. Filled it, really. His presence so thick and potent it shook my knees. Black hair blowing in the breeze. Eyes playful.

“Hey,” he said with a smirk ticking up at the corner of his mouth. A hint of that cockiness made a resurgence as he leaned his shoulder against the jamb and let his gaze wander over me.

I quirked a brow. “Hey.”

He grinned. “Hope you’re ready.”