I laughed at all the eyes on me. “I don’t think so,” I said, and then added, “Tate’s uncomfortable.”
Her narrowed eyes instantly pinned me. “We share the same friends, Jared. I can handle it.”
I cocked my head, amusement warming my skin. “Really?” I challenged. “Your breathing is shallow. Your fists are clenched. You’ll hardly look at me,” I assessed, raking my eyes down her body. “And you didn’t have your hand on him”—I arched a brow at Ben—“until I walked over here.”
I smirked, reveling in the silence that greeted me. “You’re right,” I taunted. “You’re not uncomfortable. You’re nervous.”
I knew I was right. I knew that if I felt her cheeks, they’d be warm, and if I put my hand over her heart, it would be racing.
But as much as I was satisfied that I’d nailed her mood, I couldn’t help but wonder why she wasn’t bounding out of the chair and hitting me.
Not that Tate was exceedingly violent, but she’d at least be shouting at me.
Instead, the corner of her full pink lips curled into a sinister grin as she stood up and held me entranced with her stormy eyes.
She arched a brow, looking amused. “Nervous?” she repeated. “I’m actually entertained that you think you occupy more than a bare minimum of my memory, Jared. That’s how easily forgettable you were.” She inched closer to me, stalking nearer with her calm, even steps. “And I’m actually quite entertained when I look back and think about how much I deluded myself about you.”
Her condescending tone made me grit my teeth. A fucking memory?
I was all of her memories.
“The only way you can win an argument is by throwing a fist,” she taunted. “Your antisocial behavior bored me out of my mind, and your lack of conversational skills in public was embarrassing, to say the least.”
What the fuck?
My hot gaze zeroed in on her, and I slowly lifted my chin as anger swarmed through my chest.
I closed the distance with a last step and looked down at her, inhaling her soft scent. I bared my teeth, letting my buried temper seep out. “You liked my conversational skills when we were alone well enough,” I pointed out, continuing as I enunciated every word. “In the car, on top of the car, in my shower, in your bed”—I got in her face, growling—“on nearly every floor in nearly every room of your house, you loved my conversational skills then.”
I registered a snort behind Tate, and her furious wide eyes turned on Juliet.
Her friend looked up, her face falling at Tate’s glare. Madoc’s and Jax’s eyes were focused on the ground, as they wisely bit back their amusement.
Ben appeared at Tate’s side, taking her hand and not sparing me a glance. “Let’s go,” he said firmly.
Tate looked at me with fury warming her face and nodded. “Absolutely.”
But as she let Ben lead her away, she stopped and leaned in, whispering for only me to hear. “You were good for some things,” she remarked. “Just not for others.”
My lungs emptied as I watched them leave together, and all the while the stares of everyone at the table burned a hole into the back of my head.
Fuck me.
She called to every nerve ending on my body, and I wanted nothing more than to have her underneath me. Despite the fact that she’d just insinuated I was good for only one thing.
I smiled.
The next time her claws came out, she would be reminded of every damn thing that I was good for.
Chapter 7
Tate
“You know, it’s okay if having him around unnerves you,” Ben said softly, holding my hand as we walked up the brick path to my house. “You were together for a long time.”
I offered a tight smile, squeezing his hand. “Jared doesn’t unnerve me,” I maintained. “He aggravates me.”
We climbed the wide wooden stairs into the soft glow of the porch light, and I flicked my gaze quickly to Jax’s house, noticing that all the lights were still out.
I’d opted to come home, since I’d guessed Jared would probably be staying at Madoc’s.
Whenever he got home, that is. He’d had Pasha and a date with him, after all.
I stopped halfway up the stairs, turning to look down at Ben, who was one step below. “I’d invite you in,” I started, lightly tugging on the front of his polo, “but it’s really a mess.”
A flash of disappointment crossed his face, but he offered a quick smile, hiding it well.
The mess shouldn’t matter, of course. And it didn’t matter. My room was clean, after all.
The truth was I was too distracted to invite Ben in. He deserved my complete attention, and right now, my body and head were too restless. Too roused. I couldn’t take him home tonight.
He held my gaze, studying my face with an air of calmness. I knew he knew the real reason behind my excuse, but he didn’t say anything. He nodded, accepting what I couldn’t put into words.
Ben was a good guy. And a smart one. He told me I was pretty, and he supported my choices. Looking into his blue eyes, I almost wanted to get lost. To find out what it would feel like to have his warm skin against mine. To see if he could make me feel as good as . . .
I cleared my throat, pushing the idea out of my head.
I’d be using Ben to make myself feel better—to feel anything—and we both deserved more. So that’s why we needed to wait for a better time.
He stepped up, lowering his lips to mine for a chaste kiss. He tasted like cinnamon this time, and I slowly breathed in his cologne. Backing down, he smiled gently before turning away to leave.
But I stopped him.
I grabbed his upper arm and pulled him back in, dipping my head and diving into his lips as his body jerked in surprise. I teased his tongue with my own and cocked my head to the side, going deeper and enjoying his hitched breath. Ben’s hand circled the back of my neck, and my cheeks warmed with his closeness.
This was how it was. Enjoyable. Comfortable. He was a good kisser.
But nothing happened unless I pressed it. When he actually tried to get to second base, he’d asked me if it was okay. I felt bad for feeling disappointed. He was only being polite, after all. But it was like he didn’t know what he wanted and was perfectly happy following my direction. He’d wait for my say-so, and I wasn’t sure if that would ever turn me on.
It’s not that I wanted to be controlled. I just wanted to be carried away.
He backed up, smiling a little bigger before finally turning to go to his car.
Unlocking my front door, I stepped into my house, immediately hearing little claws tap, tap, tap on the hardwood floors.
I glanced up, smiling as Madman raced down the hall from the kitchen and shot up, supporting himself against my shins. He must’ve escaped the confines of Jax’s backyard and found his way through our doggy door. Jax and Juliet had been watching him while I was staying at Madoc’s. I could’ve taken him with me, but I had been so busy this week, he got more attention with Jax and Juliet.
He was just a little guy—a stray dog—Jared and I had found ten years ago, and although he’d lived with Jared for most of that time, I was happy he’d been mine the past couple of years.
The little dude never failed to make me laugh. Even now, as old as he was getting, his energy hadn’t wavered.
I reached down, petting the top of his head and knowing exactly what the little hellion wanted. Food, water, and a belly rub—all at the same time.
I made my way to the kitchen, walking past the mess the painters had made in the dining room this week. White sheets draped over furniture and on the hardwood floors, and I inhaled the familiar scent of paint.
Of new beginnings and a fresh start.
I refreshed Madman’s food and water in the kitchen and took in deep breaths, closing my eyes as I walked back through the foyer, savoring the old memories.
Mom painted rooms a lot when I was growing up. She liked change, so the smell of the chemicals actually comforted me. It was home.