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  …His girlfriend?

  Unease crept over my spine at the thought. One controlling boyfriend had been enough for me. I wasn’t in the market for a boyfriend at all. Sex? I could do without it thank you. I certainly hadn’t enjoyed it with Ben.

  I shook off the memories and grabbed my camera. My safety net. I could observe the world from behind the lens and never have to participate. Though, I had to admit, participating as I had done for the last couple of months had been…kind of nice. I glanced around the club for a suitable subject and stopped on Fredi and Donny. They were playing against two men I didn’t recognise at a nearby table. Fredi was examining the options on the table and Donny was pressed up against her from behind, looking over her shoulder and whispering suggestions in her ear. His smile was soft, yet wicked as his lips brushed her ear and I actually caught a faint blush on Fredi’s skin as she grinned in anticipation of victory. I snapped a photo, admiring the digital image on my screen. I loved catching moments like these. I grinned as I imagined the stories Zane would read into them when I sent them to him. Zane was good at reading people. I frowned and glanced up at Stone. Better not send him any with Stone in them! Big brother Zane would be breathing down my neck the minute he looked at them.

  I heard a sigh behind me and turned to see Briar watching Fredi and Donny. I grimaced at the hurt, but resigned expression on her face. Poor Bri. She and Alec had already been eliminated and so she’d been sitting there, watching us for the past hour. I slid off my seat to go and comfort her, but Alec beat me to it. I sat back down, watching him brush some hair out of her face and grin down at her with as much sex appeal he could pack. Woah, he was bringing out the big guns tonight! He propped his muscled arm on the bar beside her and leaned close to her ear to talk over the noise of the club. I saw Bri inhale a little before her hand tentatively touched his arm. She nodded and looked quite flushed as he drew back and signalled to the bar tender.

  Alec set a drink in front of her and she smiled at him in thanks, before sending another quick glance at Fredi and Donny. Her face fell and I quickly followed her gaze to see Donny pick Fredi up in a victory twirl. Fredi tipped her head back with an uninhibited, husky laugh that turned many male heads. I turned back in time to see Alec’s annoyed frown as Briar tipped back the rest of her drink in one big gulp. He shook his head at her when she tried to order another and pulled her off her bar stool, nodding his head toward the dance floor. She hesitated a moment, but Alec grinned that sexy smile of his and hooked her hands behind his neck, running his own hands down her arms as he talked and walked her toward the other dancers. The song was a slow one, and soon he had Briar smiling in resignation and allowing him a dance. I shot several pictures of the couple, feeling hopeful that they’d actually be a couple before too long.

  I looked up at Stone. What did he think of Alec and Briar? Well, there was only one way to find out. I nudged his side gently and he looked down at me in question. I pointed over at Briar and Alec who were now laughing as they swayed from side to side. His eyes followed my hand and slowly, his lips started to curl in both amusement and satisfaction. He didn’t look back down at me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and stood to guide me to our next table. I smiled against his chest, glad that he was happy for them. Stone’s opinion mattered to his friends. A lot.

  ***

  At seven o’clock the games stopped for an hour dinner break. There was only one round left and Stone and I were still in the competition. So were Fredi and Donny. We all went to dinner together and the air was thick with tension. Fredi and Donny were discussing tactics in whispers, though frequently stopping to good naturedly challenge Stone and I. Briar, whose mood had substantially improved, sank back into irritated, spoiled child mode. Alec was becoming annoyed with her grumpiness, though more out of frustration and disappointment then actual anguish. Candy and Mason were not speaking to each other as they’d had a fight not long before dinner. Apparently, Candy was laughing and dancing too happily with another man and Mason had thrown a jealous fit. Candy looked hurt, stubborn and pretty damn mad. I grimaced. From the looks of it they’d be having wild, angry makeup sex tonight. Hopefully they’d use Mason’s room.

  To make matters worse, Chloe had decided to join our table and had seated herself beside Stone, whilst I sat opposite. She frequently touched his arm as she went on and on about her new boyfriend, with her ditzy blonde friend echoing every second or third word. It was torture. I could tell that Stone was bored. He didn’t talk to Chloe. He ate his meal in silence, stopping once or twice to give me a pleading look. What the hell did he want me to do? I wasn’t talking to her.

  I frowned and wondered why he didn’t just tell her to shut up. He usually sent someone a death glare if they were getting on his nerves and they’d obediently scamper off. Then again, Chloe would probably pull a wounded expression and start on a long and tiresome conversation, asking why he was mad at her and guilt tripping him.

  Jamie joined the table late and drew the attention of Chloe’s bimbo friend. Instead of a welcome relief of her echoing praise, we were treated to the horribly annoying sound of her ‘girlish giggles’ and flattery. Jamie ate it up happily, feeling her up right there at the table. I was extremely relieved when Stone rose with a look at his watch and everyone decided it was time to head back to the club.

  I shifted nervously as we re-entered the building. Every pair we faced from now on would be tough. Bending over was not going to cut it. I’d need to be super focused and calm. I trembled a little as I noticed more people were crowding around the tables to watch. I felt like everyone’s eyes were on Stone and I as we walked up to our table and chalked up our cues. Stone’s arm came around me and gave my hip a firm squeeze as he pressed a kiss into my hair.

  “Settle,” he murmured in that erotically rough and deep voice of his. New trembles took me and I stomped my foot hard to shake them. My hands needed to be steady. I took a deep breath and relaxed against Stone, ignoring the stares of the crowd. I could do this. I’d played for years and I was pretty okay. NO! I was damned good and I wouldn’t let Stone down. I strode forward confidently and broke the stacked balls.

  Atta girl, I saw Stone’s eyes gleam as I walked around the table to take another shot. I grinned, because I knew…we were going to win.

  ***

  Fredi and Donny won two games, but lost on their third, wiping them from the competition before we could play them. Stone and I won our third game, then our fourth, leaving us with only one game left to win. The entire club was quiet except for the low background music playing. My nerves returned full force and my palms began to sweat. Fredi grinned at me from the band’s table, mouthing for me to kick their asses. We were up against the pair that had beaten her and Donny. I noticed Briar perched on a stool beside Fredi, Alec standing behind her with his arms wrapped casually around her middle. She was flushed and excited, smiling at me in encouragement and, from the looks of it, squeezing Alec’s hand in anticipation. He didn’t seem to mind though.

  Stone rubbed my shoulders as we waited for the pair to return from their drink and toilet break. I could feel the tension in his hands and knew that he really wanted to win this. I looked over at the two returning guys and grimaced. These two were dickheads. I didn’t want them to win either. They sneered at us as they picked up their cues, looking me up and down as if amazed I’d made it this far. I straightened my spine. I’d show them!

  I heard Stone chuckle from behind me and knew he’d sensed my thoughts. He was good at that. He rivalled Zane’s level of intuition and that was quite discomforting. Still, I suppose he had to use something. It wasn’t like he talked to people much.

  Stone broke the stack this time and I distracted myself from my nerves by admiring his body. Man, he was tall. And big. And strong. He looked great in jeans. His clothes were designer, yet simple. Plain shirts, dark jeans, comfy singlets, he hardly fussed over his appearance and yet he always looked…yummy. Tonight he was wearing a dark blue, short sleave shirt t
hat made his silver eyes look light blue. As he took his second shot I admired his large, tanned forearms and defined triceps. Triceps were by far my favourite muscle group on a man.

  I bit my lower lip hard as I chastised myself. Stone wasn’t a safe pin up poster I could drool over. No. He was a real-life male, one that had dangerously wedged himself into my life. I had no business being attracted to any part of him, especially since he invaded my room every night.

  I sighed as the competition took their first shot and shoved those thoughts aside, my nerves completely gone as I watched the guy shoot, planning my first shot as I eyed the positioning of the balls. The bastard smirked at me as he walked away from the table, thinking he’d well and truly snookered me by manoeuvring the white ball away from any of my own balls.

  What a champion! Picking on the little weak girl huh?

  I snorted. They must think Stone some wonder god at pool if they thought we had made it to the final relying solely on him. Stone’s eyes grinned at me knowingly, but the rest of his face remained cool and indifferent. He knew I could make a shot from there. He had full confidence in my abilities. My ego swelled and I felt like puffing my chest out with pride. I didn’t though. It wouldn’t do to become too cocky. Instead, I focused on jumping the white ball and sinking not one, but two of my balls that were perfectly in line with a centre pocket. I had to hit it just right…

  I grinned in triumph as I jumped the impeding balls and sent my two smoothly down the hole, the white bouncing off the rim and off to safety. My friends cheered from the sidelines and the club clapped in appreciation. I blushed at the attention and hid my face in Stone’s hug, peeking out only to smirk at our competition’s annoyed, shocked faces. They glared at me and I felt Stone give me a gentle squeeze as he glared back at them. Game on, punks! I thought, quoting my brother Jake. Game on.

  ***

  The game was tough and went much longer than expected. Our competitors spent a lot of time blocking our shots and we gave them hell in return. Finally, it was down to me on the black and I had long lost my patience with them. The last person to shoot, Larry, had trapped me well. The black sat against the far end of the table, halfway between the two corner pockets. Almost directly in front of it, was the opposition’s last ball. The white had been sunk, so I could move it anywhere I wanted along the D. Trouble was, the stupid ball was blocking my path. I’d have to hit the black just right to get it to roll to the side in a perfectly straight line to sink in the corner pocket. I wasn’t allowed to touch the other ball before it and the white couldn’t ricochet off into a pocket or I’d lose.

  I bent over the table and lined up the white ball. I had to merely glance the side of the black ball if it was to roll the way I wanted it to. Long shots weren’t my forte and I bit my lip in worry. Stone leant over me, looking down the line of my cue and assessing the shot I’d chosen. A smooth stroke of his hand down my spine told me I was set, but to take it calmly. His hand stayed at the small of my back, but it didn’t unnerve me. It comforted me, letting me know that it was okay if I missed the shot.

  I had this. I didn’t need to rush or panic. Everything was fine. I’d made this shot before, the other ball wasn’t in my way, it wasn’t important.

  I took a breath in, slowly eased my cue back and smoothly pushed it forward, not putting any force into it. The white ball sailed across the green felt in a straight line, hitting the black at just the right angle, sending it rolling gently towards the corner pocket. I didn’t realise I hadn’t released my breath until the black tipped down the hole and it rushed out of me. I dropped the cue on the table as the white ball stopped rolling, safe, away from the pockets, and the club erupted in applause. Two large hands spun me around and grasped my face as Stone bent his head and took my lips in a fierce, possessive kiss.

  I clung to him in shock as my mouth opened and his tongue shoved its way inside. I was too surprised to return the passion of the kiss, but I responded as best as I could. I heard wolf-whistles and cat calls coming from our friends and I blushed as Stone pulled away. His eyes were hooded, but I could see the feral gleam in them. His mouth crooked in his usual half-smile, but it seemed predatory tonight. I shivered and swallowed nervously, but Briar broke the tense moment by leaping at me with a fierce hug.

  “You won! You won! You won!” she shrieked, jumping up and down. I let her drag me away from Stone, who was being congratulated by Jamie, Alec and Donny. Candy and Fredi pounced as soon as we were quit of them. I expected them to congratulate me too, but they were much more interested in our kiss.

  “Oh my God, what a fucking hot kiss!” Candy exclaimed, fanning herself with one hand and winking at me in her usual teasing way.

  I blushed and groaned into my hands as I hid my face.

  “Did everyone see that?” I mumbled, peeking through my fingers at them. They nodded in unison.

  I groaned again in embarrassment.

  Fredi smirked. “Including Chloe. She just left.”

  Briar cackled happily. “In her face!” she cried, hugging me tightly. She pulled back and looked at me with a smirk, “Not his girlfriend huh?”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but Donny grabbed me and dragged me toward the bar where Stone was waiting to receive our trophy and prize of five hundred dollars. Everyone wanted to talk to us, but Stone managed to push his way through the crowds, pulling me after him as we left the others in the club. He hadn’t asked me if I wanted to leave, but I was grateful to escape the overwhelming, inquisitive crowd. He didn’t say a word as he continued to pull me along in the dark, toward the Alice Gardens’ house. We marched up the first flight of stairs and along the hall to my room, where he waited stiffly for me to unlock the door.

  FOURTEEN

  As soon as the door swung open, Stone wrapped an arm around my legs and lifted me off the floor, walking us into the room and kicking the door shut. My keys went flying out of my hand when he dropped me on my bed. He followed over the top of me, supporting his weight off my body with one arm as the other hand grasped my thigh so that he could lie between my legs. I lay still as a board in alarm as he began to kiss me and stroke his hand along my raised leg.

  I heard the heavy, throbbing pound of my heart in my ears and every muscle in my body tightened in fright. I kissed him back robotically; my hands fell back to my sides after instinctively rising to defend myself. I wouldn’t be able to push him off me. He was too strong, too heavy.

  Was this what he had wanted from me all along?

  Had he suddenly lost patience with me as Ben had?

  He didn’t whine or guilt me like Ben had done. He wasn’t being pushy and persuasive. He was taking it.

  Would I be able to stop him?

  If I cried out for help would anyone dare go up against Stone?

  Would he hurt me if I tried to escape?

  I made myself as compliant as possible, fearful of his reaction to any ‘flight or fight’ attempts. His mouth broke away from mine and nudged my head to the side, exposing my bare neck and shoulders as he thrust a hand beneath my top. I swallowed nervously and stared unseeingly at Candy’s bed. I nearly jumped when I felt his breath on my collar bone, and an anxious knot formed in my stomach as his huge hand slid higher, stopping just beneath my bra. I felt the strength in his firm hold on my ribs. He could probably crush my small, skinny frame in one hard squeeze. I waited for him to grab my breast and bite my neck in some sick, violent, male act of possession…but he didn’t. His hand didn’t move and I felt his breath leave my skin.

  I slowly turned my head to see what was happening, and found him staring down at me with a small frown. I gulped.

  Was he mad at my unresponsiveness?

  “Evelyn,” he growled, his voice low, but with a softer infliction I’d never heard before. A little bolt of pleasure at the sound of my name on his lips caught me by surprise. He bent closer and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.

  “If you’re uncomfortable with something, tell me to stop,” he said quietly,
pulling back to study my face, “It’s up to you.”

  I felt my body sag with relief and I shook slightly as some of the stress left my body.

  He wasn’t going to force me. It was up to me. I was in control.

  Did I want to continue?

  The warmth of his hand against my skin suddenly invaded my senses. As did his scent. I breathed in the familiar smell of candy, cigarettes and aftershave. My ribs moved as I breathed deeply, causing his hand to slid a little against my skin. My breath caught and goose bumps prickled along my arms at the sensation.

  I felt a small tug at my bra and opened my eyes. I blinked. Stone was still staring at me, waiting for permission to continue. I worried my bottom lip between my teeth, before I hesitantly reached up to bring his lips down to mine. His kiss was firm, but careful. It wasn’t fierce, but it wasn’t gentle either. It was strong and persistent, yet it made me feel safe and protected.

  His hand slid beneath me and toyed with the clasp of my bra. His lips travelled along my jaw to my ear and he sucked at the sensitive flesh just below it. He tugged at my clasp as his mouth moved to nibble on my earlobe and I uttered a breathless ‘yes’ in response. He flicked it open easily and briskly pulled the strapless bra off my breasts and out of my top. He threw it over his shoulder without looking at it and nudged my head to the side.