Page 50 of Expressionate
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask when he pulls away from ourkiss.
“What am I looking at youlike?”
“Like you’re thinking devious thoughts,” Isay.
He grins, wickedly attractive – darkness and all. “I’m always thinking devious thoughts.” Tax leans down and presses his lips to mine once more, before retreating. His gaze goes over my shoulder as someone calls out to him from across the patio. I can’t wait to get him home, I think, where I can strip him down and kiss him some more. Hours with his lips on me are hours never wasted. If I spent the rest of my life with his mouth on my skin, I’d diehappy.
“Tax, you bastard! Is that you?” I turn my head as a tall, sandy-haired man approaches. He and Tax slap hands in the way that is strangely masculine and almost boyish at the sametime.
“Damien, how youdoin’?”
“Fine, been hanging ‘round Sarge’s a while and we never see you out here.” Damien’s eyes glance down and overme.
Tax frowns over me at his friend. “I thought Sarge just moved in? Isn’t this his first house partyhere?”
“Oh, Jesus, man, you don’t know?” Damienlaughs.
“Know what?” Tax narrows his gaze and pulls me closer. I put a hand on his chest,curious.
“Sarge didn’t move in. He’s moving out! He’s heading up north. Got an offer in Indianapolis. Heading to theMidwest.”
Tax scoffs. “Indiana is too close to Canada to be the Midwest. They’ll never admit it, but they’re bonafide northerners. But, wow, no, I didn’t knowthat.”
“Yeah, this is his going away party. Well, one of many, I’m sure.” Damien grins. “He doesn’t leave until next month so there’ll probably be more parties. Maybe even some private ones, if you know what I mean.” He nudges Tax in the arm andlaughs.
Tax chuckles, but moves away, pulling me with him. “Well, in that case, I’m gonna head back inside with my girl and spend some time with the oldman.”
Damien finally graces me with a look. “Oh?” He tilts his head my way. “Didn’t know you had agirl.”
This time, I’m the one frowning at him. I know he saw me. What does he mean? Before I can ask, though, Tax is speaking. “Yeah, this isLove.”
“Yourgirl?”
“Who else would I be?” I asksharply.
Damien raises a brow. “Wow, got attitude in thisone.”
“This one has a name,” Isnap.
“Yeah, yeah, all chicks do. Don’t make ‘emspecial.”
“What the fuck is your problem, man?” Tax moves in front of me, staring atDamien.
“Nothing, man, your bitch is the one with the problem. She’s got an attitude problem, not me.” Damien puts his hands up, but Tax isn’t having it. He shoves against his chest and Damien falls back into a couple of guys talking. They glare at us, but once they see Tax, they moveaway.
“Dude! What the hell?” Damien slowly gets up, and he and Tax glare at eachother.
“Don’t fucking call her a bitch!” Taxyells.
Even though I’m irritated by the guy, Tax is flushed with a seething rage. His eyes are shining with it, his fists shaking as he steps closer to Damien. I reach out and touch the hand closest to me. “Hey, forget it,” I say. “It’sfine.”
“No,” he snaps, not looking at me, “it’s not.” Tax narrows his eyes at Damien and nods in my direction. “Apologize,” heorders.
Damien gapes at him. “For what?” he demands. “I ain’t apologizing forshit.”
People around us begin to stare, backing up even further as Damien and Tax face off. “Tax,” I say, “leave it. I don’t want to fighthere.”
Either he ignores me or he doesn’t hear me because the next thing I know, Tax is swinging. I blink, and Damien is on the ground, staring up at us. There’s a moment of complete and utter silence from those around us. The music is some odd cheery tone in the background – rough thumping beats that now seem out of place. Tax lands another punch to Damien’s jaw and that seems to spark something inDamien.
