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“So, shut up and do it.”

With force that makes me squeal, he hoists me up by my hips, and my legs wrap around his chiseled abdomen like they were designed to be there. Without warning, our bodies fuse and his lips are on mine.

Heat, passion, and something magical pass through his lips and tongue onto mine. It’s ravenous, and fuck, does it feel different from anything I’ve experienced during a hookup before.

Moaning against his open mouth, I use the tightness of his grip on my ass to grind my sex into his hard length.

“Fuck, you’re exactly what I expected you to be.” His groaned words make a mess of my panties as he walks us quickly down what seems to be his never-ending hallway.

Flicking my hair to one side, I clear a path to explore him for myself. My tongue starts at his collarbone, running a wet pass up the side of his neck. Every bit of ink decorating his beautifully tan skin tastes like salt and sin.

“And what exactly did you expect me to be?” I whisper when I finally reach his ear.

“Trouble.”

With a hearty grunt, Jett throws me onto the plush bed just as we enter his room. His admission does nothing to dull the buzzed atmosphere.

We’re quick to strip ourselves, our eyes still glued to each other, almost as if we’re scared to look away.

“Bra and panties stay on. Eyes on me.” His order bounces off the walls, strapping my body to the bed with invisible restraints.

The moment he says it, ringing hits my ears.

Suddenly, I’m back in that bedroom.

Back at that party.

Back with the darkness.

Shaking myself from the grim reminder that always outweighs the good, the taste of copper seeps through my teeth and onto my tongue.

“Fuck,” I whisper, a small dot of blood filling my cuticle from how hard I was chewing on my fingernail.

The car ride to the hotel is quiet. Frankly, I think everyone is asleep, thank God.

What Jett did today was nice. But it doesn’t change anything. He’s too much of a reminder. A reminder of the past, and a reminder of what my fucked-up head wishes could be our future.

CHAPTER 11

JETT

You know what’s just as good as a dopamine hit?

Runner’s high.

The moment we landed in Chicago, I’d felt so energized from sparring with Fia, I knew I had to prolong the feeling. Around her, my heart tumbles in ways I never knew it could.

Once at the hotel, I change into some workout clothes and head right back down to the valet. Flashing the teen-looking guy my ticket, I wait under the gold-colored awning for him to retrieve the Porsche I rented for this stop.

“Thanks, bud.” I slip a fifty into our handshake when he returns.

As I crouch into my rental, I let out a small groan. I’m more of an SUV guy, but something about a sports car just felt sexy.

It’s routine for me to go to hotel gyms wherever I am, but on the off chance I’m in a city where I can support family, I choose to go that route. My oldest brother, Royce, has his hands in all things hospitality. Alpha is a billionaire’s club that he and a longtime friend and former NBA star, Cruz Knight, own together.

I’m not the type to frequent billionaire’s clubs. The small sips of Pappy Van Winkle, gentle puffs of Cuban cigars, and laughs about whose dick is bigger aren’t my forte. Though, now that I’m in search of different ventures, it may behoove me to try my hand at bourbon and sticks.

“Good morning, welcome to Alpha. May I offer you a water?”