“Do you trust me?” Kinsley asks, a devious smile on her face.
“I do…” Ellie says slowly, her eyes narrowing at Kinsley. “Although I’m starting to wonder how much I should be trusting you.
“Please tell me you didn’t do anything crazy like get strippers or something,” Ellie says hesitantly. Her eyes glance to Callum, who’s sitting behind Kinsley, making sure he didn’t hear her before shooting back to Kinsley.
Kinsley barks out a laugh and I can’t help but chuckle at the comment. Callum would lose his shit if Kinsley had her near a guy, much less shirtless.
I almost wish she would because it’d be entertaining to see.
“Are you serious?” Kinsley asks, deadpanned. “I’m not trying to ruin our trip here, Ellie. We both know Callum wouldn’t like the idea. At all.”
“I wouldn’t like what?” Callum asks, silencing everyone.
Everyone except me, of course.
“Oh, we were just saying you wouldn’t mind if we stole Ellie for the night. Took her out to the strip club, let her experience her last night as a single woman. You know, make sure she’s sowed all her wild oats before she’s a one-man woman for the rest of her life.”
I grin, knowing exactly the reaction I’m getting from him.
Callum growls, shooting a look over at Kinsley before looking back at me. He’s trying to tell if I’m joking or serious.
“C’mon, Callum, let her live a little.” I giggle, winking at him.
Glancing over at Graham, I bite my lip when I see the grin on his face. He shakes his head when his eyes connect with mine, seeing through me, knowing I’m pushing his buttons.
“I don’t think so,” Callum says, serious. His words are firm, unwavering. “I won’t share her. Not with anyone.”
His eyes look to Ellie. “Ever,” he says, punctuating the end.
Ellie slides out from where she’s seated in the booth to where Callum sits on the other side of the walkway, sitting on his lap. His arms are around her waist, holding her to him in a move that’s both possessive and protective.
Callum’s feathers can be easily ruffled, especially where Ellie is concerned. He knows damn good and well not only would we never disrespect him, but she’d never agree to it anyway.
It’s still fun to see how uptight he can be when we talk about it.
I find myself staring at the way he runs his hands up and down her leg as the other is wrapped in her hair. He takes her in a deep kiss, and I immediately look away, feeling like I’m eavesdropping on their private moment.
I’m surprised when I see Graham’s eyes looking back at me. He glances over at Callum and Ellie, before looking back to me again.
I’m jealous of Callum and Ellie’s love. They’ve been through a lot, but he would do anything for her. He’d take on the world to protect her. She’s his world.
I wonder if Graham is thinking about the same things I am. How seeing them together reminds me so much of us and the way things used to be when we were together.
The possessive nature in which Callum wraps his fingers in Ellie’s hair, kissing her with so much passion, you feel like if you stand too close, you’ll sense the light flicks of the fire snapping from them and soon you’ll be engulfed in the same flames.
For a moment, I picture myself sitting in Graham’s lap, his arms banded around me, holding me against him as I wrap my arms around his neck. We hold each other with so much force, we leave little room between us.
I can almost feel his breath feather over my skin, as our bodies rock against one another. My eyes flutter closed as I imagine his lips on mine and his tongue seeking entrance into my mouth. His moan hitting my ears the moment our tongues connect.
“Halle,” Kinsley cuts through my thoughts.
Her eyes are wide and for a moment I start to wonder if the moan I heard was in my thoughts and didn’t come from me.
My eyes fall on Kinsley’s as heat spreads over my face, as the wetness floods in me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, sliding out of the seat. My legs feel like jelly, as I test my balance. “I just need to use the restroom.” Looking down the hall, I look back to her and force a smile.
Racing down the hallway, I slip into the bathroom. Slamming the door shut behind me, I hit the lock before I collapse onto the closed lid.
“What the fuck?” I groan into my hands, feeling mortified. “What the hell is wrong with me?”
I seriously about orgasmed at a table in front of all my friends, just thinking about my ex-boyfriend putting his hands on me again. My ex who is sitting two feet away from me, much less.
I need to get my shit together and quick if I’m sticking to the plan.
I actually consider unbuttoning my pants and taking care of business myself, when there’s a light knock on the door, causing me to freeze.
“You alright in there?” Graham’s deep voice rumbles through the door. Each word vibrates through my body, as I squeeze my thighs together needing some friction between my legs.
Forcing out a deep breath, I stand and take in my appearance in the mirror. Am I alright? Holy shit, I don’t look alright. I look like a cat about to pounce.
“Yeah,” I say. Running my fingers through my hair, I pull on the front of my T-shirt to get a little air flow moving. I am so turned on, I feel like my body is overheating. “Just give me a sec.”
Turning on the water in the sink, I run the cool water over my hands before patting my cheeks trying to cool down my skin. I force myself to think of things, like the taste of black licorice and the smell of microwaved cauliflower, and just like that all the thoughts I had earlier evaporate from my mind.
Well, that is until I slide the bathroom door open and come face to face with the man who makes me think so many dirty thoughts, it should be considered illegal.
“Everything okay?”
Guessing by the look on his face, he knows exactly how not okay I’m feeling.
My eyes narrow at the comment and I want to tell him to just shut up. To close your mouth and not talk for the rest of the trip so I don’t have to listen to your ridiculously sexy voice.
No, I’m not okay. I’m the furthest thing from okay. I’m coming out of my skin right now, that’s how not okay I am.
He looks at me, his eyes looking down at my lips as I rub them together, before looking me straight in the eyes again.
“You need help with anything?”
For a moment I think he’s serious, but then his lip curls up at the edge in a smile, and I realize he’s fucking with me. He knows he’s getting under my skin now and he’s messing with me, thinking it’s funny.
That’s where he’s wrong, you see, because I have a plan. Forcing a smile on my face, I look up at him and grin.
Reaching out, I grab the front of Graham’s shirt and pull him closer to me. It’s a bold move, especially considering how close I’m treading to the brink of giving into him right now.
“That’s real sweet of you, Graham.” I look up at him, giving him a coy smile. “But I took care of it.”
I flash him a wink before stepping around him, walking back down the hallway and taking a seat at the table.
Point 1 for me.
Ten
Graham
She’s killing me. Fucking killing me.
My eyes drink in their fill of her as she walks down the hallway like her ass is on fire.
Her legs. Fuck me, those legs. They’ve been the focal point of many of my fantasies. The look in her eyes, I knew that look. I remember what she looks like when she’s about to fall apart before me. I’ve memorized it and engraved it into my memory.
Reaching down, I adjust my aching cock in my pants.
I spend the rest of the trip doing my best to avoid Halle. I don’t even look her way. It’s early evening by the time we arrive in Chicago and check into the hotel. You’d think we’d all be tired from the traveling, but it’s the exact opposite. I’m just ready to get out and stretc
h my legs.
We opt to stay at the Westin hotel located downtown. Kinsley insisted on it since it’s the hotel where Callum stayed at when he was visiting Chicago the day he met Ellie. It’s also near Velvet. I haven’t been back here since before I moved.
After we check in, we decide to head up to our rooms with the plan to meet back down in the lobby in an hour to head to dinner. We all crowd into the elevator, making our way to our rooms.
Everyone here is coupled off, except for Halle and Brannon, so I decided to get my own room. The last thing I wanted to worry about was waking up in the middle of the night hearing shit I have no business hearin’.
As the elevator climbs higher and higher, everyone slowly exits the elevator and before too long it’s just Halle and me alone together once again.
Leaning against the back wall, I look forward with my eyes fixed on Halle in the mirror in front of us. I know she is aware of my eyes on her, as she stares up at the monitor reading the floors as we make our way to the eighth floor.
The elevator dings as we make our arrival and, once again, she’s out of the door like the devil is hot on her heels. With my bag in my hand, I follow along right behind her and am surprised when I see her stop at Room 827.
The odds are working in my favor apparently, as I move to stand next to her, holding my keycard in front of the scanner to Room 825.
“See you at dinner, Halle,” I say, just as the green light flashes and I open the door.
She mutters out a response, before she quickly scurries inside and the door slams behind her.
The entire time I’m in the shower, my mind is back on her. I picture her in the room next door, crawling up onto the bed. I think about her slipping those shorts over her hips and down her sexy as fuck legs, before her hand slides down between them, rubbing her fingers over her clit.
I imagine her thinking about me, pretending it’s me who’s touching her, my mouth that’s between her legs, up her stomach, before my lips wrap around her nipple. The thought of her shuttered breaths as she lets out a quiet moan forces me to squeeze my dick so hard, I worry the damage I could do, as cum shoots out onto the tile of the shower wall.
Pressing my arm against the wall, I let the steady stream of water fall against my back as I struggle to gather my breath and not collapse on the floor.
Pulling myself together, I finish washing up in the shower before stepping out and drying off with the towel. As much as I hate to admit it, I feel a lot better.
The weather in Chicago is warm, despite the cool breeze at night whipping through the windy city. I go for more of a casual look, dressed in my dark denim jeans, boots, and heathered button up shirt.
Checking the time, I pause for any sign that maybe Halle is next door and I consider waiting until I hear her door opening and closing before I head down to the lobby. Deciding against it though, I quickly put on deodorant and cologne and head down to meet my friends.
I don’t see Halle there, so I was right. She’s still getting ready. I picture her standing in the bathroom with her hair and makeup products littering the counter, music playing on her phone while she gets ready.
She used to always make the biggest mess when she would get ready. I would always ask her what she needed all that shit for when she was naturally beautiful. She didn’t need a damn thing on her face to look pretty. She’d just roll her eyes at me, tell me to be quiet, as she’d pick up her brush using it as a microphone to sing whatever song was playing at the time.
Brannon, Wes, and Kinsley are all gathered around in the lobby. Kinsley’s scrolling through her phone, while absentmindedly talking to Wes about the itinerary for the evening. I don’t bother worrying about what she has planned. I trust she has it all taken care of. I don’t need to get in her way, she’ll make sure I am where I’m supposed to be.
While we wait for the rest of the crew to meet up with us, Brannon and I talk about the upcoming Iowa football season until Callum, Ellie, Mason, and Brea join us a few minutes later.
“Dammit, Halle. Of course, you have to be the last one to arrive,” Kinsley huffs.
I want to laugh at Kinsley. It drives her crazy when Halle is late.
Glancing over at the bank of elevators, I consider asking her if she wants me to run upstairs quick when Halle steps out of the elevator. Her long blonde hair is curled in waves, pulled over her shoulder. She’s dressed in a black fitted dress. The straps are small, only about an inch wide. As she comes closer to me, I admire the lace material that covers her body. Staring at her, I watch the subtle bob of her throat as she swallows, and it takes everything in me not to pull her in my arms and kiss up her neck, feeling the lace beneath my fingers.
She looks fucking stunning. A knock-out.
Drinking in every inch of her body, I follow the path down to her legs to the black heels strapped around her ankles. If I had half a mind, I’d haul her over my shoulder and carry her ass back upstairs to my room. The last thing I want is anyone else drinking their fill of her in that dress.
I picture the looks she’ll get tonight, and I can’t help the possessiveness in me. I want to keep her for me and my eyes only.
“Damn,” Brannon mutters, as I shoot him a look before turning to stare at Halle once more.
“Hi, boys,” Halle says, flashing me a wink before looking over at Brannon.
“Pick your jaw up off the floor, Brannon. It’s not a good look for you.” Halle laughs, as she struts over to where Brea and Ellie are standing.
“She sure does have a mouth on her,” Brannon retorts.
Growling, he looks over at me and laughs again. “Easy. I’m just making observations. To be fair, you’re the one who put her back on the market.”
I want to tell him to fuck off, but I’m too distracted by Halle’s legs in this lace dress to care. She looks incredible and I know without even asking, she wore this dress tonight knowing she’d be seeing me.
She’s tempting me, and she knows just the way to bring me to my knees.
Callum clears his throat and everyone turns their attention to him.
“Kinsley, I owe you for this. You all look amazing tonight,” Callum says, as the rest of the guys nod our heads in agreement. Callum laces his fingers with Ellie, raising them to his lips. “Ellie, baby, you look absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to make you mine forever.”
Ellie’s cheeks flush a rosy pink as Callum kisses her.
“I’m going to be honest with you though, Kinsley. If you don’t get this show on the road, I’m going to take my soon-to-be wife upstairs and you won’t see either of us until it’s time to head home.”
Ellie laughs, smacking him on his chest, as he wraps his arms around her pulling her into a kiss.
“Alright, you two,” Kinsley reprimands. “You can hang out with us for a little bit and then you can go do whatever you want to do. I have plans tonight and I’m not going to let you ruin them.”
Before Callum and Ellie can think about escaping back upstairs to their suite, Kinsley has us all out the door and into an Uber. We go out to dinner at a nice restaurant not too far from the hotel called Glass Glow, before we’re dropped off outside of Velvet.
“Oh my God,” Brea sighs, wrapping her arm around Mason’s as she smiles up at him. “This brings back so many memories. I miss it here.”
It really does. We’ve had so many great memories working together at Velvet. It’s hard to believe it’s only been a few months since we were living in Chicago.
Glancing over at Halle, her eyes are fixed on me. They have this far out look about them and, for a moment, I wonder what she’s thinking about. She had to have heard what Brea said and I feel like an idiot for not thinking about what being here would do to her.
She gives me a forced smile and my eyes narrow, before I smile back.
The sky is dark, but the lights of downtown Chicago make it feel just as bright as if it were the middle of the afternoon. Although with the sun having set, the heat has cooled down making the w
indy city feel brisker.
We move to stand in line just before I hear the loud bark of my name, and I turn to see Craig standing there. He’s the owner of Velvet and, honestly, is more like a father to me.
He waves at me, before waving me over to him. When he sees just me coming, he shouts, “All of you, c’mon.”
I hear Kinsley joke about how it pays to have connections, as I walk over to the man that has played such a huge role in my life.
“It’s good to see you, Son.” He smiles, looking behind me over to Mason and Brea. Brea wraps her arms around him, telling him it’s good to see him just before Mason claps him on the back saying the same.
We bypass the line of people waiting to enter, walking into the front of Velvet. Glancing behind me, I check that my friends are following along behind me. Kinsley and Halle both have this wide-eyed look about them. When you grow up in Arbor Creek and the extent of your clubbing is Friday nights at Brodie’s, it’s a little more of a culture shock. I don’t think they quite knew what they’d be getting themselves into tonight.
Before we’re even two steps inside, I hear one of the bartenders and Brea’s former roommate, Lissa, cheering excitedly when she sees Brea and Mason. She ushers everyone over to the tables reserved along the side of the bar, while I hang back taking a few minutes to catch up with Craig.
“How are you doing, Son? How’s the business going?”
“Things are going well. My mom is doing well. You know how hard it was for me to think about going back to Iowa, but honestly…” I sigh, looking over at Halle and my friends, as Lissa has her notepad out taking their drink orders. “Honestly, it’s really good to be back home. I know for the longest time I said I’d never go back, and I really believed it. I have good friends though and they really are helping make it easier.”
“I’m so glad to hear it,” Craig says, clapping me on the shoulder. “I’m really proud of you, you know? You’re doing such great things for yourself.”
Turning to look at Craig, I detect the glint of happiness in his eye and I know he really means it.
“Which one is she?” he asks, taking me completely off guard. I know without asking him to elaborate who he’s referring to. “Wait, don’t tell me, let me guess.”
Until I Found You: A Second Chance Standalone Romance (Heart's Compass Book 3) Page 7
