Don’t look at his cock, Jade. Don’t. Eyes up.
My eyes have a mind of their own, and they zero in on the bulge at the front of the loose hanging sweatpants.
It feels like I’m going to short-circuit, and I begin to blink faster.
Hot. Damn.
The song ends way too quickly, and climbing off me, Hunter pulls me up. I face plant against all his glorious muscles and happily wrap my arms around his waist.
Sigh… my new happy place.
“Don’t you dare!” Mila suddenly shouts, popping my happy bubble. Pulling back, I crack up when I see Jase doing a pelvis thrust in her direction. It’s nothing near as sexy as Hunter’s was.
Hunter picks up his shirt, and I drink in the sight of his chest before the fabric falls over it.
“You have nothing on the show Jade just got,” Mila taunts Jase.
“Oh yeah?” Jase leans into Mila and whispers something in her ear. When he pulls back, her eyes are wide, and her mouth is shut.
Hunter takes hold of my hand and pulls me back to the couch. He pushes me down in his seat, and then he sinks down at my feet, and I have to open my legs so he can sit between them.
God, this can’t be my imagination. Does Hunter feel the same way about me?
Chapter 20
JADE
“Hell no,” I say as Fallon throws a dress on my bed. “I’m never wearing anything like that again.”
She wags her eyebrows at me. “It will get a certain someone’s attention.”
“Nope, I’m good, thanks.” I wipe on some lipgloss and run my fingers through my hair. “Tonight, I’m sticking with my usual jeans.”
Hana’s eyes glide over me. “At least it’s the tight ones.”
“Everyone ready?” Mila asks from the door.
When I see the short dress on her, I let out a bark of laughter. “I see Fallon got her way with you.”
She shrugs. “If you have the body, flaunt it, right?”
“Hell, yeah,” Fallon yells.
“Let’s go,” Jase shouts from the front of the suite.
We all file out of my room and head out. When we spill out of the elevator on the ground floor of the dorm, I hang back with Kao, Mila, and Noah, waiting for Fallon to lead the way. Hana hooks her arm through Fallon’s, and Jase falls in behind them.
Then Hunter grabs hold of my hand, yanking me to his side before he walks after them.
This is new.
He links his fingers with mine, and I quickly glance behind me, only to see three sets of toothy grins glaring back at me.
We split into two groups when we reach the cars, and I have no choice but to slip into the passenger seat when Hunter holds the door open for me. Jase and Mila climb into the back, and when Hunter slides behind the steering wheel, I quickly reach for my seat belt.
Pulling out of the parking, Hunter says, “We’re not staying out late.”
“Three am,” Jase begins to negotiate.
By the time we reach Studio 9, Hunter and Jase agree on one am. I’m not sure I’m going to make it up that late. I’m already tired from all the fun we had this weekend, but not wanting to spoil my friends’ night, I suck it up and pray for a second breath of energy.
I should’ve napped this afternoon instead of working on an assignment.
Climbing out of the car, I wait for Mila and walk with her into the club.
Human by Rag’n’Bone Man is thumping through the space as we walk to the VIP section. I sit down by the railing, so I have a view of the lower floor, and in need of a lot of sugar, I signal a waiter over and order a coke.
Hunter takes the chair next to me, and leaning closer, he asks, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a little tired. I ordered a coke for sugar,” I answer, giving him a wide smile.
“Let me know if I need to take you home,” he offers.
Unable to resist, I lean into him and wrapping my arms around his neck, I press a kiss to his cheek and hug him. Pulling back, I grin, “I need to hug you more, or I’ll never pay off my debt.”
“In that case,” Hunter chuckles as he pulls me back against his chest for another hug.
I close my eyes and breathe in his scent.
Damn, you smell sooooo good.
When he doesn’t pull back, but instead, tightens his arms around me, I take full advantage of the moment and press as close to him as I can.
I feel the warmth from his body seep into mine, and it’s only then I realize it’s actually cold, and I should’ve brought a jacket. “You’re so nice and warm,” I mumble.
Pulling back, he asks, “You want my jacket?”
I shake my head and shift back into a comfortable position on my chair. “I’ll go dance myself warm in a minute.”
My coke comes, and I take a sip from the sugary goodness.
Hunter laughs at something Jase says, and I stare at his features.
When the hell did he get so handsome?
My eyes caress every line on his face, and I’m filled with an overwhelming feeling of awe for him.
I’m in love with you, Hunter.
Jase downs his tumbler of whiskey in one go and jumps up. “Let’s go dance.”
Hunter, Kao, and Fallon join Jase, and I watch them walk down to the dance floor.
“Why don’t you go dance?” Hana asks me.
“I first need to finish my coke, or I’ll fall asleep on the dance floor,” I admit.
“You and me both,” she replies, taking a huge sip of her own drink.
“Jase is such a player,” Mila mumbles, her eyes focused on the lower floor.
I follow her line of sight and watch as Jase dances with a random girl. I glance over the immediate people around him, seeing Fallon and Kao. Frowning, I keep searching until I see Hunter sitting at a table with Nate and Jessica’s group.
Hunter leans closer to Jessica and then laughs at something she says.
Damn, they look cozy.
I only manage the sight of them smiling into each other’s eyes for another five minutes, then I get up. “I’m tired.” I walk to the stairs and take them down as fast as I can. Glancing at Hunter one last time, I see Jessica lean into him, and he begins to lower his head. An intense wave of jealousy rocks me to my core. I’ve never felt anything like it before, and honestly, it’s disturbing.
Fuck this shit. I’m done.
I rush out of the club, and only when I reach the sidewalk, do I realize I forgot my purse on the table, so I can’t even call a cab. It’s a thirty-minute walk at most. I can do it.
I stalk down the road, angry at myself for getting jealous when I have no claim to Hunter.
I thought…
Doesn’t matter what I thought. I must’ve just imagined things. Hunter and I are just friends. At least I have that.
HUNTER
A curtain of dark silky hair falls over my shoulder, and then I hear Mila say, “I think Jade left.”
“What?” I dart from the chair, and my eyes snap up to our table. Seeing only Hana and Noah sitting at it, I frown at Mila. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, and she left her bag. I thought she was just stepping out for fresh air, but she’s been gone for ten minutes. I went to check, and there’s no sign of her.”