Give and Receive - Bundle (Books 1-2): New Adult Romance (17 page)

Cheeks flushed?
Check
.

Nipples tightened?
Without a doubt
.

Wetness between legs?
Absolutely
.

Sheer panic at the revelation of him leaning in?
Commenced
.

Every warning bell in her body sounded off.

Ty was much too close.

He was actually going to kiss her. In front of all of these people. Which was ironic. Because in the grand scheme of things, the minute Ty moved into her vicinity, everything and everyone around them faded.

Until all they saw...was each other.

They stood at the back entrance of the club, unaware of anyone else, when a baritone voice penetrated her senses.

“Am I interrupting?”

Slowly, Lena turned around to stare at what were always the strangest, most haunted, silvery grey eyes she had ever seen. Her heart, perfectly balanced and safe within her chest, fell to the pit of her stomach with a resounding 
thud
.

Of course, he was there.

That was how it went.

“Danny.” she sighed. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Three months, nine days, five hours…twenty-two minutes.

All came rushing back. Like it was yesterday.

The two of them drank. Consuming each other in.

Tyler observed them both. Shooting daggers at Danny.

“Hello to you too. Absolutely fantastic interception, by the way.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” Danny sounding amused.

Not sorry in the least.

“Yeah, whatever.” Ty snorted. “So do I need to make introductions, or do you two know each other?”

He laughed at his joke.

“I guess embracing your own stupidity makes you at peace with it?” Danny’s slow, sexy, yummy, drawl was toffee rich.

Stroking her neck and back like a warm caress.

“Oh, don’t worry. I manage to get by.”

The chemistry between them was palpable.

Drawn together, as always. Like magnets.

Danny’s eyes never left hers. “What’s up, L?”

Lena’s kitty cat almost clawed her way out her pants right then and there. Only Danny ever called her by that nickname. She willed her lower half to stay in her pants, plastering a smile on her face.

“How are you, Danny?”

She reached up, even in heels to give him a kiss on the cheek. He bent down, turning at the last minute. She inhaled in surprised shock. Feeling his tongue, his deliciously warm tongue, trace an outline of her lips.

“I’m doing good,” he whispered softly.

“I’d be better doing you.” He straightened. Moving back.

His mouth grinning slightly. Wickedly.

Lena blinked. Momentarily struck dumb.

Gone was the bitter, angry, hostile man she saw three months ago. He seemed…different. Lighter. Free.

Ready to stalk his prey.

Her pulse beat erratically in her throat.

“Three months, huh.” She murmured…remembering.

“Nine days,” Danny supplied. Unable to look away from her. “Five hours…” He sighed. An exhale cloaked in yearning. Re-living that night. The same way he had every night since.

Tyler rolled his eyes, looking at his watch.

“Twenty-two minutes. I remember too. But who’s counting, right?” Lena and Danny both turned to look at him.

The truly staggering asshattery of this man.

“Yeah. I was there too, bitches. Don’t forget that shit.”

He ignored both of their hostile stares.

“And for the love of Jesus, can we 
please
 take this inside? We’re creating a scene.”

Lena gave Tyler an incredulous look at his sheer audaciousness. Not to mention hypocrisy.

She started to speak. Tyler put his hand over her mouth.

“Inside. Now.”

Lena nodded wordlessly. Following him inside.

Sometimes it wasn’t even worth it.

Especially when God forbid, Tyler was right.

 When they got in, they were immediately ushered to the after party in the VIP lounge upstairs. Lena saw Reese, already at the bar. Flirting outrageously with Dion.

They appeared intent in conversation about something. Reese must have sensed Lena’s presence.

She looked up, smiling at her knowingly. Observing Danny on her right, Tyler on her left. She could tell Reese was smirking. Even from a distance. Lena was immediately suspicious. She didn’t trust that look for one minute.

She had to investigate further.

“Excuse me for a minute, gentleman.” She extricated herself.

“Leaving so soon?” Danny smiled down at her, his hand lightly grazing her shoulder. Brushing the hair from her face. She shivered, losing her train of thought. This was insanity. That idiot Ty was right. She practically assumed the mating position anytime the man spoke.

She regained her calm and self-assurance. Smiling with a serenity she didn’t completely feel. She absently traced a light pattern at the apex of her thighs. Watching Danny’s gaze travel down. He swallowed hard. Skintight black leather pants didn’t hide much.

When Lena knew she had his complete attention, she stopped, her voice cascading honey.

“Don’t worry.” Her voice promised a multitude of sins. “I’ll be right back.”

Next to him, Tyler’s throat constricted. “I need a drink.”

“Get your drink, love.” she smiled.

“Like I said, I’ll be right back. Miss me while I’m gone.”

Now leave, before you fuck-up a good exit scene. Dumb ass.

What the hell kind of trouble was she about to get herself into?

She walked away.

Both of them watching her loose-limbed swagger.

Danny ordered a drink from the bar.

“Hope I didn’t mess up your night.”

Ty smirked. “Nope. Not in the slightest. It’s cute you were worried, though.”

Danny grinned right back.

“Actually, I wasn’t. I was being polite.”

“I appreciate your honesty.”

“It’s nice to be appreciated.”

“Didn’t get that much with your wife, did you?”

“Ex-wife. Elizabeth and I are divorced now. In case you needed reminding.”

Ty laughed without humor. “Congratulations on that.”

“Thank you, Tyler. That means so much, coming from you.”

“Cut the bullshit, D. Why are you here tonight?”

“What difference does it make to you? Besides…I think you know why.”

“Just know this. I’m not going to stand by, watching you hurt her again. Are we clear? She’s been through enough.”

Danny swallowed his drink.

“Crystal clear. And more than a little laughable. Given your track record.” He signaled for another.

“Since when are you her bodyguard?”

Ty snatched the drink the bartender put down for Danny. Downing it in one gulp.

“Since she can’t see clearly when it comes to you.”

“Oh, really?”

“Really.”

“And what would she think about you making decisions for her, Ty? The Lena we both know and love would kick your ass.” Ty laughed in amusement.

“She’s more than worth the risk.”

He leaned in, gesturing for Danny to come closer.

“Trust me. I know.”

Danny’s fist clenched. The double meaning hitting home. He resisted the urge to punch him in his smug, cocky little face. “What are you worried about, Ty? Somehow she’ll choose me, over you?”

“Hell, I’m not worried. You on the other hand, might want to be concerned. See, the difference is, I’m not requiring her to make a choice. I’ll take whatever I’m lucky enough to be blessed with where she’s concerned. Even if that means putting up with you.” He gestured to the bartender for a beer.

“Can you say the same?”

 “And what do you have over there, dear?” Reese asked when Lena walked over. Eyeing each of the men appreciatively.

“What I have is a fire about to erupt into a blazing inferno.” Lena kissed Reese on the cheek.

“I swear, I don’t know what game we’re playing, but somebody forgot to give me half of the rules.”

“Who the hell needs rules when you got all that?”

Reese watched Tyler talking to Danny. Lena snapped her out of her lust filled haze.

“Hello? I was talking about Blake, you horny little mudskipper. I still can’t figure out why he divorced horse teeth so fucking fast.” Reese slowly dragged her eyes away from Ty, eyeing Lena. “You truly don’t know, do you?”

Lena looked at her blankly. “Know what?”

Reese stared at her few more seconds.

Shaking her head disbelievingly and laughing.

“Wow. You know, I think I actually see blond roots showing. They look great with brown skin, honey.”

Lena punched her in the shoulder. “You’re such a brat. Fucking tell me if you know.”

Reese smiled beautifully.

She was also a bitch.

“No, my dear. I think you have to get this one straight from the horse’s mouth. Or in this case, straight from the ex-husband of the horse’s mouth.”

She snickered over her own stupid joke.

Lena stared at her. She knew if she pressed the issue, it would only make it worse.

“Yeah. Ok. Don’t think I won’t remember this, Reese. Dion. No more free drinks. And have security search her for hidden weapons.”

Lena smiled angelically at Reese.

“Dion, you will do no such thing. Or I promise you,” She pointed at Lena. “I will never buy you another piece of beef jerky ever again.”

Reese beamed back at her. Equally as syrupy. She ordered another rum and coke from Dion. Who looked perplexed at which to obey.