Wilted (3 page)

“Why the hell would you do that for, Sebastian?” the copper dress girl screams angrily at him. The looks they are giving one another and the way he’d just reacted tell me all I need to know. These two have a history. Lots of history.

He looks at her, pain filling his face. It hurts me to watch this all play out. Just then, the hairs on my arm stand up and I turn to see black sequins move beside of me. Unintentionally, her bare arm brushes mine and I feel the energy pass through us. She halts midstride and turns to look back at me. The look on her face tells me she’d felt the same electricity. Her gorgeous eyes paralyze me. In that one stare, she owns me and has no fucking idea. Without warning, her friend grabs her.

“We’ve got to get out of here. Please, Kylie.”

Kylie
. The thrill of her name rushes over me.

Before I can even think, they’ve made it through the crowd and out the front door of the club. Sebastian leans against the wall looking completely defeated. I don’t think I’ve seen him like this since his father died. It’s more than shocking to witness.

“What the fuck are you doing? Go after her!”

“I’ve fucked everything up. That’s all I ever do.”

“No, you haven’t. Go get her back!” My encouraging words play a double role. If all goes well, I will also benefit tonight.

The fire in his eyes returns and he nods with determination. Pushing past me, I follow closely behind him as we exit the club.

KYLIE

“Shit! I locked my damn keys in the car, Skylar,” I scream as I slap the driver’s side window.

“Damn it, Kylie! It’s going to be hell catching a cab all the way out here! Why did you have to pick a club all the way on this side of town, anyway?” she yells at me.

“Everyone comes here, Skylar. And besides, it’s supposed to be my birthday night, remember?” I whine. I know I’m not being a good friend right now, but damn it, I was having a good time and now it’s all blown to shit!

And then my eyes focus in on what’s coming up behind her.
Fuck!
My eyes widen and she tilts her head at me in confusion. I can’t look at her. My stare is locked on the two perfect Gods walking across the parking lot. Curious, Skylar turns around to see what’s got me all worked up.

As my best friend will tell you, I’m a chatterbox who likes to say the word “fuck” too much. I
never
back down from anyone and I
always
get the last word in. But right now, I’m speechless. It’s just as if someone has stolen my tongue. From my head to my toe, every part of me is malfunctioning. I’m falling apart right before my own damn eyes, a train wreck just waiting to happen.

My eyes drink in every delicious inch of him, slowing to savor each glorious feature. Those dark denim jeans perfectly hug his long legs. The snug, gray button-up shirt stretches against his broad chest. The tribal tattoo on his left arm peeks from beneath his rolled up sleeve. Instantly, my mind fantasizes about ripping that shirt off his body. I can hear the buttons as they fly across the pavement. I’d lick each and every contour of those perfectly sculpted abs. I bet his skin tastes like…

“Lock your keys in your car?” He leans over to peer inside. The gentle breeze blows his delicious cologne towards me and I close my eyes to savor it. When he turns back to face me, it’s all I can do to manage a smile and nod my head. As awkward as I feel right now, I don’t know if my body is doing those things correctly or not. The lines around his dark, chocolate brown eyes crinkle as a sly smile grows across his handsome face.
Holy fuck me, he’s hot!

I turn back to speak to my friend, but she has her hands on her curvy hips in a standoff with Sebastian Thorne, the man who I had been trying to make her forget about tonight. As beautiful as he is, he’s nothing compared to the man next to me. Fucking hell!

“Nikolas, will you make sure Kylie arrives home safely? I would like to speak to Skylar before I take her home.” Sebastian’s presence is remarkable. It’s so commanding and downright sexy as fuck. No wonder she’s enamored with him. I look back to Nikolas.
Nikolas.
God, that name is perfect for him. I can think of nothing more wonderful than screaming that out tonight. Happy Birthday to me!

“Wait, Kylie! You can’t leave. We haven’t finished celebrating your birthday, remember? We can go somewhere else if you want.” My friend’s gorgeous eyes fill with panic and she looks to me in desperation. I don’t know what the hell is going on here, but someone better start explaining fast.

Before I can answer her, the God beside me speaks again.

“It’s your birthday?” he purrs seductively. Goddamn, this guy has charisma seeping out of his pores. I’m drowning in it, as a matter of fact. He’s rendered me into a blubbering idiot.

Embarrassed, I nod back at him and feel my face heat. Am I blushing? I haven’t done that since I was in junior high.

“Well, we can’t go home just yet then. Come on back in and I’ll buy you a drink.” He holds his hand out to me.

I glance over in Skylar’s direction and find her begging me with her eyes. At this moment, I have a difficult choice to make. When I look back into his dangerous, dark eyes, I know she’s not going to like my decision. On any other day, I’d choose my friend over a man. But I know this Sebastian guy isn’t going to hurt her. She needs to loosen up anyways. Maybe a little time with him is just what she needs to do that.

Batting my eyes back at Nikolas, I take his extended hand into mine. Electricity passes between us again but only makes me want to hold on tighter to him. Skylar gives me a murderous glare and I know she’ll make me pay for this later. Fuck later. I want right now. Let her be pissed at me. I’m used to it anyways. I give her an apologetic shrug and wave goodbye to her as Nikolas pulls me to his side.

I can hear them arguing behind us as we walk towards the club’s entrance. I pull away and stop to look over my shoulder at them.

“Maybe I should go back. She’s really upset.”

“Don’t worry, they’re fine. Trust me. He’d never hurt her.”

“I’m afraid he’s already done that. It’s one of the reasons I brought her here tonight.”

“Obviously, they have some things they need to work through. I think it’s probably best they do that alone, don’t you? It’s Kylie, right?” God, the way he says my name makes my core clench with need.

“Yes, Kylie Reynolds… and you are Nikolas, right?”

“No, I prefer my friends to call me Nik. Sebastian’s my cousin, so he calls me both.”

“So, you want to be friends, huh?” I tease. I can’t help it. Now that my voice has returned, I flirt hard back at him. It’s funny, but all the nervousness has gone now. I’m completely at ease with this man.
How?

“Yeah, I definitely want to be friends,” he says seductively.

The way his eyes drag down my body makes me feel like I’m going to combust into flames. He has no idea how bad I want to fuck him. If he wanted to take me over there against the dumpster, I’d be willing.

Lightning illuminates the darkness above us, drawing our attention to the sky.

“Well, Ms. Kylie Reynolds, how about we get inside before this storm drenches us?” he says as the crackle of thunder echoes in the air. I smile and nod my head in agreement. Before I can even blink, he laces his long fingers between mine. And as he gently squeezes my hand, a part of me comes to life. A part I didn’t know existed.

“So, what’s your pleasure?”

His words take me back. My pleasure? That’s easy! It would be riding him all night.

“Um… I’m not sure we know each other well enough for that yet.”

“Drink, Kylie. I meant what’s your favorite drink?”

“Oh, um… right. Anything is fine. I’m not picky.” I’m so damn embarrassed right now that I want to bury myself somewhere and die.

Of course, he meant drink, you idiot!

“
Hey.” His voice softens as he lifts my chin up with his finger. One glance into his dark eyes and I’m gone. Lost.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I think it’s kind of cute actually.”

When he lets go of my chin, I brave a smile and run my fingers over my skin where he’d just touched me. I want his hands all over me.

As he stands to go get our drinks, he stops mid-step and faces me.

“Oh, and Kylie?”

“Yes,” I manage.

“Trust me, I’m very interested in finding out what your other pleasures are.”

My pussy drenches by his words. I don’t know what the hell it is about him, but this man has every single part of me on fire. Now that he said it, there’s no doubt in my mind that he wants this as badly as I do.

In what seems like a blink of an eye, Nik returns with two glasses and an entire bottle of Silver Patrón. My favorite tequila.
How did he fucking know that?

“I take it I did well, then?” he asks in a cocky voice.

“More than well. Perfect.”

His gorgeous face breaks into a mischievous smile. I can’t help but study that delicious mouth of his and the way he rakes his teeth across his bottom lip. It’s sexy as fuck and I want it all over my body.

Pouring two tall shots, he lifts a glass to me before picking up his.

“Make a wish,” he says and I smile.

Tilting the glass, I close my eyes and throw back my drink, savoring the burn of the tequila as it slides down my throat. When I reopen them, I find him studying me. When he realizes I’m looking at him, he throws back his shot and refills our glasses.

“So, what did you wish for?” he asks. Maybe it’s the electric energy between us. Maybe it’s the alcohol coursing through my body, but whatever reason, I make my move. Trailing my hand up his thigh, I lean into him. Our lips are now so close that I can taste his sweet breath.

“I wished for you,” I whisper against his lips, as I place my hand on his crotch. Desire fills his dark eyes and his fingertips find my moist opening.

“Your wish is my command, birthday girl.”

Fucking hell, this man can kiss.

Never in my life have I been this attracted to a man the way I am with him. The hunger in our kiss is so desperate, I feel like a junkie trying to get her next hit. I burn with a desire I can’t explain. Is this even normal? Who cares if it’s normal? Right now, I just want him inside me.

“Fuck!” He staggers away, taking my hand to lead me to his apartment. His face wears my cherry red lipstick, and very well, I might add. While he hurries to unlock the loft door, I study the contour of his back, dragging my eyes down to admire that fucking hot ass of his. Dear God, those jeans were made to make me cry. From the look and feel of the bulge in the front, this is going to be one fucking fantastic birthday fuck!