Bet Me Something (Something Series Book 3) (31 page)

Simone put her
hands around his arm possessively. “Buy us a drink?”

Colby turned,
escorting both ladies towards the bar.

I still
maintained that his history didn’t matter and meant it, but when the past was
currently being bought a drink unaware of his present, it made being invisible
hard to take. Deciding I didn’t want to appear obvious in my displeasure, I
abruptly excused myself.

“Sorry, I, um,
just realized I have to make a phone call.” It was the best I could do for an
excuse given the circumstances. Bringing out my phone as exhibit A to complete
my lameness, I stepped outside, wishing the night wasn’t still scorching hot.

“You okay?”
Will’s voice startled me.

 “Yeah. Good,
thanks.”

His lips curved
up. “How was your phone call?”

Of course he’d
seen through my excuse. “About as real as those women’s boobs in there.”

He laughed out
loud. “Your boy didn’t seem all that thrilled to see them here if you want my
opinion.”

Haylee peeked
her head out the door, smiling at us. “Hey, guys, last chance to put your bets
in whether or not I can get Josh on the dance floor.”

Her smile was
contagious, and I forced myself to relax. Will helped with the effort by
leading me out to the dance floor.

***

My personality
was way too upbeat to indulge in negative thoughts about Colby or crazy,
aggressive Simone. And maybe I’d received a bit of a charge from Colby’s eyes
tracking me the entire time I was dancing with Will. After a number of drinks
and celebrating that Haylee had actually managed to get Josh onto the dance
floor, we all headed next to a bar a couple hotels over. The best part about
this stop was we were now back to the initial group of friends and, thankfully,
without Simone and Rachel.

The bar was much
quieter than the club had been and, luckily, not very crowded at midnight. As
one half of our party played pool, I sat at a table with Sasha, Brian, and
Colby. I wondered if he and I would ever get to the point where his arm would
be around me, sitting here comfortably like an actual couple in front of our
friends.

Brian looked
over towards Will talking with Mark by the pool table. “So, Haylee told me Will
was out in LA recently.”

“Yeah. I
recruited him to come to the hospital with me and dress up as Prince Charming
for the kids.”

“And?” Brian
prodded, earning him a kick under the table from Sasha.

“And what?” What
in the hell was he doing?

“Damn, if you
don’t think Will is attractive enough for you, then you may be pickier than I
thought.”

My face heated,
especially since Colby was at the table. “I didn’t say he was unattractive, but
we’re only friends. Since when are you trying to set me up?” My brother had
never done this type of thing before.

“You two went
out that night in New York. Then I heard he came to see you, and tonight I
didn’t miss the way you two were dancing with one another earlier. I thought
maybe you were into him, and he’d be good boyfriend material.”

I was shocked.
Everything I’d done was to get Colby’s attention, not Will’s.

“What exactly
does good boyfriend material entail these days?” Colby interjected. He tried to
act casual, yet I knew there was an ulterior motive in him asking that question
of my brother.

Brian seemed to
think this was hilarious coming from Colby, but Sasha wouldn’t let him answer.

“Believe me when
I say that information should come from the girls, not the boys.” She looked at
my brother, putting her hand lovingly on his face. “And the thing that makes
great boyfriend material is open communication and a learning curve. We women
aren’t always easy to figure out.”

Brian kissed her
palm before turning back to us. “I’d love to refute that statement, but alas,
it’s very true. We boys need a guide.”

“We girls need
one, too, because no one goes into a relationship as a previous success story
in one,” Sasha added.

We all laughed,
and I saw Colby relax somewhat after their answers, even if he did seem quieter
than normal.

Haylee and Josh
came over a short time later with Haylee yawning. “Sorry, guys. I’m afraid this
is as late as I go.”

Josh hugged her
tight. “Time to get this party animal home. The limo is leaving, but I can send
it back here if anyone wants to stay longer.”

 Deciding to return
with them to the hotel, I finished up my drink and then took a detour via the
ladies’ room before heading outside to step into the waiting car. When the door
closed, however, I realized Colby and Mark were missing. “Hey, we’re down two.”

Josh spoke up.
“Nope, they’re staying out.”

“Oh.” I had to
bite the inside of my cheek to keep from asking any further questions, such as what
they were doing. I worked to quiet any doubts about Colby leaving by reminding
myself that, when it came down to it, I trusted him.

Unfortunately,
sitting next to my brother in the limo, I overheard him whisper too loudly to
Josh. “If anyone can get Mark laid tonight by going to find Simone and Rachel
at the strip club, it’ll be your little brother. But if not, I’m sure he
wouldn’t mind the two girls for himself. Heaven knows, he’s the only man who
can pull that off routinely.”

Josh shook his
head. “Obviously, some things never change with him.”

And that was the
problem in a nutshell. In letting them believe he was intending to meet those
women at the strip club, he had the very two men he hoped to someday convince
our relationship was valid thinking he was still the same guy he’d always been.
After tonight, how the hell did he think he’d ever be able to prove to my
brother he’d changed his notorious ways and was monogamous with me?

Once we arrived
back at the hotel, the couples went up to their rooms, but Will, Catherine, and
I decided to have another few drinks in the lobby bar. Regrettably, I was
finding the whiskey now in my belly was doing the opposite of quelling my
unease. It was feeding the fire. It also didn’t help that my eyes were glued to
the hotel entrance, hoping to spot Colby come in any minute.

I could’ve sent
him a text message, but as luck would have it, my phone had gone dead. Besides,
I wasn’t certain I wanted to know if Colby and Mark were at Lucky Ladies
tonight. Throwing in the towel after the two drinks and an hour of waiting
pathetically for him to return, I went up to my room. I was furious. Partially
with myself, but mostly with him.

Sliding my key
in the door, I had already started to remove my shoe and was muttering a string
of curses when his voice scared the shit out of me.

“Hey, where have
you been? You didn’t answer my texts.”

My head whipped
toward the bed to see him lying there in the same clothes as earlier tonight,
sipping on a drink.

Frustration
bubbled over, and before I could contain it, I slipped out of my shoe and
chucked it at him.

“Ow! What the
hell was that for?”

It bounced off
his chest, and before he could recover, I unfastened the other one, ready to
fling it, too.

He jumped up
with both hands high in surrender. “Wait. What’s going on?”

“I—You—Fuck—”
This was a first. I was actually livid enough I was unable to form complete
sentences.

Not recognizing
the depth of my anger, he smirked. “Although your caveman approach may need
work, I’m definitely a fan of those three words together.”

It was official.
Colby Singer was a dead man, but before I could contemplate the method in which
he’d meet his fate, he was on me, taking the shoe out of my hand.

I don’t know who
was surprised more when I pushed him off.

“Kenz, you don’t
really think I did anything wrong tonight when I stayed out with Mark, do you?”

The hurt in his
eyes calmed me some. “No, I don’t. Otherwise, the murderous thoughts in my head
would get real in a hurry.”

He took his
chances and stepped closer, despite my warning glare. “Why are you so angry,
then?”

“I’m pissed
because you had everyone thinking you and Mark left for the strip club to find
the two women from earlier to get laid.”

Confusion was
written across his face. “It’s not like I told them that’s what I was doing,
but I’m not surprised they assumed so. It’s what everyone expects of me here in
Vegas. It would’ve caused more notice if I’d returned with all of you tonight.”

“Wrong fucking
answer. I mean, God forbid you tell them to go to hell and do what you want without
having to make excuses as to why.”

Temper flickered
in his expression. “That coming from you is a little hypocritical, don’t you
think?”

Whoosh. That was
the realization that he’d made a fair point. It took a moment before I could speak
again. “Fine.”

He raked a hand
over his face. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. So, if you don’t believe I
did anything, what’s wrong?”

“How do you
think you’ll successfully talk to my brother about us on the heels of having
everyone think you and Mark are getting laid tonight or, worse, that you may be
taking on both women yourself because my brother believes you do that
routinely?”

His face was
completely stunned. Once he snapped out of it a few seconds later, he put his
hands on my shoulders and met my eyes dead on. “You have to believe me when I
say it didn’t occur to me how it would affect things when it comes to telling
him about us later. Mark and I stayed at the bar, had a beer, and then came
back here via the side entrance in case any of you were hanging out in the
lobby bar. And I wasn’t going to chance sneaking into your room, but you
weren’t answering your texts, so I needed to make sure we were okay.”

“I was in the
lobby bar waiting for you to walk in and my phone died, that’s why I didn’t get
your texts. So you didn’t go to the strip club?”

He shook his
head. “No, we didn’t. Truth be told, Mark was relieved I only wanted to sit and
have a beer instead of dragging him there. He’s just not wired that way even if
our brothers may want me to get him out there.”

“Why was Simone
there at the club tonight?”

“I don’t have a
clue. The girls from Lucky Ladies go there sometimes to drum up business for
the night and maybe found out through friends about the Singer reservation. But
I never would’ve invited her. Please tell me you believe that.”

Intending to
assure him I did, I rested my hands on his chest. “Although watching her with
you earlier didn’t feel good and having you not come back with the rest of us
wasn’t great, neither were enough to send me over the edge of reason and pelt
you with my shoe. I trust you, Colby, but hearing our brothers with their
assumptions about you earlier made me realize you’re not doing us any favors by
perpetuating their stereotype of you. Then I started wondering if you ever plan
to tell them.”

He breathed
heavily, touching his forehead to mine. “I have every intention of doing so, but
you heard Brian trying to set you up with Will. That’s the type of guy he sees
you with.”

 Somehow, I knew
that conversation might come up. “It was only a bunch of semi-drunk people talking.
And Will is a nice guy, but he’s not the man I want to be with.”

He swallowed
hard. “I should’ve thought more about what tonight might look like. I really
fucked this up.”

“Nah, but you
gave it a good try.”

His lips
twitched. “Tomorrow I’ll make it clear to Brian that we stayed at the bar, and
I’ll have Mark back me up. Then maybe I can mention I’ve met someone, lay the
groundwork to prove I’ve changed instead of simply dropping the bomb that it’s
you. I should’ve thought of that idea before we came here.”

I liked he was
starting to formulate a plan but not that he felt as though he had to prove
himself to them. That being said, it would be nice for him to douse their
expectation he’d engage in old behaviors.

“Are we okay?”
he asked, his hands framing my face.

 “Yes, but only
if you kiss me.” When his lips touched mine, I melted into him.

He pulled back,
tracing my lower lip with his thumb. “This right here is my center. The outside
world tries to tilt us, or I accidentally do it, and being together puts us
back where we need to be.”

I loved the way
he described it because I felt the same. “It does. Sorry for throwing my shoe
at you.”

He laughed.
“Don’t take offense, but I kind of like it when you’re feisty. Your potential
violent streak turns me on.”

I rolled my
eyes. “You’re disturbed.”

“You don’t even
know the half of it because the fantasy reel in my head goes on with tying you
to the bed and calming your temper with my tongue until all the fight is out of
you.”

My body tingled
with anticipation. “I take it back; we’re both disturbed because now I want
that more than anything.”

He grinned,
running his hands down to my backside and pulling me into him. “Except you’re
not angry anymore.”

“Oh, I’m sure I
could dig deep and conjure up some irritation.”

His gaze
darkened with desire. “Take your clothes off and lie on the bed.”

While he latched
the deadbolt, I quickly undressed. Watching him open the closet, I wondered
what he was doing until he came towards me two robe ties.

“They’ll have to
do. Lay back with your head on the pillow.”

A shiver ran
down my spine with the possibilities while I watched him put both my wrists
together in front of me and tie them tightly together. Next he covered my eyes
with the other soft tie.

“I wish we had a
way to secure you to the bed, but unfortunately there aren’t any slats in the
headboard.”

Now I wished
there was, too.

He widened my
knees apart and I was practically shaking in anticipation when the sensation of
his tongue startled me. “Holy crap…” When he’d said he was going to torture me
with his tongue, I’d underestimated how tied up and blindfolded would make the
experience much more erotic.

When he stopped,
I let out an involuntary cry of displeasure. However, I didn’t have long to
wait, thankfully when he turned me on my side, lifting one leg over his
shoulder and diving in like a man crazed for the taste of me.

I rocked against
him, completely lost in the sensations of his fingers, tongue, and lips—everywhere
it seemed. He set the rhythm with his hands on my ass, clearly unconcerned
about his ability to breathe as he didn’t seem to take a moment to pause.

“Use your pillow
to scream into, gorgeous. Don’t need anyone hearing you four rooms down.”

Good thing he
thought of that precaution as I turned my head just in time. The orgasm tore
through me with a vengeance, and before I could register him moving, he’d flipped
me over, my ass in the air and thrust from behind, deep inside of me. I gasped,
pushing back into him.

“Jesus, I can
still feel your pussy contracting.” He pulled my hips up to a higher angle and
drove into me, relentless with his strokes.

His fingers came
around circling my clit, and I could feel myself building yet again. “Harder.
Fuck me harder.”

He muttered a
curse. “You’re determined to make me lose control, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I cried
out when his hands dug into my hips, and he went even deeper, pounding into me
in a delicious rhythm. Coming spectacularly, I felt the sensation of his hot
release following mine minutes later. He pulled out slowly while I collapsed on
my stomach, not able to stay upright a moment longer, especially with my hands
still tied.

Turning me over,
he removed the blindfold first, searching my face as he freed my hands. “Did I
hurt you?”

I shook my head,
smiling. “Nope. Not at all.”

He braced his
weight above me, dipping his head for a slow kiss. His tongue met mine with the
taste of myself fresh on his lips. “And now, we make love.”

My breath
hitched when his hand slid down to my center, fingering the silky wetness from
the both of us over my clit in precise circles. I couldn’t believe that after
two orgasms my body was greedy enough to crave another. His mouth inched down
my neck, licking, biting, sucking down to my breasts, where he lavished equal
attention on each, worshiping me slowly before he moved further down.

“You’re not
going to—Ah—” His mouth fastened on my engorged nub, much to my surprise that
he’d want to after sex.

He teased me to
the brink with his mouth before inserting a finger. “Are you sure I wasn’t too
rough?”

“No. I loved
it.”

“God, you’re
perfect.” He lifted me up, shifting positions and allowing me to straddle him
while he was lying on his back. When I took his erection in my hands, he warned
me, “Put me inside of you slowly.”

Hovering over
his tip, I sank down, savoring every inch while watching his face the entire
time. Then his hands held my hips completely still, not allowing me to move.

“Kiss me,” his
hoarse voice requested.

I bent down to
meet his lips, groaning into his mouth when his hands started to rock me into
him. The friction of the movement was rubbing my clit, which was about to set
me off again.

“Not yet.” He
slowed the cadence. “I want to come together. Think you can hold off?”

 Taking a deep
breath, I tried to think of something that would distract me.

Kittens. Cute,
little kittens. Colby holding a kitten. Colby eating my pussy. Good lord, I had
a dirty mind.

“Earth to Kenz,
where’d you go?”

When I explained
my failed distraction technique, he chuckled. “As if I needed another reason to
adore you. Lean up and let me watch you ride me.”

I complied,
loving the sexual control this position offered me to set the tempo.

He raised his
head, putting an extra pillow under it, his eyes intently watching where we
were joined together. “You’re so fucking sexy. When you were out on the dance
floor earlier, I wanted to haul you to the bathroom and fuck you fast and
dirty.”

His words made
me even hotter for him. “I love it when you talk like that to me, but not as
much as I wish you would’ve carried me off that dance floor.” I closed my eyes,
fantasizing about it while trying not to go off before him.

He growled. “You
should really fear for your safety confessing something like that to me.”

Deciding to literally
take things into my own hands, I reached down to rub my clit and witnessed his
look of surprise. “Can I help it if you turn me on?”

“Jesus, the
feeling is quite mutual. Don’t hold back. I’m close.”