I playfully elbow him in the stomach, causing him to back up an inch. “That’s cheating. Now back off, big guy. I’m not giving up so easily.”
We both laugh and I can’t stop looking at him. He’s so damn beautiful. That smile . . . how did I miss that it’s the most beautiful smile in the world? I could seriously just stand here all night and watch his mouth and not have a single care in the world. That definitely gives me a reason as to why I should have a care in the world.
No attachments . . . Just for fun.
I have to keep repeating this to myself through the rest of the game. I lost count of how many times I had to mentally voice it to myself.
Tori and Brad appear toward the end of the second game, watching as Kyan takes his shot. Tori takes one look at the pool table before giving me a look hinting that I’m pathetic. Maybe I needed a few more beers to play better. I swear I was better last time, but I’m wrong. Kyan was playing me and it worked. He’s a pro at everything he does. It makes me want to bite him.
I raise my stick to Tori as she’s about to open her mouth. “Don’t even say it.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I wasn’t going to say anything about how badly you’re losing.” She shrugs again. “Really.”
Kyan wins yet another game, so I set my cue stick down and poke him in the ribs. “You’re lucky you’re so damn cute. I usually don’t take losing so lightly.”
He grabs me by the waist and picks me up off the ground, kissing the top of my head, before setting me back down. “I’m going to pay the tab so we can get going.” He grabs the empty beer bottles and walks through the crowd.
“Holy fuck!” Tori grabs onto my arm and pulls me to her. “He is really something else; so, so, so much better than Jordan. He’s almost unreal. Is he real?” She turns to Brad. “Sorry.” Then she turns back to me. “But damn!”
Brad just shrugs his shoulders and says, “It’s all good,” and finishes off his drink. “I’ll be right back.”
Brushing strands of his golden hair out of his face, Brad kisses Tori on the mouth before walking away and toward the bar.
“Can I trade him in?” She raises both brows. “I’ll give you one week with Brad if I can have Kyan for one night. Just one night and I bet he’ll make up for a year’s worth of sex with Brad.”
I push her and cover my mouth in surprise. “That is so mean to say.”
We both look over at the bar. Kyan is standing there with confidence, knowing that one of the girls will fight to get to him as soon as they are free, while Brad keeps jumping around and waving his arms, looking like a helpless little boy.
“He’s not that bad.” I lie. “I mean . . . he’s cute. He has that going for him. He’s just like a little puppy. Girls love puppies.”
She rolls her eyes and pulls out some gloss, coating her plump lips. “Not me, Calla. Definitely not me.”
“Then why are you with him?”
She gives me a confused look and shakes her head to herself. “I don’t know. I guess to keep busy. It helps sometimes to have sex with someone that you know you won’t fall for. It saves you from getting hurt. I guess Brad is safe . . . I know I won’t get too attached, and so I keep holding on. Men scare me. Real men that is.”
I stand here in a daze and let her words really sink in. Kyan is exactly the opposite. He’s the guy that I see myself falling for, except I can’t make myself stop having sex with him. My body physically aches for his touch whenever he’s near. I don’t want to stop, no matter what the consequences are.
I feel a hand on my arm so I turn beside me. Some dark haired guy, wearing a polo shirt and a pair of khakis, smiles at me.
“You’re too beautiful to be standing here alone.” He holds up his beer. “Can I get you a drink?”
I shake my head and offer him a friendly smile. “I’m not here alone.” I lean into him so he can hear me over the music. “Thank you, but no.”
When I look over his shoulder, Kyan is walking with his hand on Brad’s shoulder. I see Brad thanking him, so I’m guessing he took care of his tab to save him the trouble from bouncing around.
His eyes look away from Brad to meet mine, and his jaw steels. I can clearly see his hard body tense up.
“Are you sure?” The guy places his hand on my arm and leans into my ear. “I don’t see you with anyone. Just one drink.”
Kyan’s hand grips the guy’s shoulder, pulling him out of my face. “She’s here with someone.” Pretending that the guy doesn’t even exist, Kyan smiles at me and grabs the back of my neck. “Let me give you a ride back home.”
Mumbling something under his breath, the guy turns and walks away, clearly realizing that he has no chance against Kyan.
“Okay,” I say with a smile. “I guess you sort of owe me a ride home after kicking my ass in pool so many times. It’s the least you can do.”
Tori gives me a huge, face-ripping smile and hands her keys to Brad. “I’m going to have Brad drive me home and we’ll pick up my car tomorrow morning. I’ll see you at home.”
Kyan says bye to Tori and Brad, before pulling me through the crowd, keeping his eyes on me instead of all the girls that seem to be staring at him in passing.
Why do I want to choke all of these girls? Every damn one of them is making it so obvious that it seriously looks desperate. The good thing is that it doesn’t even seem to faze Kyan like it would most men.
We have small talk the entire way back to the apartment and I find myself cracking silly jokes all the way into the building. I’m ashamed to say this always happens when I get too tired. Mix it with alcohol and it’s worse than you can imagine. Sometimes I want to run from myself. It’s that bad.
Kyan holds the elevator, letting me step in first.
“I hope you don’t have to work in the morning.” He leans against the wall and smiles when I do. “I’d hate to see how that shoot comes out.”
I slap his arm and laugh. “No, I don’t, thank goodness, but I can guarantee I would still rock that wedding,” I say, pointing at him.
He smiles at me and places his arm on the small of my back as the elevator stops on the sixth floor. “I believe it,” he says. “You’re amazing at what you do. I could see that from the shoot we did. It comes naturally for you.”