by Evie Knight
Scarlett grabbed her Chocolatini from the table. “Karaoke will start soon.” She wiggled her brow, lifting her glass in a toast.
“No. I won’t make a fool of myself.” Still trapped between his arms and the table, Tori reached for Jack’s hand to free herself from him, but he curled his fingers around hers.
“You won’t be the only fool.” Ariana grinned.
Jack chuckled. His laughter vibrated through her, traveling the length of her body, sending a wave of heat straight to her core.
How could she feel all hot and bothered by someone she hated so much? Well, she didn’t really hate him—though she wanted to after what he’d done to her—but his proximity made her fall short in her resolution. The way her insides tingled reminded her she was a long way away from hating him.
“I take it I’m the other fool,” Jack said.
“Great. Every time you guys miss a note, you take a tequila shot afterward.” Ethan grinned.
“Why afterward?” Claire asked.
“Because it’s one thing to make a fool of yourself while your five senses are working as opposed to when you’re wasted,” he replied.
“I’d rather take the shots now,” Tori said. If she could stall them all with a few drinks, maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to talk her way out. She gestured to a waiter.
“Have you gotten better at singing?” Jack asked. “If I recall correctly, you’re not really good at it.”
She angled her head and looked at him. “If I don’t sing, what do I do?”
“I’m not sure that’s something you’d like me to say aloud,” he teased.
She elbowed him. “For being someone who hates my guts, I’m amazed at how well you remember my howling.”
“You got that right.” Vivienne smiled, tipping her Martini in Tori’s direction.
The waiter stopped by their table and Jack pulled her to the stage, not giving her a chance to run away. “If you sing, we’ll even the score. I’ll forget everything.”
She glared at him. “You’ll forget? What about me, Jack? I can’t forget what you did to me.”
“Look at it this way. You’re lucky you’re not the one receiving naughty toys at work at all hours of the day,” he replied.
The DJ on the stage helped her up before she could turn around and run out of there. Jack stood to the side and crossed his arms, wearing the biggest grin she’d ever seen. Tori wished she could slap it off him. She cast a glance at her friends. All four of them raised their drinks to her in a cheer.
The TV monitors were off so she couldn’t sing along. Great. So freaking great. She bet her friends had something to do with it. Oh, how her dear friends would pay for this. She grabbed the microphone just when the music to “Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys played. Dammit. Damn him. Everyone clapped, urging her on. Tori sang the first lyrics, her voice breaking at the beginning.
The crowd cheered, giving her confidence. She carried on, singing the next set of lyrics. Well, changing the lyrics. She wouldn’t make a fool of herself without having fun making a bigger fool of him while at it. “But you came to love me anyway, so I tore your heart out.” Damn, she couldn’t make up the next line fast enough, so she hummed instead before she continued to sing, “Any old time to keep you waiting.”
Tori motioned to the crowd to sing with her. “You’re a lonely boy. You’re a lonely boy.” She continued changing the lyrics, making the song about him. Jack. The jackass who’d left her yearning, handcuffed to a headboard. She caught glimpses of him laughing, looking at the crowd. He even cheered her on every time she didn’t come up with her new set of made-up lyrics fast enough.
He turned, meeting her gaze. What if she’d never played that prank on him years ago? Would they be together today? Tori froze for a second or two, tightening her hold on the microphone, trying to ignore the need to run her fingers through his golden-caramel curls.
The crowd applauded when the song ended.
She smiled, surveying the masses. Perhaps this was her chance to escape. Jack walked on stage and she handed him the microphone. The warmth of the brush of his fingers rushed through her body. She lifted her eyes to him and his gaze fastened on hers. Tori took a step back, ready to leave the stage, but he grabbed her hand.
“Not so fast, sweetheart. I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he said low in her ear.
The music to “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 began. Unlike her, Jack sang in tune, but changed the lyrics of the song as he went, making the audience grow wilder. She could’ve sworn she heard whistles among the mob.
Jack stared at her, singing, “Now we’re naked, you say I’m a man, your ego is big, you don’t give a shit, and we move like this.” He drew her to him and placed his leg between hers. He snaked a hand around her waist, closing the short gap between their bodies, swaying his hips to the beat of the song, his thigh rubbing her core with every move.
The look in his eyes and the way he teased her with his hips, dancing this close, was a silent dare for her to dance with him. He wanted to see her moves, did he? Fine. She’d show him her moves. Tori couldn’t sing—for all she’d admitted, she howled. Oh, but could she dance? Bring it on.
She raised her hands and ran them through her hair, knowing well the action would mess it up, giving her a wild look. Tori swung her hips right, back, left, and front, moving in a circular motion, making sure to rub his cock with every move.
She watched him through her lashes, smiling at the feel of the results of her little play. It served him right to walk away from the stage with a stiffened cock. Jack caught her gaze and lifted a brow. She grabbed the microphone, singing the last set of lyrics.
He laughed and motioned to the crowd for them to sing along.
When the song ended, she tried to free herself from his grasp.
“Oh no, you won’t.” He pressed his erection on her thigh, securing his hold on her. Jack handed the mic to the DJ, and then he turned her so she walked in front of him.
There went her escape plans, and yet another failed attempt at winning the game she’d just realized they were playing. She’d made of herself a fool in front of a bunch of strangers. She hoped there wasn’t anyone from work anywhere, or else there’d be some real juicy gossip going around the office for weeks about their Executive Director.
Her friends waved, smiling at her. She headed for her table, but Jack hauled her to the hallway and into the women’s bathroom. “What are you doing?” she asked.
He closed his mouth on hers, backing her up against the wall. He placed his hand on her neck and bit her lip.
“Ouch. Stop it.”
He lifted her leg and ground his hardened cock on her core, stroking her thigh to her ass. “What? You thought I didn’t know what you did out there? Just how stupid do you think I am?”
“I-I—”
Jack covered her mouth, his searing tongue pushed through her lips colliding with hers.
She could push him away, except all rational thought had left her. His kiss—his touch did things to her she didn’t want to feel. The warmth of his body enveloped hers. Tori couldn’t catch her breath. She wasn’t sure she wanted to if it meant she’d have to break the kiss. Every cell in her body ached for this man. For this man who hated her with the same intensity she did him—or did she?
“I could fuck you right here, but even I have my limits,” Jack said against her lips. “Your place or mine?” He rocked his hips, rubbing his engorged shaft on her aching clit.
This was her chance to stop this nonsense. She could walk away from him now and call it even. Well, she could make him think they were even, but she was sure she’d definitely upped her score with the toys and the dance moments ago.
“Come on, Victoria. You know you want it, just like I do,” he murmured.
“I don’t,” she lied.
“Really?” He let go of her ass, slipped a finger into her panties, and traced her folds. “I think your pussy wants to go home with me.” Jack thrust his finge
rs in and out of her.
She threw her head back, closing her eyes, feeling her muscles clench around his fingers.
“Your place or mine? Or I’ll fuck you here and now.”
Tori moaned. “Y-your place,” she whispered.
“Good girl.” He kissed her and stepped back, adjusting his pants and allowing her to fix her dress.
Chapter Seven
Tori dragged her eyes around his impeccable bachelor pad, taking in the cool gray walls with eclectic artwork in different shades of blue. A pool table sat to one side of the spacious living room, and if it wasn’t for the leather furnishings and dark wood—along with the other accents—it’d look out of place. Instead, it looked just right. It belonged there.
She stopped in her tracks when she caught sight of what stood next to the stairs. “Are you freaking serious? You have a custom fire pole?”
Jack dropped his keys on an end table, stripped off his jacket, and tossed it on the couch. He advanced on her and gripped her waist. Turning her to face him, he said, “Shh… you look prettier when you’re quiet.” He brushed his lips over hers.
She placed her hand on his chest and shoved him away. “Very funny,” Tori said against his lips. “I thought you lived in the valley, not downtown.”
His fingers dug into her hips, bringing her closer to him. “I have two places. This one and one in the valley. I didn’t want to take any chances with you tonight.” He nibbled at her lower lip. “I want to have you while your wet pussy is still aching.” Jack grabbed her clutch and flung it on the couch.
“After tonight, our feud is over. We call it even.” She glanced at him, hoping he wouldn’t call her bluff.
He chuckled. “It’ll never be an even score. You weren’t the one who walked around campus for a year, well aware that half the people there had seen his cock.”
“You’re right. I wasn’t. I was the girl who walked around campus a couple of years later, knowing everyone knew what I’d done for my sorority. Anyway, you lied. You said you’d forgotten all about it, but you still haven’t let it go.”
He stared down at her and stroked her back, his hand leaving a warm trail, making its way to her nape. “I’ve learned to live with it. It’s not something easy to forget.” His fingers curled around her neck, forcing her to focus on him. “Tonight, I’ll fuck you the way I should’ve fucked you years ago, Tori. And when I’m done, you’ll be sorry this is a one-night-only deal.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but his lips crashed hers in a deep kiss. Lust replaced whatever had been on her mind. Her fingers burned to get him out of his clothes. The need to feel his strong body brush against hers prickled her skin. Tori slid her hands on his chest, her fingers fumbling with his shirt’s buttons to undo them.
She couldn’t unbutton it fast enough, so she gripped the opening of his shirt and yanked both halves apart. Buttons flew, landing with a clatter on the wooden floor. Jack groaned, sucking her tongue inside his mouth. Tori trailed her fingertips down his smooth chest, feeling his abs as she made her way to his waist.
His hand dropped to her hip and clutched her ass, pressing her closer to him.
The heat of his groin sipped through the thin layer of her dress. She unbuckled his belt and moved on to undo his pants.
He broke the kiss. “Not yet, sweetheart.”
Until then, she hadn’t realized she’d stopped breathing. Tori panted, satisfaction filling her chest as he caught his breath too. A mix of lust and something else she couldn’t identify danced in his eyes. It was obvious that, regardless of how much they hated each other—or thought they did—neither one of them would stop because they both wanted it.
Jack traced the curve of her neck with his fingertips, sliding his other hand up her arm. The action branded her with the strength of his heat. His fingers curled around the straps of her dress and dragged them down her arms. Without effort, he pushed her dress to her waist, then let it pool at her feet, baring her to him. Jack stepped back, his gaze lingering on her naked breasts. “You’re beautiful, you know?” He glanced at her.
Tori licked her lips and stepped out of her dress, closing the short distance. He moved, not letting her come too close. She stood in place, furrowing her brows. Was he playing another game? Oh God, please no.
He smiled. “Strip off your thong. Leave the heels on.”
She hesitated for a moment. Trusting he wasn’t playing a game, Tori followed his instructions. Her body ached and she hoped this torture would end soon. Yes. Torture. She didn’t know how much more foreplay she could take before she begged him to take her out of her misery.
He removed his now button-less shirt and sat on the couch. He eased back on the seat, spreading his legs. “Come here,” Jack said, undoing his pants.
She bit the inside of her cheek and took a step forward, then stopped between his legs.
“Touch yourself,” he said.
She blinked at his words. Tori hadn’t known what to expect, certainly not this.
“Victoria, touch yourself,” he ordered.
It wouldn’t be the first time she’d touched herself, just the first time in front of an audience. Tori shifted her feet, spreading them apart by a few inches. She licked two fingers and moved her hand to her pussy, traced her folds, and stroked her clit.
His gaze blistered with want, with need. No one had ever made her this wet.
Leaning forward, he raised his hand and slid a finger in her entrance, making her whimper at the contact. “You’re so ready.” His finger drove in and out of her. “Just not ready enough.” Jack thrust harder and Tori increased the pressure on her bud. He removed his finger and grabbed her hips, bringing her to him. The tip of his tongue slid between her fingers as he licked her clit.
She raised her hand and entwined her fingers in his soft hair.
He traced her folds and lapped at her bud. Her legs gave way to an orgasm rocketing through her. “Yes, baby, come for me,” Jack coaxed her pussy, lapping faster and sucking her bud into his mouth. He repositioned himself on the couch, bringing her with him. He spread her shaky legs farther apart until she straddled him. Jack removed a condom from his pocket and gave it to her. “Rock my world, Tori.”
With shaky hands, she took the foil packet from him. His pants were already undone, so she slipped her hand inside his boxers and freed his swollen cock. She closed her fingers around it, its heat burning her palm. Tori stroked his length, putting enough pressure to make his hips jerk.
“No. You can play with it all you want later. Right now, I just want to fuck you.”
Jack kept saying that and she’d let him because she wanted it. Tori needed it. But she wasn’t the only one getting fucked. He’d be in the process too. She’d make sure of it. She tore the foil packet and sheathed his shaft. Jack gripped her waist and lifted her, then brought her down and sank into her, stretching her with every inch of him as he filled her.
“Damn,” he murmured, closing his eyes and thrusting his hips. He covered her breast with his mouth and sucked her into his mouth, his teeth grazing her nipple. His hands gripped her ass, lifting her to match his quickened pace. Jack switched his attention to her other breast, making her cry when he clamped his teeth down on her sensitive tip.
Tori tossed her head back, sinking in the beginning of another orgasm as it traveled up her legs, straight to her core.
“Come, baby,” he whispered. Jack pressed his fingers on her hips and drove into her faster with powerful lunges.
Her body trembled and a loud moan escaped her lips.
“Yes, sweetheart, let go.” He lifted her hips, charged into her one more time, and brought her down on him. Jack circled his arm around her waist, sinking his face in the curve of her neck, his body shaking with his own release.
When Tori was finally able to catch her breath, she disentangled herself from him and managed to stand up.
“Where are you going?” he asked, removing the condom.
She walked to her dress. “I�
�m leaving.”
Jack rose to his feet, adjusting his pants. “No. You’re not.” He approached her. “I’m not done with you yet.” He gripped her waist and pulled her to him. He swept his lips over hers. “Come on, let’s take a shower.”
He twined his fingers with hers and guided her to the stairs next to the fire pole.
With still-trembling legs, Tori followed him, wondering how she made herself walk. Tonight, nothing had turned out how she’d expected. She’d thought she’d be done with her little revenge; instead, she’d ended up having sex with her nemesis.
What was this? Hate sex? How could it be hate sex when she’d loved it more than she cared to admit? Tori wished there wasn’t any history between them, because if it wasn’t for that minor—no, huge—detail, she’d want to see him again. Jack said he wasn’t done with her yet. Well, she wasn’t done with him either, and letting him up his points wasn’t an option. When she walked out of his place, she’d be the one with the higher score in their little game.
Yes, it was definitely a power-play game. Tori wouldn’t be the one to end up miserable and missing him. No way. If anyone would miss anyone, it’d be Jack. He’d been right when he said they’d never be even. They wouldn’t because she’d always come out on top.
Chapter Eight
Jack turned to his side on the bed and reached for Tori, except all he found were rumpled sheets. He opened his eyes and sat up, dragging his gaze around the bedroom. He glanced down at the white sheets, studying the dent on the pillow. The only reminder that someone other than him had slept in his bed.
“Tori?” he called out, getting out of the bed. Hearing no response, he figured she’d left. He sauntered naked to the master bathroom. The towels on the floor reminded him of the events from last night.
