“This is a good song,” Serena breathed in my ear. “Shall we?”
She grasped my hand in hers and dragged us to the middle of the room. We snaked through the warm and sweaty bodies, finding an empty spot on the dance floor.
Serena was biting on her lip, giving me the fuck-me-now look. Her hands landed on my chest, and she caressed me through my shirt. Her thumb brushed over my nipple, and I grasped her wrists, pulling her arms around my neck. This was safe. Blondie pouted but, otherwise, went with the flow.
My eyes found Lila, and she was glowering. Hmm. I see you, Garcia.
As if she could read my mind, her face went hard, devoid of any emotions.
Nicely played.
Gripping Serena’s hips, I pulled her closer to me, and we moved to the rhythm of the song. The bodies around us were practically dry humping each other on the dance floor. The bar was dark enough that nobody seemed to care.
Keeping my eyes on Lila, I pressed a knee between Blondie’s thighs, and she was practically grinding against me. I jerked her hard into my body, and she took that as an invitation. Her arms unfurled around my neck, and her hands inched down to my abs.
We were close enough to where Lila was standing that I saw her expression go from emotionless to sour and pained.
I was just about to drop Blondie, enough of the stupid games both Lila and I were playing, when my gaze zeroed on…
Goddamn it!
What was he doing here?
Lucien stepped closer to Lila, her attention snapping to him. He grinned down at her and said something in her ear, causing her to smile. I nearly knocked both Serena and I over at the sight of my Lila smiling up at him. He got her another drink, and I watched as his hands trailed up her bare arms, with her still smiling.
Lucien nodded toward the dance floor, and Lila’s gaze met mine, briefly, before she put her hand in his. Heat prickled the back of my neck, and I grew tense.
Lila wrapped her arms around Lucien’s neck, and his hands were on her lower back, too low… his fingers were teasing the top curve of her ass.
An ass that belonged to me.
I could tell Lila was in tune to me and my attention on her, but she was purposely avoiding looking my way. Serena said something to me, but I wasn’t listening. The bastard was holding Lila too close, and I swore she fucking fluttered her lashes at him. Where the hell had her reserve gone?
When Lucien leaned down, as if to kiss her… I was done.
Snapping forward, I let Serena go. She squeaked, protesting, but I was already stalking toward Lucien who was still holding my girl way too fucking close.
Bitter jealousy raged through my veins as I cut through their intimate dance, separating them. “Sorry. You might want to find a new dance partner, Lucien. This one is taken.”
Lila gasped as I gripped her wrist and started pulling her away. “What are you doing?” she hissed.
“We’re leaving,” I deadpanned, my heart hammering in my chest.
“You’re causing a scene!”
Me? Causing a scene… when she started this stupid game of hers? For what? WHY?
I dragged her to the empty corridor, away from everyone and their prying eyes, pushing her back into the wall. I pressed against her body, caging her in.
“What is wrong with you? Maddox,” she whisper-yelled. “Maddox!”
Her tiny fists thumped against my chest, her face red and her eyes darkening in anger.
“What were you doing, Lila?” I asked, deceptively quiet.
Her lips curled in a smile, although there was nothing warm about it. “Dancing. Like you were. Do you have a problem with that?”
She loved pushing my buttons.
“Careful,” I warned.
Her eyes flared at the challenge. “Or what?”
My thumb rubbed over the vein in her throat, feeling it throb under my touch. “You won’t like what I do to you, Baby.”
“You don’t scare me, Coulter.”
“I know,” I said. “But I should.”
“You won’t hurt me.”
“But I will hurt him.”
Her smile dropped. “Maddox–”
I leaned forward, bringing our faces closer. She caught her lip between her teeth, her eyes flashing with uncertainty now. “Scared for lover boy, your Frenchman?” I taunted.
Her hands landed on my chest, as if to pacify me. “It was just a dance, Maddox. You can’t fight him because I danced with him!”
With a humorless smirk, I trailed my finger down the column of her throat and along the length of her collarbone. Her breathing pattern changed, a sharp inhale… a shuddering exhale.
“Why did you dare me to dance with her?” I asked softly, but the threat in my voice couldn’t be mistaken.
“Because…” Lila whispered.
“Because,” I echoed.
She licked her lips, her eyes flickering with something fierce. Lila pushed against my chest. “You seemed to be enjoying yourself, so why do you care? Blondie was very much into it and oh, of course… your French was very charming, indeed.”