My knees almost buckled. His thigh nudged between mine, forcing me to shift and grind down without thinking. My entire body betrayed me as desire raced through me, filthy and unrelenting, my clit pulsing and my panties soaking more.
I thought I had the upper hand but my body had already made the decision for me—and it was all his.
“You know,” I said, my head tilting slightly, inviting him closer. “People might think you’re enjoying this.”
His lips brushed against my ear, not quite a kiss, not quite innocent. “Let them think what they want.” His voice was pure gravel, his hands tightening on my hips, keeping me exactly where he wanted me. “I’m tired of pretending I don’t want you.”
That was it.That line?I wanted to scream it to the world and tell them to putthatin a fucking fanfiction. Not just swoon-worthy lines that were soft and poetic, because at his core, Callum was real and raw and so fucking hot. Deep down, he wasn't gentle; he was feral and unholy and I wanted to drown in him.
My skin burned where his fingers gripped me, guiding me to the slow, thrumming rhythm of the music. Every shift of his body againstmine was deliberate. I was losing my mind, spinning off into this chasm that washim.
I knew I was being irrational earlier about the pit chaser, but it was the first time since my ex that I’d felt a moment of insecurity to that caliber. The first time I felt jealous because I wanted to be claimed. And now? He was doing it, maybe not in words or in actions that anyone else would notice.
It was in the way his hands tightened just a little more. The way his lips hovered at my jaw, so fucking close. How his entire body locked up when I arched just slightly against him, testing him, teasing him, pushing him.
His hand slid up my side, brushing my lower back, and I couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped my lips. His head dipped, stubble scraping my neck. I whimpered, the world around me narrowing.
“Aurélie,” he murmured against my skin, his tongue dragging slow and hot over the pulse point, like he wanted to mark me from the inside out. His mouth was right where it had been when he whispered filth into my ear before I begged him to fuck me. I could still feel the echo of his voice from that hallway, the way he said my name like a sin.
My hands flew to his forearms, steadying myself becausefuck, fuck, fuck,I was going to lose my goddamn mind if he kept doing that. The music slowed, deep bass vibrating through us, but I barely heard it. It was just us now, lost in this, the push and pull, the inevitable collision.
I didn’t know if it was the alcohol, the music, or the sheer proximity of him that made me do it, but I tilted my head just enough. A silent invitation. Aplease. Callum didn’t hesitate. His lips ghosted over mine—barely there, cruel and perfect. Not a kiss or a warning.
A fucking promise that we'd already crossed the point of no return.
I’d already let him ruin me, whether he knew it or not.
The camera flashhit like a slap, yanking me out of the haze Callum had drawn me into. The faint click of the shutter brought the world crashing back, the crowd around us snapping into sharp focus as adrenaline shot through my veins.
I spun back around and stepped back, my hands coming up between us as if to shield myself from him—or maybe from what had just happened. What continues to happen between us. “Callum, we?—”
“Aurélie,” he said softly, his voice steady in contrast to my racing pulse. It was foreign to hear him say my full first name; it jarred me, grating against my already frayed nerves.
“No,” I hissed, glancing around frantically. “There are cameras, people. God, I can’t?—”
Before I could finish the thought, his hand closed around mine, warm and firm, pulling me toward a shadowed corner behind the staircase to the VIP area. My heart thundered. I didn’t resist, even though my mind screamed for me to.
My body and mind were at war. This was a bad idea. But I couldn’t stop.
The alcove was dimly lit, tucked away from prying eyes, but the pounding bass of the music reminded me that we were still far from alone. He turned to face me, his hand never leavingmine, his grip grounding me when everything else felt like it was spiraling out of control.
“Callum, I can’t do this,” I whispered, though the words felt hollow even as I said them.
“You can,” he said, his voice low and steady. “And you want to. Don’t tell me you don’t.”
His other hand slid up, threading gently into my hair, and I couldn’t stop the soft gasp that escaped my lips. The world around us blurred again, the music and lights fading into the background as his thumb brushed against my cheek.
My skin burned where he touched me, my body leaning into his as if drawn by some unseen force. He pulled me closer until there was no space left between us.
“What do you want, Callum?” I whispered.
He hesitated, his eyes searching mine as if looking for an answer he couldn’t find. “You,” he said finally, the word raw and unfiltered.
Then his lips were on mine, the kiss soft at first, testing, but quickly deepening. His hand in my hair tightened slightly, angling my head to deepen the kiss, while his other hand pressed against the small of my back, holding me firmly against him.
This was different than earlier. Still hungry, but not frantic. Just pure, unadulterated lust. I melted into him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as my mind went blissfully blank. There was no grid, no media, no rivalry, no pressure—just us, lost in the moment for the second time tonight because we couldn't stay away.
Our tongues met hungrily, and I stood on the tips of my toes to taste more of him. I was so fucking wound up that I forgot where we were. Who we were. What we were.
