Page 107 of The Other Side of Green

“And what’s changed?”

“You, Lyra. You’ve changed everything. Because I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything. I should have fought for you four years ago. Should have had it out with Luca and got to the bottom of the problems, but I didn’t. I’m not doing that again.”

“Jack. You did what you needed to do at the time, and you were forced into it—now I know the awful truth, I know you’d never have left.”

“Lyra, I was hardly honorable sneaking in through your window every night like a ghost, craving things that weren’t mine to have.”

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong.” Unclicking her safety belt, she leaned forward into my space. “I’ve always been yours, and I will be now.”

I sighed. “I’m not having you in a room with Shaun Parks for three years.”

Grinning, she crawled herself into my lap. “Don’t be jealous, let me show you how much I wish it was you.” She pressed her lips against mine and I ran my hand along her spine, brushing her ribs and I knew I’d do anything for us to be together, even if hard choices needed to be made.

“Oh man, you’ve got it bad.” Rhian leant over the bar, hair falling around her shoulders.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

Rhian tutted and gave a sad and slow shake of her head. “Really? Because it looks to me like you want to stick pins in the eyes of every single dude checking out your girl.”

She had a point. Not that I’d admit it.

Lyra worked the other end of the bar, while I was trapped down this side because it seemed half of campus had turned up in support of their fellow student.

Support, my ass. They just wanted to know if she was any good.

Or, maybe I was a bad tempered bastard.

Despite numerous calls from Evan for her to jump on the stage and give an impromptu performance, she’d hung back, shaking her head, grinning as she served.

I wanted her. So damn bad I could have disintegrated with sheer need.

Every so often her gaze met mine. It made every minute until her shift ended torture.

Ignoring Rhian, I worked my way down her end of the bar, brushing behind her as I reached for a glass. “Are you not going to sing, Lyra?”

“Nope.”

“Not for your friends?” I lifted an eyebrow, gaze firmly on her lips, making her blush and tuck a wayward curl behind her ear.

“No.”

I leaned forward, close to her ear. Her breath hiked in a notch. “What about for me?”

Her gaze held mine. “Maybe.”

I pointed to the stage. “What you waiting for?”

She looked at the stage and then back to me, biting her lower lip. Then she shook her head and turned to serve a customer. I guess her mates weren’t going to hear her do her thing after all. I watched her work. I thought her music was tied to me? So why the hell was she still hiding it away?

Whatever her reasons, tonight wasn’t the night for forcing her. Tonight I’d just relish in the fact I could watch her without coming across like some creeper—I hoped.

That didn’t mean I wouldn’t make the most of opportunities.

When she went out back to get some more bourbon I followed her.

“Hey,” I whispered against her ear as I moved up behind her. “I missed you.”

I pulled her back against my chest and kissed her neck. “I can’t get enough of you.”