“Aiden Rivers. He used to be lead singer for that band, Ageless Devastation. They used to be really popular in Perth before they broke up about two years back.”
I’m sure my eyebrows are hitting my hairline. “Aiden used to a lead singer for a well-known band?” Goofy, annoying, but sweet and funny Aiden? I start to laugh. I can’t help it.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, dark eyes narrowed to slits.
I shrug. “Aiden’s a little… goofy. I just don’t see it.”
His eyes soften. “You’re not attracted to him?” he asks, staring at me intently, waiting for my response.
“No. I mean he is good-looking,” he starts to scowl, “but he’s not my type. Besides it wouldn’t matter either way, I’m a one-man woman.”
“Lucky man,” he says, the air in the room lightening.
“You better believe it,” I reply. Two girls walk in. One is Jackie, whom I’ve met before. The other must be Shannon.
“Hey, Paris,” Jackie calls out. Shannon gives me a small wave.
“Hey, Jackie,” I reply, turning back to Grayson. Jackie comes to stand next to me. I can see where this is going already. Grayson is extremely good-looking, and unfortunately, I’m not the only one who notices it.
“Can I get you another drink?” she asks him, practically purring.
“No thanks,” Grayson replies politely, his eyes on me the entire time. Jackie notices and pouts.
“He yours?” she asks.
“Yes,” I reply. All mine. And I’m not sharing—ever.
“Lucky bitch,” she mutters, giving me a wink before walking off.
“Call me if you ever have to be here alone,” he says, gaining my attention. “I’ll come and wait with you. I don’t like the idea of you being here by yourself.”
“Gray--”
“It’s not safe, Paris.”
“Yeah, okay,” I give in.
“Good,” he says, lip twitching. “I have to head into work for a bit. I’ll come pick you up when you’re finished. Ten o’clock, right?”
“Yeah ten,” I say, leaning over the bar and putting my lips close to his. “I’ll see you then.”
He moves the rest of the way, closing the slight space between us and kisses me. The kiss is possessive and loving and leaves me wanting more.
“Be careful. Call me if you need anything, I’m not too far away from here,” he says against my lips.
“Okay.”
“I’ll bring you something to eat,” he says, eyes smiling.
“Sounds good,” I say, brushing my lips against his one last time. I pull back and wave bye as he gets up and leaves.
Chapter Twenty
I walk into the club, Anaya by my side, the both of us dressed to kill. Friday night came around quickly, and I told Grayson I would meet him here. Of course, he didn’t like that; he wanted to pick me up, but I told him Anaya was driving so there was no point. He grumbled, but surprisingly gave in. I spot him instantly at the bar with his sister. Anaya links her hand in mine as we walk toward them. I know the second Grayson sees me, because he turns his head and stills. I hide my smile as I stop before him. Before I can speak, he cradles my face in his hands and kisses me. He then puts his lips at my ear and says, “You look breathtaking.”
I blush. I’d chosen a dress of Anaya’s, a blue chiffon dress I fell in love with the moment I saw. I go to introduce Leah and Anaya, but the two of them are already talking and introducing themselves. Oops. I throw Grayson a look, like it’s his fault I’m appearing rude. He grins wolfishly, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“You don’t need to baby her,” he says into my ear, looking amused. “Do you want a drink?”
“Yes please,” I say, turning to Anaya and Leah and asking them what they want. Grayson orders for us, and then pulls me to the dance floor.
“I know you have some moves,” he whispers into my ear, pulling my ass against him. “I was so angry that night, but I was also so fucking hard.”
We start to dance, nothing too raunchy. He has his hands on my hips, and we move together in time with the music. A few songs later, we return to Leah and Anaya who are doing a shot of something green. Leah smiles when she sees me and grabs my arm, pulling me next to her.
“There are so many hot guys here tonight!” she gushes, glancing around. I follow her line of direction. I hadn’t even noticed any hot guys besides Grayson. “Do you want to dance?” she asks. I nod. The three of us head to the dance floor, leaving Grayson alone at the bar. When we return, he’s not alone.
“Shit. I had no idea she would be here,” Leah says. Grayson is inching away from Dylan, who is trying to get as close as she can to tell him something. I walk up next to him and his arm comes around me instantly.
“Forget my invite did you, Leah?” Dylan sneers, throwing a look at her friend. Leah rolls her eyes.
Grayson scoffs. “Not exactly.”
“Seriously? Just because she comes along I get thrown out of the group? Replaced?”
“That’s not what happened and you know it. Leave us alone, Dylan,” Grayson says, bringing me closer and kissing me on top of my head. Dylan storms off, re-joining the group of girls she must have arrived with.
An hour later, I walk into the ladies’ room. There are a few girls talking amongst themselves by the sinks.
“It’s not like I like going down on a guy, but it’s just common courtesy to reciprocate,” one girl is telling her friend. I hide my smile at their conversation. When I exit the bathroom, I come face to face with Dylan. Just what I need right now.
“He’ll come back to me, you know. He always does,” she says, pouting her red lips.
I shrug. “If he does go back to you, then I wouldn’t want him anyway,” I say, walking away before she can talk more shit. Walking back to our spot, I laugh when I see Grayson dancing with his sister, playing around and doing some silly dance moves. Leah is slapping his arm, possibly telling him to stop embarrassing her going by the redness of her face. Anaya is on her phone; I’m guessing texting Paul. She wanted him to come out tonight, but he had to work. I smile at Grayson—who is waving me over. I walk onto the dance floor and save Leah from him.
“I love you,” he says to me.
“I love you too.”
When I get home that night, I see my sister has left me a text message.
I’ll be there next week. What’s your address?
Shit.
I run home, panting, my bag swinging on my arm. London is coming today, and I forgot. I forgot. I received a message saying that she has landed and is catching a cab to my apartment while I was in class. So she might already be there, if not, could be arriving at any second. Grayson is there, probably still asleep in my bed since he didn’t have an early class. I run up the steps, pull out my key and unlock the door.
“Grayson?” I call out, throwing my bag on the floor and walking straight into the kitchen. I stop as I see him, bare-chested, wearing nothing but a pair of worn jeans, low on his hips, button undone.
“Hey, babe, how was class?” he asks, stalking over to me and dipping me backwards with a welcoming kiss. When he lifts me back up, I forget what I was going to say. Oh, right. My sister.
“London is coming today! Like now! Any second now,” I ramble.
His brows lower. “That’s today?” Looks like I’m not the only one who forgot.
“Apparently so.”
“Okay, so don’t stress. You know I could have picked her up from the airport, right?” he says, not for the first time.
“Don’t worry. She can manage.”
“I can pick up something for dinner,” he offers.
“That would be great,” I say, tying my hair on top of my head in a messy bun. I don’t know how I feel having London visit. She’s a troublemaker and an opportunist. I don’t mean to be rude, but I really don’t want her staying here. I told her she can stay for a couple days until she figures out whatever she wants to do. There’s a knock at the door and dread fills me.