I rip the paper from the box and lift the lid, gasping at what I find inside. “Colter, it’s beautiful.”
It’s an Alex and Ani bangle with the letter K and my birthstone. He knows how much I love to stack my bangles. I’m not wearing them tonight, they really don’t go with this dress, but I slide the bangle onto my wrist anyway because this is one I will never take off.
Circling my arms around his neck, he leans down to hug me. “Thank you. I love it.”
“Happy birthday, Kaylee,” he whispers, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. Goose bumps pebble across my skin and my nipples harden.
His arms tighten before he releases me, as if he doesn’t want to let go. When his eyes lock back on mine, a moment passes between us, charged with what can only be described as electric considering every nerve ending in my body is firing with need.
“It’s time to roll, bitch,” Jayla says as she approaches, interrupting our moment. “Hey, Mr. Steele.”
“Hello, Jayla,” Colter greets. “Staying out of trouble?”
“Trying to.” She nudges my arm with her elbow. “You know what a bad influence Kaylee can be sometimes.”
Colter grins. “Not my sweet Kaylee.”
My sweet Kaylee.
If he only knew just how bad I would be for him.
“Where are you girls going tonight?” he asks.
“A new club downtown called the Tunnel,” Jayla replies. “Have you heard of it?”
Colter’s jaw clenches as his eyes return to mine. “Yeah, I’ve heard of it. Don’t you have to be twenty-one to get in there?”
“Nope,” Jayla replies. “Eighteen. They put a
big ugly X on top of your hand to make sure you don’t drink.” She tugs my arm. “Come on, the Uber is already here.”
“Thank you again for the gift, Colter.”
I move to walk away but he grabs my upper arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You call me if you need me for anything, understand? I don’t care what time it is.”
I swallow thickly at the intensity in his eyes. “Okay.”
Finally, he releases me and I set off to join Jayla, my heart pumping wildly in my chest.
“Jesus Christ, that man wants you so bad he can hardly see straight.
I nearly had an orgasm just by the way he was looking at you.” She hooks her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s go see if we can find a nice young boy to deflower my virgin friend.”
I laugh, following her out to the waiting Uber, but there’s no way I’ll ever give myself to anyone else but him.