“I just walked in,” I say, shrugging.
“Are you gonna introduce us to your little friends, Blade?” asks one of the guys, smirking.
He grins back, shaking his head. “No time, brother, she was just leaving.” He takes my hand, it feels good, and he leads away from his friends. Once outside, he turns on me, pressing his hand above my head and resting it against the wall. I feel caged in, but with his piercing eyes burning into me, I’m more turned on than threatened. “This is no place for you, Sunshine. Take your little crazy friend and go back to those overpriced bars you find fun.”
I spot Sara a few feet away, talking with a guy in the same jacket. She’s twisting her hair around her finger and biting on her lower lip, throwing all the signals his way. “I think your friend wants us to stay,” I say, and he glances back over his shoulder.
“My friend is drunk. Your friend is easy. It’ll not end well,” he says. He takes my drink from my hand, though it’s still full. “Go shine somewhere else,” he says quietly.
My phone buzzes in my bag and both our eyes fall to it. I give him an apologetic smile and pull it free. Travis. I groan. “Boyfriend?” asks Blade, peering at the screen.
“Complicated,” I say, cancelling the call. Of course, he calls me straight back.
“You should take it. He needs to speak to you,” he says.
I press the phone to my ear. “Yep?”
“My guys said they spotted you on Queens Road,” he barks. He says ‘guys’ like he's so important. I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “Are you looking for me?”
“God, no,” I say a little too abruptly. “I’m having a few drinks.”
“On Queens Road?” he snaps. “A little beneath you, sweetheart. Where are you now? I’m coming to get you.”
“Please don’t, I’m fine. We’re just leaving anyway,” I say. The last thing I need is to see Travis, the man who breaks my heart over and over because I’m too weak to walk away.
“Tils, where the fuck are you?” he growls.
I sigh. “Outside the Windsor.”
“Christ,” he mutters. “I’ll be two minutes. I’m not far from there.”
I disconnect the call. “Boyfriend to the rescue,” says Blade with a grin. We stare at each other for a few seconds until I lick my lips and he smirks. “You shouldn’t come looking for me, Sunshine. I’m no good for you,” he whispers.
“I’m a magnet for trouble,” I say, using the words my grandmother often throws my way. “I take after my dad,” I add. Something passes over his face and the amused, sexy expression is replaced with seriousness. He pushes off the wall and steps back from me. A car horn beeps and I look past him to see Travis’s car waiting.
Blade whistles to his friend who has his tongue stuck down Sara’s throat. “Let’s go,” he shouts, and he heads back inside the bar.
The guy hands Sara his phone and she puts her number in, smiling as she hands it back. I take her hand and pull her away from him. “Come on, Travis is here.”
BLADE
“Brother, they were fucking hot,” says Lake, slapping me on the back. He holds up his phone. “I got her number.”
“She’s way outta your league,” I say, drinking Sunshine’s cocktail. It’s actually quite nice for a chick drink. “They’re both out of our leagues.”
“Speak for yourself,” says Lake. “I’m giving her a booty call in half an hour,” he says confidently.
I shake my head. He’s worse than me when it comes to women and sex. “Who were they?” asks Chains.
“Dunno,” I lie. “Just walked in off the street.” I can’t tell Chains who she is because he’ll tell me it’s a bad idea, she’s not my problem, just like Blu told me. But I can’t stay away from her. She’s right—she is a damn magnet for trouble.
Half an hour later, Lake high-fives me. “I gotta head out. That chick you said is out of my league just sent me her address,” he says, grinning.
“Good luck, brother,” I say. “Is her friend there?” I add.
“Man, don’t tease me like that. If I get there and it’s a two for one, I’ll die a happy man.” He heads out the bar and I glare after him, burning holes into the back of his head with a silent, jealous rage.
The next morning, my phone wakes me. It’s Lake calling. “What time is it, brother?” I groan, covering my eyes from the morning light.
“Come pick me up, Blade. I’ve got no cash on me and I left my bike at the Windsor,” he grunts. “I’ve text you the address.”
I drive around Knightsbridge, standing out like a sore thumb, looking for this damn house Lake’s at. Not only am I driving one of the club’s beat-up cars, I’m wearing shades because my eyes aren’t ready to see daylight just yet. People stare with distrusting eyes.
I find the place and drop Lake a text to say I’m outside. I wait five minutes, but he’s still nowhere to be seen. I rush up the white stone steps leading to the white glazed door and knock. If he’s gone back to sleep, I’ll kill him for dragging me out of my bed. The door swings open and Sunshine takes a surprised step back. She’s wearing a man’s shirt that just about covers her behind, showing off a large flower tattoo she has running up her thigh. I ball my fists. She’s gorgeous with her dark hair thrown up on top of her head and last night's makeup staining underneath her blue eyes.
“O-oh, Mr. X,” she stammers, stumbling on her words. Hearing her call me that makes my cock twitch.
“Sunshine. What’re you doing here?” Please don’t say you’ve had sex with Lake, I think to myself.
“I live here,” she says. “With my housemate.” So she’s stunning and rich.
“I got a call
