Make Me Moan, Daddy Chapter 65

TESSA

We finally pulled into the club’s parking lot, and I let out a long, shaky breath, slumping against the door. My hands were still trembling slightly from the adrenaline, from the panic that had gripped us just minutes ago. I glanced at Reina, who was sitting in the passenger seat, cheeks still flushed, eyes wide but a hint of relief could be seen in them.

We are alive. Thank God we are alive.

That was what her eyes were saying.

I couldn’t believe how close we’d co to... I didn’t even want to think about it. My stomach twisted at the mory of the car tailing us, the way her voice had trembled over the phone, how we’d both made ridiculous promises in panic.

And God, I almost told her. Almost. Almost told her everything I’d been feeling, everything I’d been hiding.

I shook my head, trying to force the thought away. No, not now. Not ever, maybe.

"Are you okay?" I asked, voice softer than I intended, and she turned to with that faint, shaky smile.

"I’m fine. Really. Thanks... for keeping from completely losing it back there," she said, voice light, like she was brushing it off. But I could see the residual fear. It lingered in her eyes, in the tremor of her fingers as she adjusted her hair.

I wanted to reach across the console, to grab her hand again, to tell her she didn’t have to be fine for anyone else’s sake. Instead, I leaned back, trying to act casual.

"Well, soone had to make sure we didn’t end up as club trivia: ’Two Girls Kidnapped in Parking Lot, Drama Ensues.’"

She laughed softly, and my chest clenched. It was like a balm and a knife at the sa ti... relief that she was alive, terror at how close we’d co, and an ache I couldn’t na.

We finally got out of the car. I instinctively pulled her close before letting go, just for a mont. She slled faintly of the perfu she always wore, the one that lingered after a shower, and I felt this strange mix of calm and panic wash over . She was safe. For now.

But I couldn’t shake off the feeling that sothing was wrong. First, it was that pervert at the store, and now a black car. All in one day.

Could it be the sa man?

"Let’s go," she said, her voice steady, though I could tell she was still a little on edge. I nodded, forcing myself to smile, and together we stepped into the club.

The instant we entered, the music hit like a tidal wave. The bass rumbled through the floor, the lights flashed in strobe patterns, people swaying and laughing, drinks spilling, the scent of alcohol and sweat heavy in the air.

And yet... all I could focus on was her. Reina. She moved like she always did—graceful, radiant, unaware of the attention she drew. And God, the way n were looking at her made sothing twist deep in my stomach.

I hated it. I hated them. I hated their eyes. I wanted to shout, "She’s mine!" and drag her away before soone dared touch her with their gaze alone.

"Drinks?" I asked, trying to act normal, nodding toward the bar.

"Yes," she said, laughter bubbling out of her. "And then maybe we can dance... if you can survive my moves."

I laughed, but it sounded hollow. "I’ll survive anything as long as I’m with you."

Her smile in response nearly undid , and I had to take a deep breath to remind myself I wasn’t supposed to be completely undone by a simple grin.

We made it to the bar, found two stools, and sat down. I let the noise of the club wash over , though I wasn’t really listening. My eyes were fixed on her, scanning, noting every hair that fell over her shoulder, every tiny movent, every fleeting expression.

"Rember our first first ti in a bar?" I asked, trying to sound casual, even though my chest felt like it was going to burst.

She blinked at , then laughed, covering her mouth.

"Please don’t remind of that night." She let out, throwing her head back and laughed. "I was a total ss."

Reina could barely finish her sentence before she started laughing again. And I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The way her shoulder brushed against mine each ti she laughed ignite sothing I couldn’t ignore inside of .

"You did look amazing even when you’re drunk, and God, I almost couldn’t stop myself from kissing you." I said imdiately, before realizing how intense that sounded. She rolled her eyes but didn’t respond with anything more than a teasing smirk.

"I an... you look alive when drunk, cute, beautiful," I added quickly, trying to explain myself. "That’s what I rember. Not the cute lips."

Her laugh was soft, a little breathless, and it made my chest ache in a way I didn’t want to admit. I watched the way she brushed her hair behind her ear and cursed silently in my head for being this smitten, this obsessed, this completely unable to hide how I felt about her.

Just sitting here, taking shots after shots, everywhere felt light and warm, and for a mont I almost forgot about the terror of earlier, the tailing car, the panic. Almost.

Reina tipped her head back as she drank, I didn’t miss how sexy she was with her next exposed to . So I forced my head sideways, to look away from her.

Then I noticed the way n were looking at her, like they couldn’t wait to get their filthy hands on her, and that almost-forgotten panic ca roaring back, mixed with sothing darker—sothing that made my chest twist and my hands itch.

"Hey," she said suddenly, nudging with her elbow. "You’ve been quiet. What’s up with you?"

I laughed lightly, trying to mask the way my chest felt like it was being squeezed. "Nothing. Just... taking in the view, I guess."

"The view?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah. You know... lights, music... you," I said, forcing a shrug, trying to sound casual, but my chest felt like it was going to burst.

Her eyebrows lifted. "? That’s... flattering, I guess."

I almost told her everything then. Almost said all the stupid, ssy truths about how I felt, how I wanted to wrap her in a bubble and kiss her lips like my life depended on it. But I didn’t. I forced myself to smile and nod. "Sure. Totally casual. Nothing weird here."

She laughed softly, the sound a lifeline in the chaos of the club. I wanted to reach out and grab her hand again, but I held back, fearing that if I touched her, if I let myself feel too much of her skin, I might never stop.

"I can’t take it anymore," I muttered, downing my drink in one gulp. "Dance with . Now."