Aarabelle
Marissa told Dagger it was my birthday. I was distracted by the fact that my best friend was talking to Dagger without me knowing so, I overlooked what Dagger knowing my birthday might lead to.
“Come on, we have to be up early tomorrow to leave,” I complain, hugging the fluffy bath towel wrapped around my body.
When Luke and I aren’t at work, we’re busy in Luke’s bedroom not sleeping, or we’re busy in the gym not working out, or in the pool not swimming, or anywhere, really. It’s hard to think clearly with stars in my eyes and my stomach flip-flopping with the new relationship feeling. The thing between us has felt like a relationship for a while, but now that we have bodies at our disposal, and confessions made, there’s a whole new meaning to humping like rabbits.
“You know you have to at least show face at Mayton’s. Dagger doesn’t plan things and he, uh, planned this.” Luke can’t even look at me while he’s speaking.
I drop my towel and his head swivels my way. “One more time, Hart. Tell me you had nothing to do with this. You can’t even look at me.”
His throat works down a swallow. “I’m looking now and I’m a liking.”
I snap my fingers by my face. “Up here, Hart. You’re the one intent on bringing me to my own surprise party. I know what that look means, and we don’t have that many hours.”
“We could be a little late.”
I stomp one foot on the heated stone floor. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“And you know how much it turns me on when you’re naked.”
The way his eyes rove my body makes butterflies invade my stomach. “Answer me.”
“Maybe I told him I didn’t think you had plans.” Luke breathes out. “It’s not like I can tell him you’re under me. They don’t know about this.” He steps forward and takes my forearm in his hand. My skin prickles, and my core clenches—a reminder that it’s being a needy jerk these days. “When he asked it’s not like I could tell him I had other plans for you on your birthday. A Team guy party is a good thing. It means they give a shit.”
I lean into his bare chest and inhale. “It’s mostly a going away party because we ship out tomorrow and less of a birthday celebration. Let’s be realistic here. What I really want to know is why Marissa is talking to Dagger in a capacity I don’t know about. He’s…”
“Listen, he’s only a monster when you’re playing for the wrong team, Aara. There’s no reason to believe she’ll find out why he’s called Dagger. He, uh, separates work from…other stuff well.”
I push away from him to meet his eyes. When he sees how horrified I am, he laughs, and that damn dimple flashes. I clear my throat. “I don’t want this life for her.”
Luke’s lips pull into a firm line. “But you want it for yourself?”
“More than anything else. With you, it’s different. I just know.”
Hart drops his towel on the floor, and his dick springs up, hard and ready. Like it is anytime I want it lately. I’m already wet, my upper thighs slick as I turn out of his grasp, knowing I want him inside me as much as he wants to fuck me.
“What if your friend feels that with Dagger? I’m not saying they’re together, but if they were.” Oh, they totally are, and Dagger has told Luke things. I hear it in his voice. “It might not be the worst thing in the world.”
“I’m going to kill her,” I hiss, momentarily distracted by my friend’s life choices. Then I remember some of my choices.
Turning from Luke to clear my head, I pace. When I turn back around he’s leaning against one of the monstrous marble columns in the center of his room. His tan skin shines and his grin is edible.
“You’re wasting time, Dempsey. If you want this before Mayton’s,” he says, making an X with his forearms, framing his cock. “You need to get on right now.” Then he raises his arms over his head and flexes like he’s in a show. Luke’s smile turns into a laugh, and I can’t keep a straight face any longer.
He lets out a noisy breath. “I’m glad you’re laughing, but you’re killing the vibe.”
I catch my breath and aim my pointer finger at him. “You killed the vibe with your naked posing, David.”
His smile widens. “You really think I look like the statue of David?”
“You’re a bit more endowed than David, and your hair is a little more Navy, and I think your muscles are bigger now that I think about it, but sure. You want to be David, you can be David.”
“It worked.” Luke pauses, holding his hands out for me. “We’re talking about my body instead of goddamn Dagger.”
His blue eyes are feral as I approach him, gaze licking up and down my body. We’re going to be late. “For someone with a body like a sculpture, you sure need a lot of reassurance.” I lick my lips.
He smirks. “Just yours.”
