Now I’ve seen him look at me that way, I know I want to see that hunger in his eyes for the rest of my life.
I don’t know, but I think he likes what he sees, judging by the smirk on his face.
I should go flirt with him, but make it look like I’m just being friendly. Nothing to see here.
Since everyone is focusing on Manny and wishing him aHappy Birthday, this moment serves as the perfect opportunity to do just that.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Sawyer
Nova has always been an attractive girl, but there’s something about her tonight. Maybe it’s the way her eyes shine across the dull room like stars in the night sky, or the way her smile is mischievous and knowing, or perhaps she knows she looks hot as fuck in that dress and it’s affecting me. The way the material clings to her body… It makes me want to touch her. And I want her to touch me back.
I don’t mean to stalk toward her, but since everyone is wishing Manny a happy birthday and there’s a commotion with a birthday cake, it seems like the perfect time to steal Nova away for a few minutes.
I glance around to make sure nobody is being overly observant, and luckily they’re not. I’d like to sweep her up into my arms, tell her how pretty she looks, and that blue is amazing on her. Although I wish it could be like that, I won’t let it ruin my mood.
Instead, I stop and switch my direction behind the partition separating the entrance to the pool tables. She stops, lookingaround for me, and I can’t help but smile to myself. It’s a little cat and mouse, but whatever.
As she passes me, I reach out, snagging her by the wrist as I pull her back to my front. It’s a bold and risky move, but it’s dark.
She smells like a fucking summer nights dream; the waft of coconut and vanilla fills my senses. I slide a hand across her belly and she sags against me.
“Lookin’ for someone?”
I hear the mischievousness in her tone when she says, “Maybe.”
I bump her with my hips. “You kept me waiting.”
“Aren’t we a little alpha on steroids?” She turns in my arms. “I kinda like it.”
My eyes stray from hers down her body, lingering on her cleavage. Since I don’t want to look like a fucking weirdo ogling her, I continue my descent, grazing my eyes over every inch of her.
“You look beautiful.”
“Do you like it?” She does a twirl, laughing.
“I like it a lot,” I say, my voice low. I shouldn’t be looking at her like this, not at the clubhouse, but everyone is used to seeing us together, knowing we’re nottogether.I fail to see how this is any different. Granted, I probably wasn’t looking at her like a hungry lion, but we can’t all be saints. “Did you have a good time at the strip club?”
“Yep.” She pops the p loudly. “I saw heaps of hot guys without shirts on.” She leans closer, whispering. “None were as hot as you.”
I grin. “Of course they weren’t.”
She bumps me with her shoulder. “Arrogant, much?”
“Hey, I don’t just wake up lookin’ like this,” I laugh.
She shakes her head. “You’re such a liar. I’ve seen you first thing in the morning with your hair ruffled and half your face smooshed into the pillow…” Her words trail off as we lock eyes.
Fuck.
Fuckity fuck.
A jolt of electricity stirs within me and I know she feels it, too. Is it because we’ve denied each other for this long? Is this why it feels so much more personal? I have to have her; that’s how it feels. She has to be mine. Not just in my bed, but when I come home at night… And I’m getting a little ahead of myself.
I give her a chin lift. “You should head over and get some cake.”