Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“You having fun?” he asked, his breaths puffing against my ear.
“I am,” I admitted. “So, thank you.”
“For what?”
I motioned to the dance floor. “For encouraging me to come tonight.”
“Yeah, sure.” He looked around the bar. “Any prospective hookups?”
“Nah, probably not.” I didn’t want to admit I wasn’t interested. Well, I was, but only with one person who wasn’t here tonight. “You?”
“I can only hope,” he replied, his gaze flitting to the dance floor, roving hungrily over Steve, who was jumping around with other members of the group, the skirt flying up and showing teasing views of his red underwear.
“Keep dancing like you’ve been,” I said with a smirk. “I think by the end of the night, it might be a done deal. You’ve certainly got someone’s attention.”
“Yeah?” he asked with widened eyes. I nodded just as he pulled at my arm. “Then come help me show off my moves.”
I wasn’t quite ready, but I followed him anyway, looking back at the others, who shrugged us off. After another song, my neck was clammy again, so I followed Jordan’s lead by removing my jacket and tying it around my waist, afraid it might get lost if I left it anywhere. The cooler air was a relief to my skin, my FU Swim tank top practically drenched with sweat, but I wasn’t ready to go any further.
The dance floor got more crowded, if that was even possible, and when I spun in a circle trying to imitate Jordan’s ridiculous move, a bright spot of wavy blond hair caught my eye, along with a sleeve of tattoos.
Remy leaned against the bar with a drink in his hand.
My breath froze in my lungs as our eyes connected. I lifted my hand in a wave, and he nodded in my direction, a smile playing at his lips. I could not believe he was actually here. Was I dreaming?
“Remy Duval?” Jordan followed my line of sight. “Wait a minute, is that who I was covering for the other night?”
I couldn’t meet his eye as I replied close to his ear, “Maybe we just like hanging out, but it’s a sticking point for Bailey. I know it sounds dumb to hide it, but…”
“It doesn’t,” he said automatically. “I understand why you’d want to.”
“Yeah?” When our eyes met, he winked, and I was flooded with relief. “Okay, thanks.”
“C’mon.” He reached for my hip and started grinding. “We’ve got some moves to show off.”
I laughed as I danced with him and got into the music again, trying hard not to feel too self-conscious. But I was holding my own, even as my skin prickled with awareness.
As our position on the floor changed, my gaze panned the room in search of Remy. He was still at the bar, and my cheeks flushed to see him watching me so intently.
I thought maybe he’d roll his eyes or tease me, but his expression was serious, with a sort of hungry desire in his gaze. When he raised an eyebrow, I swallowed roughly. And when his hand reached down to adjust himself, my legs went a little numb. I had done that to him with my inexpert jumping around, pretending to know how to dance. It made me feel powerful and more than a little horny.
17
Remy
“Where are you off to?” Derek had asked once I’d stopped home to change after work. I was surprised to see him in for the night. But even he was smart enough to know when he was partying too hard.
“A gay club. Wanna come?”
“No thanks.” He lifted the remote and aimed it at the television.
“You’re no fun.” I slipped back into my sneakers at the door.
“Still hungover from last night.” He yawned. “You meeting a hookup?”
That was the one and only time I’d been to the Love Shack, and I really wasn’t in the mood tonight either, but it was another opportunity to see Alex…in a different setting. Away from campus and my brother. How could I pass it up?
“No. Remember the LGBTQ club on campus? I volunteered with them last Saturday at the teen center.”
“Yeah, but I thought it was a one-off. Since when do you…?” He narrowed his eyes. “Is this about Alex?”
“Whatever. We’re friends, and it sucks that Bailey doesn’t approve.”
He scowled. “Just tell him to fuck off, like you always did when he acted like a brat.”
“It’s not about me. Alex has to live and swim with him, so…”
“Uh-huh,” Derek said, shaking his head as I waved goodbye. The excuse sounded dumb even to my own ears.
And once inside the club, I started to regret my decision because the thumping music and flashing disco ball were sensory overload, so a trip to the bar seemed the most logical option.
With my beer in hand, I leaned against the bar to scout the place, which was super crowded. I didn’t recognize Alex at first, which didn’t make a ton of sense. The mask only covered his eyes, but it offered an air of mystery that made my hair stand on end. But then he removed his jacket, leaving him in his swim tank and track pants, and fuck me. He was so sexy, his damp hair curling at the temples and his bottom lip plump from biting it. And the way he moved those hips… Alex was always graceful in the pool, but there was something altogether different, and better, about him in this raw and uninhibited form. Damn, Alex was beautiful. And I never wanted him more.