“Yo, Hayworth. Wait up,” Carter calls as he jogs down the hallway.
I give him a look, wondering what’s so important. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just wanted to see if you plan on coming Friday night.”
My brows furrow. “Coming where?”
“Savannah’s birthday. Weren’t you paying attention?”
“No,” I admit. “I’ve been distracted lately.”
It’s a lie. I’ve been purposely ignoring everything the second someone mentions her name, but I can’t exactly tell him that. He’ll grill me about it for hours.
He nods in understanding. “Well, you should come. We’re going to Hypnotic.”
“Isn’t that a twenty-one and over club?”
Giving me a knowing look, he chuckles. “Yes, Mormon Grayson. That’s what fake IDs are for.” He takes out his phone and sends me a text. “Meet me at that address after school. We’ll get you a good one.”
Well, fuck. I guess I’m going to Savannah’s birthday party.
IT’S PROBABLY IDIOTIC TO go to a club when you’re this sexually frustrated—not that I could do anything about it if I tried. After the incident with Alexa, I haven’t even attempted to hook up with Kinsley. The last thing I need is for her to go around telling people I can’t get it up. Still, not going tonight could potentially make Savannah think she has the upper hand. Can’t have that, now can I?
As soon as the bouncer hands me back my fake ID, I slip past the rope and inside. The place is nice, filled with different colored lighting and loud music. I instantly spot the guys at a VIP table. Of course.
“Aye!” Carter says excitedly when he sees me. “I didn’t know if you were going to make it.”
“What can I say? You talked me into it.” The level of sarcasm in my voice is obvious, but he’s too drunk already to notice.
I say hello to everyone else before my eyes land on Savannah. Fuck. Me. She’s wearing a white dress with lace across the top and bottom. The view of her legs is incredible, as the dress only goes down to mid-thigh. Her hair cascades down and lays gently against her chest. The gloss she has on her lips reflects in the light and draws my attention, making me crave kissing her again.
Clearing my throat, I try to ignore her surprise at my being here. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you.”
It’s the first thing we’ve said to each other in two weeks, since I made the colossal mistake of giving myself a small taste of her. Not only did that kiss show me what I’m denying myself, but it confirmed what I assumed all along—she wants me, too. It’s a shame she ruined everything before we even had a chance to get started. We could have been explosive.
FOR MOST OF THE night, I manage to stay in check. Keeping drinks to a minimum so my judgment isn’t clouded, and focusing more on talking to the guys than admiring how Savannah looks tonight. However, not a damn thing in the world could have prepared me for seeing the way she moves on the dance floor.
Her hips sway to the beat, displaying her expertise so well that people around start to watch. She spins around as she smiles brightly and laughs with Emma. Anyone in this room can tell she’s a professional. Confidence radiates off of her. One thing is clear— she’s at her best when she’s dancing.
“She’s something else, isn’t she?” Hayden says, and my hand tightens around the rail, making him chuckle. “Don’t worry, my eyes are on Em.”
I relax slightly. “Sorry, I’m just so tired of people trying to talk to me about Savannah.”
“I get that.” He takes a sip of my drink. “Jace said you two already knew each other?”
“What do you fuckers do, sit around and discuss other people’s lives?”
He laughs. “The easiest way to make sure everyone finds something out is to tell Jace or Carter.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Whatever Hayden says next goes completely unnoticed as I watch a guy walk up to Sav and put his hands on her hips. She startles for a second, but then grins and keeps dancing—grinding her ass into him. My blood runs hot, and I bite down on my lip so hard it bleeds. She’s mine.
Hayden watches me carefully. “Should I be concerned you’re about to kill someone? Cause you have that look in your eyes.”
Fuck it. I throw caution to the wind and hand Hayden my beer before making my way down there. Emma sees me coming, but Savannah has no idea. In one fluid motion, my fingers wrap around her wrist, pulling her from his grasp and into my own. She catches herself with one hand against my chest, and when her gaze meets mine, her breath hitches.
“The fuck, man?!” the douchebag protests.
“Tell him to leave,” I order, keeping my sights on her.
She turns and gives him a sympathetic smile. He rolls his eyes but walks away, probably to find someone else to make a move on. Meanwhile, Sav focuses her attention back on me.
“Are you happy now?”
I smirk and glance down at her lips for only a second before spinning her around and gripping her waist, covering his touch with my own. “Show me what you’ve got, tiny dancer.”
13
Savannah
The buzzing in my ears doesn’t even begin to compare to how my body feels, pressed against Grayson’s. After he’s completely ignored my existence for the past couple weeks, the last thing I expected was for him to come tonight, let alone be dancing with me. It’s wrong, screwed up beyond belief, and I should hate him. His tendency to play hot and cold is a proverbial mind-fuck. Yet, as his chest is pressed against my back, I couldn’t care less. This is what I want—what I’ve always wanted—and I’m not about to deny myself of it—especially on my birthday.
I reach back and place my hand on the back of his neck, pulling him closer. The glaring looks I’m getting from Kinsley are only motivating me further. With one particular circle of my hips, a low groan emits from the back of Grayson’s throat. His lips move to the shell of my ear.
“Keep doing that, and I can promise you the whole club will find out just how easily that dress can be torn off.”
A shiver runs down my spine. My nerve endings come alive, and all I want is for him to make good on that promise. Repeating my actions, his grip tightens hard enough to bruise.
“Savannah Jade,” he warns, and hearing him say my middle name reminds me that this isn’t just some guy.
This is Grayson.
This is Gray.
My Gray.
IT’S ONE O’CLOCK IN the morning by the time we’re all leaving the club. After spending hours on the dance floor, I’ve never been so exhausted—and so turned on—in my life. The second we finished dancing, he went right back to the quiet, brooding guy I’ve come to see him as, but his eyes stayed on me.
As we get to the parking lot, Jace pulls up in his Mercedes. Carter walks toward the passenger side, and Jace motions to the backseat.
“Come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”
I hesitate, but as soon as I open my mouth to answer, Grayson comes out of nowhere.