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He leaned in to kiss

But hell, I thought, if I could resist full-on te, it was a breeze to turn down half I turned my face away, and he led, his lips tickling er at hirinned a wicked grin "Well, then, let’s get to know each other better"

I rolledhed, un-offended "We aren’t that much alike," he said intoup I’m the relationship type In fact, I’le"

"Well, I’h I’m not that crazy about it, either"

"Just let me knohen that phase is over I’d love to take you out"

"I’m not sure what your brother would think about that"

"It’s not his business You two are still just friends, right?"

I nodded

"Well, friends don’t get to tell each other who to date"

"What about brothers?" I asked pointedly

"Brothers don’t either, when they’re being completely reasonable about it"

My ive ht, whenever your dating ban is up You don’t have to decide right now, but at least tell me you’ll think about it"

"I’ll think about it"

We’d had our mouths at each other’s ears for the entire conversation, and Jared took full advantage of that, nuzzling into the sensitive spot just behind

I was certainly attracted to him, if not in the crazy, irresistible way I was to Tristan But Tristan was a lost cause, and when I was ready to start dating again, Jared was dating material I didn’t know him well, but he was hot, in a skinny rocker kind of way, and he see, if a touch forward

"That’s all I ask," he said, tuggingseveral minutes before

I didn’t spot Tristan as we ut twisted sickly I shouldn’t have been upset by the fact that he’d likely gone off somewhere to hook up with that skank I knew the score He’d never been mine to lose Not even close

Still, I felt forlorn as the minutes passed, and he didn’t show

I wound up drowning my sorroith another drink, and on a dare fro on one of the small tables that ran beside the pools

I didn’t notice that there was so on the couch by the table until Jared was yelling at him

I turned, my head notably fuzzy after that last drink, to find soood look up my skirt

I opened my mouth to tell the jerk off, but I was quickly distracted by the sight of Tristan descending on the man, murder in his eyes

I sturabbed thehim with just one hand

A soft hand atto see Jared at my side He held a hand up to help ratefully

"I’m sorry," he said into my ear "I didn’t see that piece of shit until after you’d started dancing"

I just nodded, accepting the apology,

Security had beco obscenities at each other I’d never seen Tristan like that, so angry and violent, and the sight was hard to look away froed me away to my seat by the bar

I searched out Cory, atching the altercation ide eyes I couldn’t i at his job

I was shocked when Tristan took a seat beside me within a few short minutes He didn’t look at me as he ordered a drink

"What was that?" I asked him

He shot me an annoyed look out of the corner of his eye "That’s what I’d like to know What was that?"

"I was dancing I didn’t realize there was some creep on the couch And I can’t believe they didn’t kick you out for attacking him"

Tristan opened his mouth to reply, but Cory distracted us both

"Fuck Holy fuck Jesus, Tristan, here coetabout, and as a tall olden hair approached; my jaent a little slack I’d never seen a man so beautiful in my life

He was slender, but not thin by any means He was tan, with turquoise eyes that stood out like jewels even with the di I’d seen pictures of the famous hotel chain owner, but Jesus, pictures did not do the man justice

Ja s out his hand I reached out my own auto

His waresture "I just wanted to offer ies about what happened back there That man has been escorted off the pre the club on business when I heard what had happened Are you okay, Miss…?"

I sed hard, unnerved "I’m, uh, Danika And leton that table, and I probably shouldn’t--"

"No, Danika, I shudder to think that you’d be discouraged fro on tables after that Don’t let it be said that Decadence isn’t the best spot in town to dance on a table"