by T. L. Quinn
“Did you really think I wasn’t coming?” A deep voice rumbles beside me.
I clutch my hand to my chest and then try to slow my rapid heartbeat. “Jesus, don’t you know not to sneak up on people like that? You might get a knee to the groin.”
Now that I’ve calmed back down, I realize that Sawyer was literally reading my thoughts. I narrow my eyes at him. “And yes, I was hoping you’d find yourself at another bar. No one wants to watch you bring some poor girl out to your car tonight.”
He smiles back. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to watch.” He starts walking away toward the table. “You’ll be the one in the car with me.”
I open my mouth wide, but he is already by the table by the time I realize what he said so I can’t respond. Sawyer says hi to everyone, and they all greet him like the traitors they are, especially the girls. Even Erin is swooning. I mean, I can’t exactly blame her. He looks good tonight.
He didn’t change after work, but he ditched his jacket and rolled up his dress shirt sleeves. His tie is loose, and his hair is messier like he ran his fingers through it a few times. And fuck, from this view, his pants hang low and snug on his fine ass. I wonder if this is how he always goes to the bar on the weekend. No wonder the girls fuck him in his car. If that even happens. He was probably just messing with me like he always does.
Todd stands for me, and I scooch into the booth in between him and Erin. Todd stretches his arm around the booth behind me, and I cozy up next to him and sip on the drink Erin ordered for me.
Erin starts telling me about some guy she’s been talking to. “Let’s meet up with him tonight.” She says.
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Where?”
“I want to go dancing!” She says. “Let’s get food here and then we can head over to Eve.”
If Erin is meeting up with her guy, then I need one of my own. I turn toward Todd and Craig. “You guys want to go to Eve? We’re getting food here apparently.”
Craig backs out, which I’m okay with, and Todd nods. “Sure, I’m down.”
He looks across the table. “You guys coming?”
I close my eyes in disappointment. Why did you have to ask that Todd? The moment my eyes open, they connect with Sawyer’s. His mouth twitches with the urge to smirk, but he contains it.
Next thing I know, the only ones left are Me, Erin, Todd, Sawyer, and Tracy. Tracy is another friend from the office, but with the way she is all cozied up to Sawyer, I might have to reconsider that. Fuck, no. Stop letting him interfere with your life. Tracy is my friend.
Erin’s new boytoy shows up at the bar to get food with us before we go out. He’s pretty attractive. Not exactly my type, but then again I don’t know that I trust my type anymore. Either way, so far he seems nice, so I’m happy for her.
Now that he has arrived though, we have sort of split into couples. Erin and her guy, Todd and me, and Sawyer and Tracy. I notice Tracy keeps looking at her phone though. She speaks up. “I can’t stay too long. I’m meeting up with some people later.”
Surprisingly Todd speaks up as well. “Yeah, I can’t either.”
This is news to me, so I turn and look at him in question. He gives me a sorry smile. “I forgot my brother is flying in tonight. I have to be back at the house by eleven to let him in.”
I give him a pouty lip. “We have the worst luck.”
Maybe it’s time I move on from Todd. It seems it isn’t in our cards. I’m sure we could make it happen, but the fact that he doesn’t try harder to make something happen is kind of making him lose his appeal. We can still flirt, and if we ever get the chance while we’re both single, then I probably wouldn’t say no, but I’m kind of over him always having to be somewhere. Like learn some scheduling buddy.
We have another few drinks here since the nightclub charges more for their alcohol. Then we all decide to walk over since it’s only a few blocks away. Sawyer stops us before we get to the line at the main door.
“Come through here.” He says as he opens some side door.
“Is this allowed?” I ask as we walk through.
A bouncer stands at the hallway for the entrance to the main dance floor area. Sawyer nods. “I know some people.”
He shakes hands with the bouncer, and they exchange some words that I can’t hear. “We have a VIP table so you guys can sit when you need a break.”
Tracy speaks up then. “Oh, so fancy. Too bad I can’t stay all night.”
He smirks back at her. “There’s plenty of room for your friends here.”
She giggles. “They aren’t all girls.”
He smiles back. “As long as we all get to still look at your beautiful face.”
I make a gag noise. “C’mon Sawyer. We have to work together. Don’t be gross.”
He whispers loudly to Tracy. “She’s just jealous.”
I roll my eyes, but I know I’m being a hypocrite. I have been openingly flirting with Todd the whole night. I’m not jealous though. I just don’t want Tracy to fall for his games. I should know better.
The girls all head to the dance floor while the guys get us more drinks. We dance together for a few songs and then head over to the couch area and grab our drinks. This drink pushes me over the edge into the buzzed area. I should stop after this. I don’t want to lose my head again while Sawyer’s around. Maybe I can get rid of him somehow.
I reach down and grab Todd’s hand. “Come dance with me before you have to leave.”
I know I shouldn’t, but my eyes travel over to Sawyer. He stares back at me. The way his jaw is clenched, he almost seems angry, but I’m not sure why. Luckily Tracy interrupts. “My friends are here to pick me up.”
Sawyer stands. “I’ll walk you out.”
Todd checks the time. “One dance and then I have to get going or my brother is going to kill me.”
I laugh and pull him up. “Hurry up then!”
Right when we get out to the dance floor, the DJ switches from bump and grind to some cheesy song that all the girls love. I groan at the ceiling. “Oh my God.”
Todd laughs and pulls me up to his chest, and we sway around in the most nonsexy way. Considering this is the least sexy song out there, I think we did the best we could. “I think the universe hates me.” I joke.
The song ends and he smiles at me. “Maybe another time.”
I swear he’s said that to me a million times before, and I am actually getting kind of annoyed. I smile back. “Sure. See you later.” I don’t sound too sad because I really don’t want him here anymore.
I walk back over to the couch. “Hey Erin, I think I’m going to take off too.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Like hell you are! We just got here!”
“I’d rather not third wheel it.” I say.
I feel him before I see him. Then his fingers lightly brush against my skin on my back below my shirt. “I’m sure we can find a fourth wheel around here somewhere.” Sawyer says.
Erin laughs. “Yeah Blake! You can’t ditch Sawyer! He needs a dance partner!”
She gets up and pulls her guy up with her. “C’mon! Let’s dance!”
I look at her like she’s crazy. Then I say the same thing. “Are you crazy?”
She laughs as she pulls her guy to the dance floor. I try to turn and leave, but Sawyer wraps his arm around my waist from behind. “You’re really going to leave your friend all alone?”
The way he says it makes it sound like Erin isn’t even really my friend. I whip around and stare at him. “Well, considering I’d have to trust you to take care of her, I guess not.”
I walk away from him over to the bar. I find the first semi-attractive guy I see and stand next to him. I push my chest out and smile at him. He immediately offers to buy me a drink, but when the bartender sets my drink down, Sawyer wraps his arm around my back and places his credit card down on the receipt.
The guy steps back. “Sorry man.” Then he walks away.
“Wait!” I try to call out, but he’
s already too far away.
I turn back toward Sawyer. “Oh fuck no! We are not playing cockblock again!”
He smirks back. “No problem. Your place or mine?”
“No more games Sawyer. That was supposed to be done at the cabin. Game over.” I turn and walk away after only taking a couple sips from my drink.
I push my way through the dance floor until I am somewhere in the middle. I sway by myself, but it only takes moments until there are guys lingering around. I press myself up against one of them, and the others back off.
The man grips my hips, and I sway against him. My eyes catch Sawyer’s from across the bar. I can see him even through the crowd since he stands taller than most. He is just staring at me. His eyes don’t move from me the whole time.
I should look away, but is that what I do? Of course not. I stare right back, only I’m not just standing there like he is. I grind my body up against my dance partner hard, and he takes that as an invitation to move his hands over me more. I grind my ass all the way down his legs and back up again.
Sawyer clenches his jaw, and then he is on his way toward me. He pushes people aside roughly and doesn’t apologize as he makes his way through the crowd. I open my eyes wide when he finally reaches me and yanks me away from the man.
“Sorry. She’s had too much to drink.” Sawyer says to the man.
Then he pulls my body back up against him. He leans down to my ear, and his voice is angry. “Who’s the one playing games now?’
I try to squirm away, but he holds me tighter. “Leave me alone.” I protest.
His voice only gets angrier. “You’re driving me insane.”
I let out a sarcastic laugh. “You’re the one who left!” I yell.
I regret the words immediately, but it’s too late. Sawyer whips me around so I am facing him. “What did you say?” His voice is furious.
I pull away and start walking away. I can’t stay here. I can feel tears starting to prick my eyes, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why. I know Sawyer is following, but I don’t care. I need to try to leave.
I exit the main bar area into a hallway, but before I get to the exit, Sawyer grabs my arm and starts pulling me somewhere. “What are you doing?” I call out, but he doesn’t answer me.
He pushes me into some room that looks like it is where they store all their supplies. His eyes burn into mine. “What did you say?” He shouts even though it’s not as loud in here as it is out by the music.
“I didn’t say anything!” I try to lie.
“I left?” He asks, outright angry. “I didn’t see you asking me to stay!”
I cross my arms over my chest and jut out my hip. “I was fucking cuddled up in your bed Sawyer!”
“Fucking hell Blake! Let’s be real here. Don’t pretend like I hurt your feelings. You don’t want to be with me for real. You tell me every day how much you hate me. You got exactly what you wanted out of that night. Don’t fucking make me the bad guy here!”
I step closer to him. “Maybe out of that night! But maybe I wasn’t expecting to wake up to an empty bed without so much as a goodbye, nice fucking ya!”
He leans closer to me. “Oh! Is that it! You’re mad because you wanted a goodmorning fuck?” He shouts back. Then he walks closer to me until I am pressed back against the wall. He leans his right arm up against the wall and leans in even closer.
“Well. Good. Fucking. Morning. To. Ya.” He grits out.
Then his mouth is on mine. I don’t hesitate kissing him back. I couldn’t resist him if I tried. He pulls me closer with his arm around my back, and I open my mouth, allowing him more access. His fingers from his other hand dig into my stomach, creeping up under my shirt.
He reaches down and roughly pulls my jean button and zipper open. His hand slides down into my panties, finding me already ready for him. He pulls away from my mouth and leans his head down on my shoulder as his fingers move around me.
He lets out a harsh breath and kisses his way up to my ear. “I haven’t gone a single minute without thinking about this.” He mumbles in my ear.
I lean my head back against the wall and moan. “Why do you have to do this to me? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
He slips a finger inside of me. “Tell me to leave you alone again.” He clips.
I can’t very well have him stop now, so instead I just whimper.
“Good girl.” He says as he slips another finger inside of me and rubs his thumb over my clit.
I pant against his mouth as he pushes me further and further toward the edge. Sawyer slams his mouth back to mine. My muscles tighten, and I dig my fingers into his shoulder for support.
“Sawyer.” I pant.
“Yeah baby.” He breathes against my neck.
And fuck! That’s all it takes to push me right over. Right as I start to come undone, the supply room closet door pushes open. It’s too late though. I’m already over the edge, so I have no choice but to finish.
I try to close my mouth, but I can hear my moan. The man at the door yells. “Jesus Christ!” He turns around to give us a moment. “Fucking Sawyer!” He yells.
Sawyer pulls back with a smirk on his face like he doesn’t even care that we just got caught. I yank his hand out of my pants and push at his chest. I quickly button them back up and try to make myself look presentable even though there is no doubt he definitely saw everything.
Sawyer laughs. “C’mon Jimmy. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Out!” The man by the door shouts.
Sawyer tries to protest again. “Like you never did anything in this supply closet.”
“Sawyer!” I scream. “Shut the fuck up!” I shuffle by the man. “So sorry. We’re leaving now.”
Sawyer laughs again as we walk toward the exit. We stop out in the cold night air, and I turn and stare at him. “Are you fucking kidding me? This is not funny. A stranger just saw me…” I pause. “You know.”
Sawyer smirks so big. “Cum all over my fingers.”
I groan and pull my phone out of my pocket. Sawyer grabs his as well. “I’ll get the Uber. Now back to my original question. Your place or mine?”
I give him a death glare. “Neither. You were right. I just needed that morning fuck. Now I got it. You’re useless to me now.”
I turn around and pull up Erin’s number. Sawyer laughs behind me, but then he steps right up behind me. “Don’t think I can’t make you need me again at any moment.”
Fuck. I’m already there.
I press dial before I can change my mind and do something stupid like go home with him. The phone rings a few times and luckily Erin answers. “Hello?” She says over the loud music. “Hold on! Let me get somewhere quieter!”
She must walk out of the main area because the background noise quiets down. “Where are you guys?” She asks.
I bite my finger and mumble into the phone. “Uhh...we got kicked out.”
Erin doesn’t believe me at first. “You what?” She asks.
I pause again. “Uhh...yeah Sawyer broke into a supply closet. They made us leave.”
She still seems confused. “Where are you now?”
“Just right outside.” I respond.
She tells me she’ll be right out. A couple minutes later her and her boy come through the front door. “What the fuck happened?” She laughs. “This one is trouble.” She pushes at Sawyer’s shoulder playfully.
Her man, who I still can’t remember his name and it’s too late in the night to ask again, grins at us. “You were fucking in the supply closet?” He asks.
Him and Erin both laugh. They must’ve had more drinks since we last saw them because they are definitely drunk. Sawyer smiles at them. “No, we weren’t fucking.”
I turn to him, surprised that he’s actually denying it. I’m about to smile gratefully at him when he adds on. “Blake sure got fucked though.”
I swat at his chest. “You can leave now.”
Right as I say it, Erin stum
bles to the side, and I barely catch her before she falls. Sawyer raises an eyebrow at me. “Let me help you get them home.”
I blow out a breath because I know I can’t say no to that. “Fine. Get that Uber.”
Erin cheers as she stands back up. “Yay! Movie night at my house!”
The car pulls up a few minutes later, and we manage to get them into the back seat. I join them, and Sawyer sits up front with the driver. Our eyes keep meeting in the rearview mirror, but I pretend they don’t and look away every time. What the fuck am I doing?
We somehow manage to stumble our way up to Erin’s apartment. We all crash on the couch, and I push my heels off. My feet are achy from being on them all night. “I need a snack.” I say as I lean back on the couch.
Sawyer is the only one left standing, so I smile at him. “If you’re going to stick around, make yourself useful and get us some food.”
He rolls his eyes at me, but turns and heads to the kitchen anyway. A few minutes later he’s back with an arm full of junk food. Candy, chips, popcorn. I glance at Erin. “How do you stay healthy with all this in the house?”
She just giggles as she bites down on a piece of liquorice. I grab the bag of sour gummy worms and pop one in my mouth. Sawyer tries to sit down next to me. “Scooch.” He says as he pushes me to the side to make room for himself.
Since the couch is really only meant for three people, my body presses up against Sawyer’s. He reaches his arm around on the back of the couch behind me and grabs the remote for the TV. About halfway through the movie, Erin yawns and stands up. She grabs her boytoy’s hand. “We’re going to bed.” She says as she throws a blanket and pillow from the basket next to the couch at us. “Feel free to sleep here.”
My eyes are halfway shut, and I realize I have been dozing in and out for most of the movie. I glance at Sawyer and the small couch we’ve been sitting on. I can’t very well ask him to leave at this hour. Not to mention he had been drinking just as much as me.
I sigh and place the pillow up against the arm rest. I lean down and wrap my arms around Sawyer’s legs. He laughs. “What are you doing?”
