Passionate Addiction (4 page)

“Shit. Sorry, Gabi.” Blake’s hand rested on her shoulder. “Fuckin’ asshole,” he added, louder.

His hand yanked from her shoulder and she turned to find him standing chest to chest with a man she wished she didn’t know. Both their shoulders were straight, chins raised as they glared at each other.

“Blake, no!” She swiped the droplets of fluid off her and pushed between them, facing the other man. “Back off, John.”

“You know this asshole?” Blake growled from behind her.

She ignored the question and implored John with her gaze. He ignored her, his scowl drifting over her shoulder to Blake. Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly pushed him back. “John, please.”

“What are you doing with this piece of shit, Gab?” John’s pupils were unnaturally dilated from drug use. “You need to steer clear of guys like him.”

“Guys like me,” Blake repeated, his tone calm with the faintest hint of menace. “Move out of the way, gorgeous. Let me and Gumby have a chat.”

Fear tightened her throat. She turned, knowing John was past the point of listening and swallowed at the hatred in Blake’s eyes.

“Blake, he’s one of my brother’s old friends. He’s high.” She cupped Blake’s cheeks and drew his attention to her face. “Please. Just drop it and walk away. He’s not worth it.”

“He deliberately shouldered you. Your dress is ruined.”

She smiled up at him, touched by his chivalry. “It’ll be fine. I promise.”

He stared at her, his jaw working as she dropped her hands to her sides. Heaving a breath, he nodded and turned his back, taking the few steps to the balcony door.

“Pussy,” John yelled.

Gabi turned to him. She didn’t have the anger to glare. All she could do is look at him with pity. “He’s a good man, John.”

He scoffed. “He’s just another tattooed up junkie like the rest of us. You’re better than that, Gab, and you owe it to your brother to stay away from drop-kicks like him.”

“That’s enough.” There went her inability to glare. Now she was clenching her free hand to the point of pain while the other tightly squeezed her drink. “You know nothing about him. And he’s not a user. Just because he’s got a few tats doesn’t mean he’s weak.” She stepped closer and got in John’s face. “Like you.”

He laughed long and loud, showing his delirium. “There’s the high and mighty Gabster that I remember.” He cupped her shoulder in a friendly gesture, yet she could see the threatening gleam in his eyes. “I was only trying to look out for you.”

He stepped back and turned to walk away. After he gained some distance, he glanced over his shoulder, piercing her with an evil sneer. “At least I’m not as weak as your brother.”

The taunt hit her with the force of a truck, exactly how he wanted it to, and she refused to react. In high school, her brother Greg, John, and herself were close friends. Then John and Greg started experimenting with drugs and everything changed.

Gabi raised her chin and didn’t flinch until he continued walking. Once he was out of sight, she let out a pained moan and hunched her shoulders to steady her ragged breathing. For a moment, she closed her eyes, seeing the image of her brother gazing back at her in sorrow.

God, she hated drugs. Most of all she hated that they took Greg away from her. He’d been innocent, charming, buzzing with life and potential.

With a deep breath, she glanced toward the balcony and found Blake leaning against the railing, staring at her. His expression held sympathy, and all she wanted to do was fall into his arms, to sink into him and let the rest of the world drift away.

“What’s going on?” Tammy’s voice called from beside her.

“Same birthday, different year.” Gabi shrugged and rolled her eyes at her friend. “John’s an ass.”

Tammy handed over the handbag Gabi had left at the table.

“And what about your smokin’ hot rock star?”

The thought of Blake brought a smile to her lips. Oh, he was damn fine. Nothing wrong with that perfect male specimen. Nope. Only now, there would be an awkwardness she didn’t want to deal with. “He’s good. I have no idea how he found me, though.”

Tammy’s eyes gleamed. “I may have had a little something to do with that.”

“You?” Gabi narrowed her gaze.

“I emailed him a few months ago when you mentioned they were coming to Australia on tour. I told him that if he wanted to surprise you with a visit, I could help.”

Gabi’s mouth gaped. “How the hell did you keep
that
quiet?” Tammy held secrets worse than she held her liquor.

Tammy’s chest expanded with a deep breath, which she then let out dramatically. “It was so fucking hard. And totally worth it. I’ll be living vicariously through you for the rest of my life.”

Gabi laughed and glanced over her shoulder at Blake. He was staring, his gaze eating her up one slow inch at a time. “I better go entertain my guest. I think I’ll be heading home soon. I have lemonade down my back and now that it’s starting to dry, I’m all sticky.”

Tammy chuckled loud enough for her to hear over the heavy bass. “Yeah… Right. Whatever excuse you need. Have fun.”

Gabi’s heart hammered as Tammy walked away. It took another few seconds for her courage to build before she began to make her way back to Blake. With each approaching step, the
thump, thump, thump
in her chest grew more demanding, tightening her throat. She moved onto the balcony, this time shutting out the loud music from the club when she closed the glass door, leaving them alone together.

“I’m sorry.” His voice was barely audible, even with the noise from inside muffled.

“Don’t be.” She shook her head. “John likes to cause trouble. He thought we were together, and I suppose it was his crazy way of showing he cares.”

She leaned against the railing beside him, trying to glance at him in a normal, friendship kind of way, instead of raking her gaze over his pecs like she wanted to lick every inch of skin underneath his shirt.

He nodded and focused on the wooden floor planks. “Do you wanna go back to my hotel?”

Her lips pulled in a grin. She couldn’t help it. How many times had men asked her that question with the intention of taking her home for a night of hot-n-sweaty? Blake didn’t mean it that way. His tone lacked any hint of innuendo. However, she couldn’t help the giddiness that sparked to life at the possibility.

He glanced up from the floor and his eyes widened at her expression. “Oh, shit. That totally sounded like a come on.” He held up his free hand in surrender. “I seriously didn’t mean it that way, Gabi. I’d never…” He pushed from the railing, straightening his posture, his cool façade disappearing.

Laughter burst from her lips. “Oh, and the insult of me not being good enough to sleep with is even better? You really know how to make a girl’s night special.”

His mouth fell open and he reached for her, grabbing her around the ribs. His chest rumbled with a growl, and he pulled her against his body. “You know what I meant, Gabrielle.” His touch was natural, as if he’d held her this close innumerable times before, yet inside, she was ready to combust with shock…and yes, arousal.

She tilted her head to the side and raised her brows, ignoring the heat overwhelming her from her toes to her cheeks. “It’s Gabrielle now? You must be serious.”

He shook his head with humor and smiled down at her. “God, I love your accent.”

Her laughter died as his penetrating eyes stripped away her defenses. She wanted to tell him he’d love it even more if she whispered her dirty thoughts in his ear, only she didn’t have the guts. “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered and cleared her throat. “I’m all sticky.”

His smile turned into a smirk. “Well, that’s not usually how the ladies feel when they leave a club with me, but I’ll take it.”

Gabi pushed away from him, holding her hand to her chest in mock outrage. “Now you’re flirting? Gosh, Blake, I’m disgusted.”

His eyes narrowed for the briefest moment before he poked her in the ribs. “Stop messin’ with me, angel, or I’ll be forced to get physical.”

She tried to disguise her sharp inhale and failed miserably. His threat held too much erotic intent for her heart to ignore. Damn, even her nipples tingled with need. If she didn’t start sculling water and clearing her system of alcohol, she would end up doing something she’d regret. Like smothering herself in chocolate and throwing herself at his feet.

Blake focused on putting one foot in front of the other while they strolled side by side down Cavill Avenue. The awkward silence was killing him.
“Do you wanna go back to my place?”
What a fucking idiot. And she’d laughed in his face. Even better.

“Damn,” Gabi huffed and hopped on one foot. “I’ve got a stone stuck under my heel. Can you wait a tick?”

“Sure.” He paused, remaining close to the walkway, while she limped over to the nearest building and leaned against the darkened shop window. His gaze was glued to her perfectly smooth thighs and the way her dress rode up as she lifted her leg behind her to inspect her shoe.

“Fuck me. Seriously?” he whispered to himself. Another inch and he’d be able to see the Promised Land. His restraint wasn’t something he was proud of, even on his best day. Now he had to drag his focus away from his best friend’s path to heaven. “Temptation can kiss my ass,” he muttered, glancing sightlessly at the buildings surrounding them.

“What was that?” Gabi called.

“Nothing,” he spoke louder so she could hear him, then mumbled, “Just trying to keep my gaze away from my fuckin’ best friend’s panties, that’s all.” He stepped forward, discretely readjusting the bulge that formed at the crotch of his pants. “Great. Just what I need.”

“Hey, mate.” A ragged voice called from behind him. “Can I bum a fag?”

Blake paused and ran the words over in his head. “What the fuck did you say?” He turned to glare at the approaching guy. The man’s skin was dirty, his clothes tattered, his face unshaven and unkempt. The man was taken aback and frowned at Blake.

Gabi sputtered in the distance. He swore he heard her laughing.

“I just wanted to bum a fag.” The douche shrugged.

That was exactly what Blake thought he’d said, and he sure as shit wouldn’t stand for that type of slander. He had gay friends. Even if he didn’t, he wouldn’t let that crap fly. If this type of open sexual slur happened back home, the guy would’ve been shanked by now.

Blake stepped forward. The man straightened, taking a step back. Blake didn’t plan on hitting the old-timer—his life revolved around the use of his fingers. He just wanted to get in the guy’s face and teach him a lesson on manners.

“Blake,” Gabi called, her heels clicking as she approached. She was still laughing.

He turned to face her. “What the he—”

The sentence died on his lips. Her breasts bounced with every step, the movement far too alluring to drag his focus away.

“How the hell is this funny?” He was pissed off, yet he couldn’t help grinning back at her.

She stopped a foot in front of him and raised a hand to her mouth, trying to smother her laughter.

“Stupid Yank,” the man grumbled.

Blake shot a glare over his shoulder, but the guy had already turned and walked away.

Gabi lowered her hand, her lips pulled tight in the brightest smile he’d ever seen. “He was asking you for a cigarette.”

Blake jerked back, wide-eyed. “How do you figure that? The asshole was propositioning me.”

She released another bark of laughter and cut it off with both hands. He stepped toward her, bridging the distance. “Mind filling me in on why this is so funny?”

The humor wavered in her expression, and she dropped her hands to her sides, sliding backward. “He was asking you for a smoke. He wanted to ‘bum,’ meaning borrow and ‘fag’ is a very old-school, Aussie term for cigarette.”

He continued to move toward her. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

She took a bigger step back. “Google it… On your phone… Now.”

She was trying to dissuade his approach. He couldn’t get close enough. The more distance he ate up, the quicker she retreated. The glint of anticipation in her light blue irises boiled his blood.

Her lips lifted in a playful smile. “As appealing as you seem to think you are, he wasn’t propositioning you.”

He quirked a brow, their position now a few feet from the darkened shop window. “I’m glad you enjoyed laughing at my expense. It’s not like you could’ve yelled out and warned me.”

She bumped into the building and rested against it, gazing up at him. “It was the funniest damn thing I’ve seen in years.”

He tilted his head in acknowledgement, feigning a calm he didn’t feel, and leaned into her so his pelvis rested against hers. The heat of her body soaked into every inch of his skin. The way her breath hitched turned his cock to stone. He’d moved close to wipe the smile from her pretty little mouth, and it worked. Now, he couldn’t tear himself away from her sweet vanilla smell, her delectable curves, or the temptation of her lips. He was entirely pussy whipped in world record time.

He studied her eyes, the mesmerizing blue turning to a stormy grey. She remained still, unmoving, except for the heavy beat of her pulse at the bottom of her throat and the tiny flick of her tongue against her lower lip.