“Nope. You don’t.” He shakes his head.
“And why is that?”
“He’s an ex, right? And by the way he was looking at you, I’m guessing he knows you’re a sure and easy thing.”
“Hey,” I protest.
“No offense.”
He was right though, which kind of hurt. “So, what? I should beyoursure and easy thing?”
“Er, I’m ... very fucking high right now.” He shrugs.
“Okay.”
“Yup. But you do have options. You can take the hand of a complete yet mysteriously fascinating stranger—who you don’t know for sure isn’t an axe murderer—let me buy you a drink and listen to some shitty music while we make fun of your douche ex-boyfriend. Or you can turn around and go have sex with your ex—which will no doubt leave you full of self-loathing in the morning, while he will wake with the smug satisfaction of knowing he can own you anytime he wants to.”
I frown. “Those are terrible choices.”
“They are.” He nods. “And yet, you have about three seconds to decide. He’s almost here.”
“I’m okay. Thanks for the offer though.”
“Alright then. Good luck.” He shrugs and turns back to his friends. I could do this. I was not even going to look in Nick’s direction. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“Hey.” Nick the Dick is standing right in front of me, all calm and cool in his pasty rock god glory.
I glance up at those Slavic dark eyes, and the supermodel-worthy bone structure, and internally, my heart just sighs, right along with my response, “Hi.”
“You’re not working tonight?”
“Nope. Night off.”
“You came to see my show?”
Actually, I came for moral support for Clem, but sure. He didn’t need to know I had plans to duck out before his set. “I came for the free drinks.”
“Liar.” His lazy gaze rolls over me from head to toe and he grins like a hungry wolf. Nick always did like to play with his food. “You wanna find somewhere backstage? Work out a little of that tension you’re carrying?”
My heart trips all over itself, and my insides tighten at the possibility of sex with Nick—or sex at all, really.Damn him. “I’m not tense, and I’m not here for you.”
“Really?” He cocks a perfect dark brow, and his eyes flash with desire.Oh shit.Oh shit.I am totally going to have sex with him tonight.
“Mmfunerber,” I murmur, dumbstruck—because apparently the idea of sex with my ex leaves me incapable of stringing letters together to form a single word.Fuck.
Panic rises in my chest, and I fumble for something, anything, a goddamn grip. I grab the hand of Southern Viking Dude behind me. He turns and glances down at our joinedhands. Then he stares at Nick the Dick—and bless his beautiful head—he throws his arm around my shoulder and cuddles in. “Hey, I thought you were heading to the ladies’? Who’s your friend, Freckles?”
Nick’s brow creases. “I’m Nick. Who the fuck are you?”
“The boyfriend. And ...” Southern Viking Dude frowns before sizing up Nick. “Your replacement, I’m guessing.”
Nick scowls and actually makes a pfft-ing sound, as if he’s completely irreplaceable. “Since when?”
I glance at SVD and purse my lips. “Since what ... like two months ago, right?”
“Yeah. April sixteenth. Best two months of my life.” The lie rolls off his tongue like honey, and as I take in those sage green eyes and the curl of his full lips, I find myself grinning up at him like a lovesick girl. Southern Viking Dude’s eyes hood and his gaze lowers to my mouth. I dart out my tongue, wetting my lips as if I could taste him there, and then I grab his shirt and pull him down to me.
I press my lips against his, dart my tongue inside, and then I throw myself into the kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck and practically climbing him like a tree as I kiss this stranger full on the mouth. He takes only a beat to catch up, and then his arms snake around my waist, and his strong fingers dig into my hips. Hungry mouths, tongues, and lips crash against one another—there’s even a little bit of teeth going on.