“I didn’t know Leonard was married,” I say, Valentina coming up beside me with pink cheeks and her lipstick a bit smudged. Okay, I’m officially a little jealous.
I want a hot Formula One driver to sweep me off my feet, please.
My eyes drift to where Adrian is standing without my permission, but he’s already staring at me. His lips are parted ever so slightly before he licks them. My heart races as his gaze trails down my body appreciatively, drinking me in like he’s never seen a prettier sight. And I like the way his usual confidence has slipped away a little because when he notices I’ve caught him staring, a shy smile stretches his lips. I cock a brow at him, and he lets out a laugh I can’t hear, shaking his head like he can’t believe I just did that. Then, his eyes return to me, fire and lust in them as he takes me in again.
I look away before he has a chance to catch the blush settling on my cheeks.
“Leonard doesn’t like talking about Chiara and their daughter in public because the press likes to drag his name through the dirt for no other reason than who he is and where he came from,” Valentina explains, turning to the bartender to ask for an iced tea.
“Well, all of those journalists should not have the power and influence they do. Reporters who spread hate about good people, people who have worked their asses off to achieve good in the world, don’t deserve to have a platform to speak on,” I say, so passionate about the subject, I’m gesturing a lot more than I usually do. Val looks at me with her mouth agape and Scarlette nods in agreement.
“Nevaeh, I don’t say this to people often, but I fucking adore you,” Val says with a smile. “If the four of us band together, I think we could kick everyone’s ass for speaking badly about people who don’t deserve it,” she goes on. “We could call ourselvesThe Revengers,” she says and giggles at her joke.
“What, like inThor: Ragnarok?” I ask with a laugh, and she grabs my arm, pure delight filling her features.
“You got that reference?” I nod, smiling at her excitement. “You’re a dangerous woman, Nevaeh. I might grow attached,” she says, trying to keep her tone light, but I feel the heaviness of her words deep in my gut.
Valentina doesn’t easily let people in, so I wonder why she’d give me a chance. Why I’m the lucky chosen one.
“Come on, let’s dance,” Scarlette says when a popular song I’ve heard a million times on the radio starts filling the club.
Val and Scarlette pull me toward the dance floor, both of them dancing a second later. I’m a bit clumsier at first, not as confident as the other two women, but they make me feel so comfortable, I’m swinging my hips before I know it.
We’re at a normal type of club. Lights dimmed, neon lights flashing around us with the beat of the music, and alcohol in the air. The difference between this club and others I’ve been to is that the floors aren’t sticky, men aren’t trying to grope me or slap my ass every chance they get, and it’s not nearly as crowded.
The respectful distance others keep is probably also due to the dozen security personnel I have already spotted around us.
Time passes in a blissful breeze. I’m dancing, having a few drinks, and laughing more than I have in a while. Carefree doesn’t begin to cover how I’m feeling, but I’m enjoying myself immensely.
Val outdances me in those heels of hers. She moves like she was born to dance, something Gabriel clearly agrees with because he makes it all of thirty seconds after we started dancing before he joins us, one of his hands on her hip and the other holding a bottle of water he keeps handing her. My friend revels in his touch, his attention, but doesn’t hesitate to shoo him away when she wants to dance with me for a song. He welcomes her back every single time she presses up against him again, kissing her cheek, temple, the crown of her head, or her neck.
It’s incredibly sweet.
A warm, solid body appears behind me, close enough so the heat radiates off him, but far away enough to give me space. His scent fills my nose, and I almost hum happily.
“I wanna put my hands on you, Nevaeh. Nod if you’re okay with that,” Adrian whispers after he leans down to bring his lips to my ear. His breath is hot and sweet on my skin, sending a wave of shivers down my spine.
I nod before my brain can catch up, but when I look around, I see we’re crowded enough to keep people from noticing us. This is a Formula One event, which means people aren’t as starstruck by the F1 drivers and watching their every move.
His hands slip onto my hips, spinning me around so I’m facing him. My arms lift to wrap around his neck of their own volition, but I don’t stop them. My head is floating from joy, and having Adrian Romana in front of me, sliding his hands onto my back and resting them right above my ass, has my body vibrating with need and contentment.
I want him.
Wanted him since I first laid eyes on him, and I hate that I have to keep putting distance between us. What I hate even more is that Iknow, even if I didn’t put it between us, Adrian would. He doesn’t date, and I won’t change that.
Right now, I can’t bring myself to care.
Chapter 28
Adrian
Nevaeh’ssoftbodyispressed against mine, her heated skin all over me in that dress that almost brought me to my fucking knees earlier.
Never in my entire life has a woman in a dress made me want to rip all my barriers down. Until Nevaeh stepped into this club in that orange dress, her curves getting hugged by the fabric in ways that made me jealous of the piece of clothing for getting to touch her like that.
Jealous of a piece of fucking clothing.
First of all, I don’t get jealous.Ever.
