Reckless Retribution (West Warriors Book 1) (18 page)

Lifting his head to face me, he set his hands on the wall on either side of me, and his flirtatious look and tone changed almost immediately. “I’ll hurt you,” he said as genuinely as I have ever heard or seen him. “Not in a physical way,” he quickly backtracked his words. “But I will, and I don’t want to.”

I frowned at his comment. “Why will you hurt me?”

He thought about his answer and scratched the back of his shaved head. “I need to get back.” He straightened up off the wall, taking a step away from me, ready to leave.

I was confused by his behavior. He was almost desperate to know if I liked him, and now he was desperate to leave after admitting he would end up hurting me. He backed up a little more, and I could tell he was struggling with what he wanted to say, but couldn’t, or didn’t want to let himself. I realized it was now or never; I either let this opportunity pass, or I own it and tell him how I feel about him.

He was the one who had brought this up. He was curious and wanted an answer, so he’d get one. He stood watching me silently, internal conflict evident on his face. I reached out and grabbed his top, pulling his mouth to mine. For a brief moment, I was terrified he wouldn’t kiss me back or that he would push me away. But he didn’t. His hand went through my hair, cupping the back of my head as he pressed his mouth into mine, kissing me back, his mouth hungry for mine. Tilting his head slightly, he deepened the kiss and his tongue gently placed toe-curling licks onto mine. I slid my hand up his muscular back toward his neck, and he suddenly pulled away from me.

Shocked by the sudden reaction, I froze. He didn’t say anything; he just stood looking at me, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. I wasn’t too sure what he was thinking, and I wondered if this time he was going to cut and run. Slowly, he moved toward me and his mouth came back to mine. This time, he pressed his full body against me, and I could feel how hard he was through his jeans.

I wanted him more than ever. I wanted him to take away the ache I had for him. His mouth moved to my neck, where his lips trailed delicious kisses down, and closing my eyes, I whimpered at his touch. His mouth then moved away and never came back. Opening my eyes, I found him watching me again before his eyes closed, and he brought his forehead to rest against mine. “We probably shouldn’t be doing this.” He opened his eyes again, looking down at me through his thick lashes.

“Why?” I asked. I didn’t want to stop this moment between us.

He stood up straight and dug his hands into his pocket. “Nothing.” He turned his head and looked out toward the noise of the crowd.

“What?” I prompted.

He gave a shrug. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say, and I didn’t know what my reaction would be if he mentioned a certain fifty-year-old man’s name. “I… I just….” He furrowed his brow and shook his head. “I’m sorry.” A look of guilt crossed his face, and I knew he was being sincere with his conflicting emotions.

I couldn’t help feeling upset that he couldn’t even relax enough without the fear that Kal would somehow find out. “I need to get back to Taylor anyway,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment at his sudden change of mind. It made me feel like he was being a tease, giving me a piece of him then taking it away. The small thing I could take from this was that at least our feelings for each other were out in the open. Well, as ‘in the open’ as they could be. I didn’t know where that kiss left us, but it would obviously have to stay where it was for now.

Leaving his side, I prayed he would pull me back to him and tell me he’d made a mistake, but he didn’t. Instead, he watched me walk away. Weaving through the busy club, I made my way back to Taylor, who was still in deep conversation with Jake at the bar. They hadn’t moved from the spot I’d left them in. Any tension that was between them had obviously simmered because they were exchanging sweet smiles. Coming to a halt next to her, I realized I had completely sobered up after being with Jamie. I offered to get us more drinks, and thankfully, she didn’t question why I was gone for so long. While ordering more mojitos at the bar, I spotted Jamie, who was now standing with the guys and some other friends at the opposite side of the club. Luckily, they weren’t facing us, so I was hidden from their view—or rather, Jamie’s view.

The bartender handed me the drinks and, taking them over to Taylor, I drank mine in no time, trying to rid the thought of Jamie and how sexually frustrated I was feeling. I was also frustrated this was supposed to be a girls’ night, and Jake was now encroaching on that. He could make it up to Taylor on
his
time. She was happy now that they’d forgiven each other, which was all that mattered.

The DJ started playing some good music, and I had the urge to dance and let my hair down. “Let’s dance,” I shouted to Taylor above the music. She nodded, and Jake muttered something along the lines of meeting her out on the terrace, but I turned and walked toward the dance floor before he could completely finish his sentence.

We danced for a solid twenty minutes, and the guys, unfortunately, sat near the edge of the dance floor, where I was no longer hidden from view. Jamie’s eyes continually strayed from whoever he was talking to, over to me, then back to his friend. But they never stayed on his friend for too long. Getting lost in the music, I really worked my body to the beat with Taylor, catching the attention of a small group of frat guys. One in particular, who had taken a liking to me, was hammered, but hey, the attention didn’t bother me. I let him run his hands down my waist and he pressed me to him as we danced.

Taylor laughed and held her hands up in front of her in warning to his friends when they tried to do the same to her. Subtly, I looked over to Jamie and saw his face was like thunder. He tipped his head back and chugged from his beer bottle, draining the contents, then slammed the bottle onto the bar. When another beer was placed in front of him, he picked that up and took a long swig, his eyes never leaving my dance partner.

I started to feel uncomfortable with the murderous glare he was giving the frat guy, and how unfair it would be for him if Jamie unleashed himself on the innocent guy. Turning me around to face him, he was ready to move in for the kill. Dodging his lips, I spoke in his ear and told him I was going to dance with my girlfriend for a while. He groaned and begrudgingly turned back to his friends.

Dancing my way over to Taylor, I saw she had found some of our college friends and was dancing along with them. When I appeared by her side, she burst out laughing and shook her head at me as I approached. “Did you get his number?” she shouted above the music.

I screwed my face up in disgust. “No. He’s not my type,” I yelled in her ear, looking over at Jamie, whose expression had relaxed somewhat. I never used to have a ‘type’, but meeting him, he was definitely mine. Average height, muscular, tanned body, and a closely shaved head, who just so happened to be a powerful cage fighter. Who I may have just blew things with. What was I thinking?

“C’mon, let’s refresh.” She made a drinking motion with her hand. We made our way back through the crowded dance floor and the DJ began to play “Low”
by Flo Rida. Suddenly, we were forced to stop in our tracks. Ahead of us, Jamie and Leon were having some kind of dance off, working their bodies and acting out the lyrics of the song. Jamie’s facial expressions as he sang along were sexy as hell. As he concentrated on the dance moves, his mouth formed the perfect pout, which kept turning into a wicked grin when he looked at Leon. Everyone around them had turned to watch and were whooping and cheering them on.

We stood watching them, fascinated. Leon was a great dancer too, and I wondered if their cage fighting had a lot to do with why they could move so well. Jamie lowered himself and was grinding his hips as he stroked an imaginary ass. It was almost erotic, and even Taylor turned around to me, eyes wide and flustered. Before we knew it, the song ended, and the boys playfully high-fived each other and grabbed their beers. I needed to be hosed down with cold water.

“Nice work, boys,” Taylor shouted, as she sauntered past. Leon stuck his hand out for a high-five and she gave it a slap. Jamie didn’t react to her compliment; he just cradled his beer, his eyes trained on me. Marc pulled her in for a playful hug, and she giggled and shimmied out of his hands. I stopped to talk with Leon, and some girls approached them, obviously wanting a bit of attention after their sexy show. Jamie, again, didn’t respond to their affection, even though I thought he would have done so to get back at me for my antics on the dance floor earlier.

“I’ll meet you outside on the terrace. I’m going to see Jake.” Taylor pointed in the direction of where she was heading. I nodded, and Jamie suddenly took off behind her. I wondered if he wanted to keep his distance from me because of the frat guy. I hoped not.

After speaking with the guys for a little while, I made my way through the busy club to the terrace. A hand curled around my wrist, slowing my walk, and I spun my head around to look at who was grabbing me. I was met with a very serious-looking Jamie. He led me to one side, away from the crowd. He was beginning to have a habit of pulling me into secluded areas, and I didn’t ask how he knew where they all were. Leaning his back against the wall, he pulled me close to him, and I braced myself for what he was going to say. Guilt flooded me for teasing him.

“I need to kiss you again,” he said, his voice slightly husky. He tilted my chin up, and when our lips met, the ache I had for him came back instantly. I couldn’t believe
he
was kissing
me
. Maybe he wasn’t as angry as I thought over the frat guy. But at the back of my mind, though, was a niggling doubt that I should not be letting him kiss me. I was setting myself up for rejection again. He gently pulled away from me, and suddenly, he looked serious. “I’ve been wanting to do that again all night. Watching you dance with that guy….” He hissed in air through his clenched teeth and shook his head. “I wanted to kill him.”

“Sorry.” I winced. I should never have messed with him like that. It was a dangerous game, and Jamie being Jamie, I could never predict what he was going to do. He could have just killed the guy without warning.

“Next time, nothing will stop me.”

“I’m….” His mouth slammed into mine before I could finish my second apology. His hands ran down my body, all over my curves, and boy did it feel good. One hand stopped on my behind, while the other came into contact with my bare thigh underneath my dress. Reaching under his T-shirt, I trailed my fingers down his spine, and he arched into me, breathing a very sexy moan into my mouth.

Breaking the contact, he brought his thumb up to my mouth and traced my bottom lip, his eyes following the path. When his eyes looked up to meet mine, I could see the desire in them, which must have been reflecting my own. I ran my finger from under his chin, down his throat, to the center of his chest, and down to the waistband of his jeans, where I ran my finger along the inside. Thoughts of him naked were making my panties damp.

“You’re driving me fucking crazy, you know that?” he breathed, before his mouth went to my neck just where I liked it. His tongue gently licked my skin as he trailed soft kisses down the column.

“Ah, Jamie,” I moaned.

Grabbing hold of my thigh, he lifted my leg and wrapped it around his hip, pressing himself into me. In a swift move, he had both of my legs wrapped around him, and he slowly slid down the wall, sinking us to the floor so I was straddling him. His hands fisted my hair while his mouth devoured mine, and his hard erection pressed deliciously at my core. I couldn’t help but grind my hips on top of him, and a deep groan vibrated from his chest.

His hands moved under my dress, where he squeezed my behind with both hands, putting gentle pressure on me so I sank farther on top of him. I needed to come, even if it was like this. I needed the release. I bit my lip and closed my eyes as he watched how much I wanted him, needed him.

With a growl, he suddenly pulled me off and set me down on the floor next to him. “Fuck,” he snapped, jumping up and running his hands agitatedly over his face.

“What?” I asked breathlessly, trying to come to.

“I can’t do this. I shouldn’t be doing this.” He started to pace the floor in front of me.

I couldn’t believe what he was doing again. He was driving me insane. I couldn’t cope with his constant change of mind because of his loyalty to Kal. He either wanted me, or he didn’t. Yes or no. Not both!

Standing up, I glared at him. “You’re nothing but a tease, Jamie. You’re giving me a little bit, and then changing your mind, and I-I’m not having it,” I stammered, trying to come down from the hot mess he’d turned me into.

“I’m not teasing you, I swear.” He moved his hands away from his mouth, pleading.

“Then why do you keep doing it?”

“Do you think I like this?” He narrowed his eyes at me.

I shrugged. I didn’t know what he was doing or how he felt anymore. But
I
felt like a yo-yo. “It’s all or nothing, Jamie. I’m not some fucking toy. You’re a head-fuck. Stay the hell away from me.” I stormed away from him before he could open his mouth. I now realized this little ‘thing’ we had was never going to go anywhere. Ever. Why was I even wasting my time? Trying to subdue my anger, I headed for the terrace. A group of guys were crowding around the door, and I felt slightly intimidated squeezing through them, but one of them was kind enough to hold the door open for me. I ducked outside, stepping onto the decking floor, and rubbed at my arms as the breezy night air chilled me. I looked around for Taylor, but I couldn’t see her anywhere and figured she must have gone back inside. I couldn’t face going back in yet; I wanted to stay and get some fresh air to try to clear my mind from the fact I had just been rejected by Jamie yet again. Folding my arms, I leaned against the balcony rail, which overlooked the town square and looked out to the rolling hills in the far distance. The distance I would rather be at right now.

Jamie was really messing with my head, and I couldn’t cope with him being so hot and cold. I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend because I was leaving soon. He didn’t need a girlfriend, because of his career. So what was the harm? We were just two people who had feelings for each other, but we couldn’t just let it run its course because Jamie was too scared that Kal would find out. But say Kal never found out? Where was the harm in us having a little fun? But I knew Jamie could never do that; there would always be that doubt in his mind, and he didn’t need the pressure or to lose focus. So really, there was only one solution for it. One I hated the thought of. We were just going to have to stay friends, as hard as that was probably going to be for me. There was no other way.