On top of that, I knew Lukas was watching me with disapproval for what I’d just done. I couldn’t help looking over to confirm it.
Oh…
Oh yeah.
My heart pounded when I caught his eyes on me, a stony look on his face as I heard Hayden murmur “damn” and scoot closer. He said som
ething about how I looked “cute with a little liquid courage” in me, but I didn’t hear the rest because I was too busy having an intense, wordless stare-off with Lukas. From his booth, he shook his head lightly, just enough for me to see. From mine, I gave a subtle shrug as if to say, what are you going to do?
“I hope this doesn’t sound creepy but you’re seriously sexy when you’re drunk,” Hayden murmured in my ear.
“What makes you think I’m drunk?” I asked distractedly, my heart hammering as I watched Lukas lean back in his seat, taking a drink as he continued to watch me. His body language was calm, collected but his eyes were an entirely different story. Fuck, no man should look that good angry, I thought as Hayden’s chuckle tickled my skin.
“I don’t know. I guess I thought so ‘cause your lips got all red and swollen.”
Mm-hm. “They just do that sometimes.”
“Yeah? When you’re turned on?” Hayden made me go stiff with a hand on the upper part of my thigh.
Crap. My pulse picked up when Lukas sat up.
“Hayden,” I warned, removing his hand. My breaths were short and serrated now as I snuck glances at Lukas. His entire body faced me now, his darkened eyes trained on my every breath, as if waiting for the slightest sign that I needed out.
“I’m sorry. You’re just kind of irresistible right now,” Hayden said softly, sitting so close our chests touched. I didn’t have to look up to catch the swift movement of Beckham jerking Lukas back into his seat.
“Thank you…” I said unsurely, looking around for a bathroom. I felt eyes on me – Lukas, his friends, possibly the waitress. I hated the attention. It had my body temperature suddenly out of control. “Hayden, sorry, I just…”
“What?” When his hand cupped my knee, Lukas yanked his arm free from Beckham’s grip. My heartbeat quickened.
“I need to go to the restroom,” I blurted.
“I need to kiss you first,” Hayden murmured, grabbing my cheek and covering his mouth sloppily over mine. A sharp gasp burned my lungs as my peripherals spotted Lukas leaping up from his seat.
And just as quickly, I shoved Hayden away to excuse myself from mine.
Shit, shit, shit, holy shit.
Blood rushed in my ears, loud enough to muffle my heels clacking in a hurry toward the bathroom. My heart was pounding as I rushed down a dim hallway, my mind racing with a million thoughts that all had to do with Lukas.
Frickin’ asshole.
I was humiliated by the scene that just unfolded outside and while Hayden was mostly at fault, I blamed Lukas. He knew he would make me nervous. He probably knew he’d cause some kind of scene and he still came to crash my date.
I hated that.
On that topic, I also hated how I did everything right to avoid distractions like him but then one night, he just happened upon me. I hated that no matter what I did, thought, schemed or said, he always managed to have the upper hand.
But more than anything, I hated that I was unpredictable around Lukas Hendricks. I barely knew him yet he had some kind of hold over me. One look and he had me wanting things I never even thought about before the day we met, and that thought pissed me off more than anything as I finally shoved my way into the women’s bathroom. But it didn’t stop me from letting the footsteps behind follow me in.
“Lia.”
I groaned a culmination of my frustration. “Damn it, Lukas, what are you trying to – ”
I’d barely spun around before he caught the nape of my neck and reclaimed my mouth, his tongue sweeping against mine with unapologetic roughness. My fingers dug into his shoulders as he grabbed a handful of my dress. Fisting it, he pulled me against him, continuing his vicious onslaught against my lips. I could taste his aggression, his urgency and I kissed him back with the same hot desire. My pussy throbbed the instant he dropped his hands to my ass and squeezed. I felt his hot erection press against my belly but before I could lose all control, I pushed away.
“Not here,” I breathed out, my cheeks on fire as he hit me with that steely gaze.
“Tell me what that means.”