Page 56 of Forever Golden
Guess that’s the cost of procrastination. Either way, I wouldn’t miss it if I were you.
Have fun, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 20
BLUE
My shoes came off an hour ago, my hair has lost most of its bounce, West has stolen every trace of lipstick off my lips, and I can’t remember a time I’ve had more fun. This is the first song we’ve sat out on since we walked into the gym, and I’m nowhere near tired. In fact, I’m practically buzzing with energy.
Guess I’ve taken Jules’s advice to heart and I’m living a little.
Resting his back against the wall, West grips my hips in front of him while we stare out on the crowd, hundreds of bodies moving to the same beat. Our whole crew is posted now, even Joss. As part of the dance committee, she’s spent most of the night working, so it’s cool she finally gets to chill for a bit. She and Dane share a laugh, but the music’s too loud to even guess what’s funny.
Gently grinding against West because the music still has a hold of me, I pan the room. Sterling’s standing to our left, wearing a suit that fits almost identical to West’s, but in navy blue instead of black. He slips one hand in his pocket and scans the gym, taking a slow drink from his cup. His head swivels a bit and I’m curious when it stops, following his gaze. I can only guess he’s just realized the tall blonde near the punchbowl’s been watching him.
I recognize her from one of the infamous X’s last posts. The woman is definitely Headmaster Harrison’s wife, filling the role of a chaperone tonight it seems. Only, she doesn’t appear to be interested in anything oranyonebut Sterling. She’s beautiful, has the body of a woman who spends a fair amount of time in the gym, and the only thing that even hints that she may be up in age is that she’s married to Harrison. Otherwise, she’d pass for being in her late twenties, early thirties.
Whatever the case, she’s too old for Sterling, but doesn’t seem to care.
A slow smile spreads across her glossed lips and my eyes dart back to Sterling. His expression hasn’t changed, which gives the impression that he’s ignoring her. But when he turns without making a big deal of having had her attention at all, I’m nowcertainhe means to ignore her.
My eyes lock with his, and the curious look on my face is likely what gives away that I caught the whole, strange interaction. When one corner of his mouth tugs up into a smile, silently acknowledging what only the two of us seemed to notice, he sets down his empty cup and weaves his way back into the crowd. Eventually, he finds a girl in the right age group to dance with and I glance back toward Harrison’s wife. Sure enough, her eyes are glued to him, causing me to see X’s post in a whole new light.
Apparently, the woman’s known for going after younger guys, and if she has it her way, Sterling might be her next victim.
“Ready to get back out there?”
West’s deep timbre pulls me out of my thoughts. I steal a glance at him over my shoulder, then answer his question with an action instead of words. Taking his hand, I lead us back toward the middle of the dancefloor. By the third song in, it’s like we never took a break at all. Sweat dampens my hairline, but I’m nowhere near wanting to stop.
Heat.
So much heat.
Where his chest presses against mine. Where his breath caresses my neck. Where his palms slip over the smooth material of my dress.
The music isn’t what moves us anymore. It’s the thick cloud of lust that’s been hanging over us all night. Which is why we seem to keep forgetting it isn’t just the two of us out here.
Twice, chaperones have made their way over to remind us to keep things PG. Both times it was because West’s hands lingered on my ass a little too long for their liking.
I feel all the eyes on us, especially coming from the corner beside the inflatable Frosty the Snowman. It’s Heidi and Ariana—Parker’s minions. They don’t have nearly as much nerve as they did when their queen was still attending CPA, but their hatred still burns bright. However, I’m having too good a time to actually care.
I want West so bad I can literally taste it. It’s like I can’t get close enough, but when I face away from him, grinding my ass against his dick, his hard-on says otherwise. It says we’replentyclose.
“All right. I fucking give,” he growls into my ear, splaying one hand over my belly ring while he speaks.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I tease with a grin.
“Oh, so youhaven’tbeen trying to drive me crazy all night?”
My smile turns into a laugh and I face him again, meeting that smoldering stare currently fixed on me.
“I’m just having fun.”
Another groan leaves him when my hands slip up from his shoulders and lock behind his neck.
“I’m doing my best to get through tonight without making it about sex, but shit, Southside. All I can fucking think about is how good you probably taste right now.”