Twisted Hate

16

I'd met my fair share of douchebags, but I could say withutmost confidence the guy standing before me was thedouchiest of them all.Maybe it was his oily smile and the way he slicked backhis hair, like he was a smarmy politician running for office.Or maybe it was the way he leered at Jules, like she was ajuicy steak and he hadn't eaten in days.Irrational loathing replaced my earlier satisfaction atsuccessfully working Jules up.You need someone to bend you over and fuck that attituderight out of you.Whiskey had loosened my tongue, and Jules andMarshall's kiss had given me the final push to say what I'dbeen thinking. To say what we'd both been thinking sinceVermont.Jules could hiss and snarl all she wanted, but she couldn'thide her desire. She wanted me as much as I wanted her, andwe both hated ourselves for it."Todd." Jules packed a gallon of disdain into one word.My mouth ticked up into an involuntary smile before itflattened again.She knew this guy?"I thought that was you, but I wasn't sure. You look evenbetter in person," he told her chest.My jaw tightened. I appreciated breasts as much as thenext guy, but that was just damn rude. He hadn't looked herin the eye since he arrived.Part of me was grateful for the interruption, which cameright as I was about to do something I would regret. Another,darker part of me wanted to gouge his eyes out for looking ather that way.I rolled my glass between my fingers, disturbed by myviolent, unwanted thoughts. Where the hell had they comefrom? Since when did I care whether other men looked atJules?I don't. Todd has a punchable face. That's all."You don't." Jules's voice oozed enough sweet venom tofell an elephant. "I guess pictures can be deceiving."This time, I couldn't hold back a grin despite myirritation.She was savage. I fucking loved it.If Todd was offended, he didn't show it. I wasn't evensure he heard her; he was too busy ogling her breasts, whichstrained against the buttons of her shirt."I'm sorry about our date the other day," he said, andjust like that, my grin disappeared again. "My car brokedown and my phone died. I texted you a few times after, butyou never responded."I pieced together the puzzle before Jules responded. Thiswas the guy who'd stood her up at The Bronze Gear?Jesus. I thought she had better taste than that."If by the other day, you mean almost a month ago, thenapology not accepted," Jules said coolly. "You also nevertexted me, but it's okay. I suffered a massive lapse injudgment when I swiped right on you. I'm back to normalnow, so you can run along." She shooed him away with awave of her hand. "Also, my face is up here, asshole."Todd's face flushed an angry shade of purple. "I wastrying to be nice because I felt bad about what happened. Youdon't have to be such a bitch about it."A low growl rose in my throat.I opened my mouth, but Jules beat me to it. "As far as Ican tell, you're the only one bitching here. I'm just enjoyingmy drink." She arched one brow. "Keep bothering me, andI'll have security throw you out on your ass for harassment.So if you don't want to be humiliated in front of all thesepeople..." She gestured at the crowd around us. "I suggestyou take my earlier advice and leave. Immediately."Todd's lips thinned, but he was smart enough not to testthe validity of Jules's threat."Don't say a word," Jules said after Todd stormed off. Shetossed back the rest of her cocktail without looking at me.I raised my hands in surrender. The coiled tension in mymuscles eased with Todd's departure, though traces ofaggravation simmered in my veins. "Not a peep." After along pause, I added,"You swiped right on that guy?"Pink tinted her cheeks. "I'm busy with law school," shesnapped. "My options are limited, and I have needs, so...""You lowered your standards to hell?""Perhaps, but at least I haven't reached you yet," she saidsweetly. "Speaking of which, I haven't seen you with anyonelately. What happened, Joshy? Ran out of women who'll fallfor your bullshit?""It's a choice, Red. I can get any girl I want at any time.""False. You can't get me.""I haven't tried."We stared at each other, our implied challenge hangingthick in the air.If I tried...would she succumb to what her eyes told me shewanted? Would she let me bend her over and take her like I'dsaid earlier, or would she fight me for control every step ofthe way?My lips curved.Something told me I already knew the answer. Jules nevermade things easy. It was one of the things I secretly likedabout her."You're an arrogant ass." Calculation entered her eyes."Since you're so confident in your abilities with women, let'splay another game."Intrigue bloomed. "What kind of game?""It's simple. We see which one of us can get the mostphone numbers in an hour." Jules cocked her head, her hairspilling in waves of coppery silk over her shoulder. "Winnergets bragging rights."It might seem low stakes to an outside observer, butbragging rights for us held the same cachet as a Rolex orLamborghini. Maybe more.Nothing mattered more than our pride."Deal." Cockiness filled my smile. Jules was good, but Iwas going to win.I always did."Good." She glanced at the giant clock hanging on thewall. "We reconvene at ten to seven."I was gone by the time she finished her sentence. I'd beenscanning the room since she brought up the game rules,formulating a plan, so I didn't hesitate in beelining toward agroup of twenty-something women in the corner.Lucky for me, the bar's female to male ratio was abouttwo to one, giving me the upper hand even if I stayed awayfrom women who were with their significant other.I kept my conversations brief and flirtatious. I neverpromised more than I could give, and I made the women Italked to feel good enough they had no qualms about partingwith their numbers after only a few minutes. I suspected afew knew I was up to something, considering how quickly Iwas moving through the crowd, but that didn't stop themfrom flirting back.By the time six-thirty rolled around, I'd secured well overa dozen numbers. I should've been thrilled, but suspiciontrickled through me when I noticed Jules hadn't moved fromher seat. She sipped her drink, her face serene as shewatched me work the room.What was she up to?Unable to take it anymore, I ended my conversation withthe woman I was currently talking to and stalked over toJules. I planted my hands on the wooden tabletop andnarrowed my eyes. "Okay, what's your game?""What do you mean?" Jules asked, innocent as a newbornlamb."We have..." I checked the time again. "...ten minutes leftand you haven't even tried to talk to a guy. Don't tell meyou're banking on them approaching you first."A few had, but Jules wasn't the passive type. She liked togo in guns blazing, no matter the situation."I'm not.""Forfeiting, then? If you're scared of losing, just say so.No need to go through this whole song and dance.""Oh, I'm not forfeiting." Jules finally set her drink downand unfolded herself from her chair. She slipped out of herjacket, her movements like honey gliding against the gentlecurves of a glass bottle.Slow, smooth, sensual.Fucking hell.My throat dried at the sight before me.Jules wore a standard professional uniform—a whitebutton-down shirt tucked into a gray skirt, black heels, anda discreet gold necklace that peeked out from beneath hercollar. But with her body and confidence, she might as wellhave been wearing the world's sexiest lace lingerie.No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop my eyes fromdevouring her flash of cleavage and the way her outfithugged her ample curves. Her voluptuous figure wasn'ttoned and lean like so many of the women in my gym, but itwas soft. Lush. And entirely too appealing.Heat scorched my blood as an image of me pushing her upagainst a wall, yanking up that tight little skirt, and fuckingher until she screamed flashed through my head.I shoved it aside the minute it popped up, but it was toolate. My cock was already hardening, and arousal thrummedlow in my gut.Tension hardened my jaw. I hated this newfound effectshe had on me. I'd gone years without being turned on byher, and now, I couldn't stop fantasizing about her. I didn'tknow what changed, but it was pissing me the fuck off."I'm winning this bet. Watch and learn, Chen," Julespurred before sashaying over to the DJ.The view of her walking away did nothing to ease the achein my groin.Of all the horrible things that could happen to me, beingsexually attracted to Jules Ambrose topped the list. Noquestion.Need, frustration, and curiosity battled for dominance asshe said something to the DJ. He nodded, his face creasingwith sympathy.A burst of suspicion entered the mix when he cut off themusic. Why would he...I shot up when I realized what she had up her sleeve.She wouldn't. No fucking way."I'm sorry for interrupting your happy hour, but I'll keepthis quick." Jules's voice rang through the now silent bar,clear and strong but with a touch of vulnerability that hadeveryone leaning in to hear more."Long story short, I just got out of a long, terriblerelationship, and my friend"—she gestured toward me,causing dozens of heads to swivel in my direction—"reminded me the best way to get over someone is to getunder someone else. So I'm looking for a rebound." The mixof studied hesitation and suggestiveness in her voice wasenough to drive any red-blooded male crazy. Goddammit,she was good. "If you're interested in a no strings attachednight or two, give me your number. Thank you."Straight to the point, even if the point was a false one.Classic Jules.The bar reverberated with stunned silence for one, two,three beats before pandemonium broke out. Cheers andapplause rang through the space while dozens of men rushedtoward her, nearly tripping over themselves in their haste tobe her "rebound."I shook my head, unable to process what was happening. Ifelt like I'd just been dropped into the middle of a farfetchedmovie scene. I wouldn't have believed it had I not witnessedit with my own eyes.Of course that was Jules's plan. She was the only person Iknew who could pull off such a move.She caught my eye over the crowd, her face glowing withtriumph. Sucks to lose, she mouthed.It did. I hated losing. But I couldn't even be mad becausewhat she just did? Fucking genius.I rubbed a hand over my mouth, unable to hold back alaugh of grudging admiration.Jules Ambrose was something else.