Fated Shot

Chapter 28

Jack

“Who the fuck do you keep looking for?” Max shouts over the pounding beat from the speakers. He’s staring me down across the table, still bouncing to the rhythm with a beer in his hand.

“Mia’s coming tonight,” Evan calls out, smiling, knowing damn well what he just started.

“Mmm, it sounds like things are getting serious between you two,” Max adds.

“This guy’s been singing in the shower, dancing in the car, and humming throughout the day. I swear I even saw him giggle into his phone yesterday.” Penn chimes in with a cocky smirk on his face.

He’s pretty much over everything that went down and is back to his old self, meaning the chirps have fully resumed.

“I don't sing in the shower and I’ve never hummed in my life,” I snap back.

“A little defensive over there, Brody… If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re love-struck,” Max quips.

“I just invited her out, okay?” I say firmly, slight irritation growing in my tone.

“Guess you won’t mind if I save her a dance then? Sounds like fair game to me.” A jackass grin on Max’s face.

O ver my dead body . I don’t engage, though, but instead, check my phone again to see the status of her ride. She should be here any minute. The boys huddle up, whispering and laughing, but I don’t pay any attention until I spot them all shaking hands, odd .

I try to stay casual, barely listening to the chatter between the other guys in the booth. Eventually, the conversation shifts, and Theo, Penn, and Connor Tucker dive into a heated debate about the existence of alien life. Just another Saturday night with the boys.

“I’m just saying, I want to see some concrete scientific evidence before drawing any conclusions,” Theo pipes up.

“Bro, I literally saw a UFO once. If you don’t believe in aliens, then you’re calling me a liar,” Connor drunkenly yells.

I just shake my head, refusing to engage. One: because I’m not going to chat with a drunk Connor fucking Tucker, and two: aliens absolutely exist, but I don’t want to ever have the same opinion as Connor fucking Tucker.

Thankfully, I get the ‘here’ text and my heart does a thump before I rush to my feet without so much as a word to the boys. Pushing my way through the crowd, I head toward the doors and out to the bouncer. There’s a bit of a line forming. Perks of this being our favorite club, we can pull some strings, whether that be getting an extra guest on the VIP list or removing a few for more privacy.

Sure enough, the moment I’m outside, a beaming beauty steps out of an Escalade right in front of the main doors. I sent an Uber Black, and I know she’s going to comment about me spending money on her again, but I don’t care.

She walks right over to me, the bottom of her black dress landing mid-way up her thighs, flowing with every step. The top of it is tight around her waist and chest, thin straps tied into bows on either shoulder, like she’s my own little present. I turn quickly, struggling to readjust the semi I have from just looking at her. Thank god it’s dark out and even darker in the club .

I offer my hand to her, and to my fucking delight, she takes it. Giving the bouncer a pat on the shoulder, I lead her in. As we make our way back to the booth, weaving through the hordes of people, she doesn’t drop her hand, and it has to be one of the best feelings in the entire world.

When we arrive, all the guys stop their conversation, smirking as they take in our adjoined hands. I move mine to rest gently on the small of her back.

“Uh, guys, you remember Mia?”

“You mean our Coach’s only daughter? Yeah, I think we remember,” Connor drunkenly snickers as I glare at him.

“Don’t be a dick,” Evan mutters, elbowing him.

The rest of them stay staring awkwardly, and I instantly regret my decision to bring her.

“Do you want to sit, Mia?” Penn asks, breaking the silence as he moves deeper into the booth, opening up a space for her. She smiles politely at him as she climbs in next to him. Realizing there’s no space for me, I reluctantly slide into the opposite side, resigned to stare longingly across the table for the rest of the night.

Now, instead of talking to her, I’m forced to continue to listen to the douche canoes next to me talk about UFO sightings on Centre Island.

“Alright, I need a refill,” Evan calls to the table as he tries to make his way out of the booth. Both Mia and Penn need to shuffle out in order to let him exit. Just as they settle back into their seats, Evan turns back and asks, “Do you want a drink, Mia?”

Shit, that was definitely my job. I’m terrible at this whole date thing. Flustered and half standing up in my seat, I extend my hand out to her across the table. “Come on, I’ll grab you one.”

“I’m heading to the bar, anyway, Brody,” he replies, but I snap him a warning glare .

“I’ll come with you,” she says to Evan, hopping back up, her shoes clacking against the floor. I resist the urge to butt in, instead nodding and sitting back down before giving her a little wink which flushes her cheeks immediately. She stands waiting as I lean in, giving Evan a firm look.

“I don’t want her to pay for her own drink, Woodsy,” I gruff, quiet enough for only him to hear.

“I’m obviously not going to let her pay, chill out .” As they leave, I spot a black bow holding her curls together on the back of her head. Damn, she’s cute.

Five minutes feels like an hour waiting for her to return. When they finally wander back over to us, I spot a familiar shyness on Mia’s face. This time, she opts for my side of the booth as I shove Connor over to make space. Settling in beside me, I’m surrounded by her comforting, sweet scent, and just like that, I’m already getting hard.

Getting aroused at a table full of your jackass friends? What could possibly go wrong… This girl is going to be my undoing.

“What’d you get?” I ask her, taking a sip from my own beer.

“Peach mojito,” she replies, the sweetest smile on her face. “Wanna try?”

I normally hate sweet drinks, but she’s just too cute to turn down. I smile at her, grabbing the glass she’s offered me and sipping. It tastes like a drink version of a sour peach ring. I laugh, surprised at how delicious it is.

“It’s good,” I say, passing her glass back over to her. She beams happily at my reply, doing a little excited wiggle in her seat as she takes another sip. God, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her happy.

“Bet it tastes even better ‘cus it was free.” Evan grins as Mia suddenly shifts uneasily beside me.

“What do you mean it was free?” I ask, looking between the two of them. She’s now studying her glass, as Evan stifles a laugh by taking a quick sip of his beer.

When he realizes I’m still staring expectantly at him, he continues.

“I turned my head for like two seconds, and some guy tapped his card; he didn’t even notice he paid for my drink, too,” his hearty laugh calls out. Motioning to Mia animatedly, he adds, “She walked away before he could even slip her his number.”

I don’t fucking like that .

“You’re welcome to join us anytime, Mia. I love freebies.” He raises his bottle to cheers her, waiting until she reluctantly lifts her hand and clinks her glass against his.

I lean over to whisper in her ear, “You okay?” Long dark lashes surrounding her beautiful green eyes shine up at me as she nods.

She tilts her chin up, and I lower my head, angling my ear toward her. “I couldn’t even hear what he was saying and then I just made a run for it.”

A chuckle escapes me, that’s my gir l. I wrap my arm over her shoulders, tucking her close to my side, hand landing on her waist.

“Alright, Mia, what do you say to a dance with the best defenseman on the Tundra?” Max climbs over Penn and Evan to leave the booth, literally bumping and crawling across their laps.

What in the actual fuck is going on tonight? I can’t get her to myself for two fucking minutes. He offers her his hand, but she hesitates.

“I, um—I can’t dance,” she replies nervously.

Atta girl, turn him down.

“I’ll teach you, it’s all in the hips,” he says, winking at her suggestively. There’s no usual blush from her and my chest puffs up a little. Looks like I’m the only one who can make her flush .

She still seems hesitant, but to my dismay, she takes a quick sip of her drink and hops up off the seat. She doesn’t take his hand, though, but she does follow him to the dance floor as my eyes trail their every move. He’s smirking at me over his shoulder like a cat who just caught a mouse. Fucker.

“What the fuck is everyone’s problem tonight,” I say out loud to no one in particular as soon as they leave.

“A little jealous, are we?” Penn jokes, “Thought you said it wasn’t serious.”

Theo chimes in reassuringly, “He’s probably just messing around,” as he looks over at the two of them. He’s a good kid. Penn needs to take notes, little punk.

When I look over, too, she’s delicately swaying to the beat, her dress swishing around her hips. He notices me again, smirks, and then leans in to whisper something in her ear. She takes a small step back and turns to face me. When our eyes meet, there’s a look of surprise, and she hurries off the dance floor.

Max is still vibing to the music and doesn’t even miss a beat, turning instead to a different girl next to him.

I don’t want to be fighting for her attention all night, but I fucking will.

“Be right back,” I huff as I bound over to where I last saw Mia.

Thankfully, I spot her waiting in line for the bathroom, next to some random dude who so clearly looks like he’s trying to hit on her. Her reserved smile and lack of eye contact are all I need to know that I’m free to interject. Not that I’d let that stop me. No one else is going anywhere near her for the rest of the night.

“Mia,” I say in greeting, stepping between them, looping my arm to wrap around her waist.

“H-hi,” she calls up to me, head tilting all the way back to look at my face. The dude immediately takes two giant steps back and gets lost. As the door to the bathroom swings open, I step forward pulling her in with me. As soon as we’re inside, I lock the door, turning to lift her onto the counter so we’re nearly face to face.

Through her exposed skin, I can clearly see her quickening pulse. She swallows hard when I lean in close to her delicate face. It’s like some strange deja vu, but I don’t care, I finally have her alone for the first time tonight.

My arms land on either side of her hips, boxing her in as I sigh into her ear, “I want you to myself.”

Goosebumps flood across her skin, and her hand rises to rest on my jaw.

“You have me now,” she says, a playful gleam in her eyes. Does that mean what I think it means? Before I can question any further, she initiates by closing the distance between us. I don’t miss a beat, matching her hurried pace, intertwining my hand in her hair, tugging her closer.

My tongue sweeps across her mouth as she moans softly in response, and I’m officially rock hard. I know she can tell because her hips start rocking side to side, right into my bulge, as she tugs on my shirt. Each time her pussy grazes me, she lets out a little sound that shoots straight to my dick.

It’s like everything I do to her, every movement, every touch is the best thing, and I fucking love it. I’ll never get enough. I move my hand to slip under the hem of her dress toward the warmth radiating from her core.

“F-fuck,” slips out the moment I realize she’s not wearing any panties. My fingers slip into her wetness as she gasps with pleasure.

My jealousy-fueled lust doesn’t seem to overpower my logic as I pull back, dropping my head to her shoulder.

“I don’t have a condom, but I can still take care of you,” I say, planting a wet kiss on her collarbone as I start working my way up her neck .

“We don’t have to use one,” she says breathlessly. The words stop me in my tracks as my head whips up, eyes meeting hers. “I’ve never done that before, but I trust you. I-I’m on the pill, and I haven’t been with anyone else.”

I genuinely don’t think my brain can comprehend through the pulsing I’m now feeling in my eyes.

“I—Uh, I’m—” Fuck, those aren’t words .

I think she broke me. I’ve never done this before. I’m staring at her most perfect eyes, and I can’t even believe this moment is happening. Thankfully, she places her hand on my torso, and it whips me back into the present.

“I’m clean,” I say finally. “And I haven’t been with anyone since the first day I saw you at Cordelia’s over the summer.”

Her surprised face regards me. “You haven’t?”

I shake my head, returning to kiss the sensitive spot at the base of her neck. As if I could ever want anyone else after she walked into my life. She changed everything with one fucking laugh. One minute, a tiny glimpse into her sunshine world, and I was hooked.

Just like that, she pulls me back to her face as we explore each other hungrily. I’m straining in my pants when she wraps her legs around me, grinding her hips against my erection again. Running my hands over her hardened nips poking through the thin fabric of her dress, she shivers.

I take a step back and a deep breath to calm myself down before unzipping my suit pants and pulling them down with my boxers. She instinctively shimmies closer, barely teetering on the edge of the counter as she lifts up the bottom of her dress, revealing her perfect, glistening pussy to me.

Gripping my cock with my fist, I pump twice before stepping forward to line myself up.

“Are you sure?” I ask, withholding the tip from making contact .

“I’m sure.” She nods, all seriousness in her eyes. I thrust into her, as she whimpers when I fill her. The feeling of being inside her bare is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The intensity of feeling every little sensation, knowing I’m the one she trusts enough with this, is over-fucking-whelming.

I groan loudly when she squeezes around me. It’s agony waiting for her to adjust before pulling out again and driving back in, giving her all of me. The look of pure ecstasy in her eyes when I’m fully inside her, bottomed out, sparks something wicked in me.

Without pulling back my hips, I lick my thumb before resting it over her throbbing clit where we’re joined. She immediately cries out, hand snapping up to cover her mouth as I start to circle slowly. Her hips are moving along with me as my cock is buried inside of her.

Her breathing is getting faster, ragged gasps slipping as I speed up the pace of my finger. Her little moans are getting muffled behind her hand. A fucking travesty, really.

Maintaining my circling, I use my free hand to tug hers away from her mouth. “I want to hear you, Mia,” I say as she bites her lip, struggling to stay quiet, still writhing in pleasure.

I let myself thrust just once, hard, unable to contain myself before returning to the task at hand. This is about her, anything to make her feel good.

She’s filled completely, and my hands are still working her, circling around her throbbing clit once again. It’s a miracle I don’t come on the spot at the sensual moan that rips out.

“Jack, that feels—” She licks her lips, unable to finish her sentence, eyes squeezing shut.

“That’s it. I want everyone here to know who’s making you feel this good.” Let them all hear. I’m staking my claim right here and now .

She’s close, gripping tightly around my cock, her legs shaking as she pushes deeper into my hand with a whimper, “I’m so close, Jack.”

I’m not even thrusting at this point, but the sounds she’s making, combined with the way her pussy squeezes me, are going to send me.

“Good girl, just like that,” I say.

She’s seconds away from spilling over the edge, and it’s driving me wild. I love seeing her like this; it’s addicting.

“Who’s girl are you?” It comes out demanding and possessive, but fuck, I want her to say it. I need to hear her fucking to say it.

Her eyes open, meeting mine while her body still moves with me. Breathless but confident, her voice calls out, “Yours.”

I drop my head so that she can feel my breath on her face. “That’s right, Mia. You’re mine ,” I say, driving deeper into her. That’s all it takes as she screams out, pulsing around me and I fall right with her, spilling into her.

When we finally rejoin the table, no one seems to have even noticed our absence as we settle back in. I sit with my knees outstretched, hand splayed on her soft thigh beside me. She’s quiet and subdued, little hums to the music every now and again, still looking like goddamn perfection next to me. She’s perfect and mine .

As the night starts to wind down, a few of the guys head out to close up their tabs while Max, Penn, Evan, Mia and I hang back to finish our drinks. It’s been so nice having her here; it’s exactly where she’s meant to be. She’s exactly what I’ve been missing, swooping in and making everything in my life better.

As Max takes the last sip of his seventh or so beer, he leans over the table.

“So, Mia, can I grab your number? I feel like we really had a connection there,” he says, a drunken grin on his dopey face .

He’s playing around but my body tenses at the thought. Jokes or not, I’m still not above laying out my D-partner.

“Care to back the fuck off? That’s my girlfriend you’re hitting on.” The words leave my mouth pretty effortlessly, and I don’t regret it for a second.

Instantly, he grins even wider, slapping Evan across the chest animatedly.

“What’d I tell you boys? I never miss with the things.” He plops back, sprawling out on the seat, his grin never waning.

Evan and Penn send me annoyed looks as they both pull out their wallets, handing over fifty bucks each to Max’s waiting hands.

“I had faith in you, Brody,” Penn says, shaking his head.

“Never pegged you for someone Dunner could rile up, how the stars have fallen,” Evan lets out in joking disappointment.

“Care to elaborate on what you bet on?” I snip back.

“Max said you’d go all caveman, be claiming her or something like that by the end of the night,” Penn replies.

Still smirking, Max adds, “Didn’t think it would be so easy.”

He shifts his focus to Mia.

“You’ve broken Mister Tough Guy over here.” He nods toward me as she smiles shyly, her gaze dropping to her glass.

I pull her closer to my side, hand resting comfortably on her hip. Let those fuckers say what they want, I got my girl, and that’s all that matters.

She’s mine.