And Vivian Baily was one super hot chick.

And I had convinced myself it was due to her extreme contortionist abilities that had me abstaining from sex with anyone but Vivian.

Why settle for a less than adequate substitute when I could hold out for the real thing?

So let's go back to why I allowed Karly with a K to smear her whore red lipstick all over my mouth. Why, if I wanted Vivian, did I kiss and grope another chick when I knew she’d be looking for me?

Did you see Vivian’s reaction? She went nuts!

Do you see where I currently have my fingers?

Get the picture?

And now we were going to head back to the hotel and she was going to work all of that anger out on my all too eager body.

It was a messed up pattern. But it worked well for me.

It was exciting. I was aroused. I dug Viv’s extreme bursts of rage.

So our drama wasn’t really any of Maysie’s business.

“Back off, Mays,” I warned, feeling my anger spike. And this time it wasn’t mixed with anything but annoyance.

Vivian pushed on my chest, causing me to stumble. My finger pulled out of her with an audible pop. I grit my teeth in irritation.

I knew that look on Vivian’s face. She was pissed. And not in the good, I’m-so-angry-I’m-going-to-screw-your-brains-out kind of way.

It was more of the I’m-about-to-end-up-with-a-serious-case-of-blue-balls sort of angry.

“Come on, Viv. Let’s find Gracie and Riley. We’ll go get a drink,” Maysie prompted. I could feel the daggers she was glaring my way dig into my back, but I didn’t give a crap.

“Vivian. Come on. You know it didn’t mean anything. You’re here. Let’s hang out.” And yeah, “hang out” was a euphemism for squeeze my face between her thighs.

I tried to reach for her again. My plans for the night had taken a shitty turn.

Vivian let me grab her and I felt a twinge of relief. Maybe she wasn’t that upset. I didn’t entirely understand why she was getting so worked up.

It wasn’t like we were a couple or anything.

It’s not like she didn’t know what happened when I was on the road and she wasn’t around.

And it’s not like she didn’t get that when she was here, there was no one else.

I heard Maysie’s frustrated sigh and it was seriously messing with my vibe.

“Come on, Viv. Let’s go back to the hotel. Let me make it up to you. You know you’re the only girl I want to be with tonight,” I said softly, kissing the skin on the side of her neck.

I felt her shudder and knew I had her.

I pulled her flush against my front. I wanted her. That had always been enough.

“Vivian, come on,” Maysie urged and I pressed myself tighter against Vivian.

“Baby, please. I want to spend time with you,” I pleaded, meaning it. I wasn’t a complete heartless jerk. I really did want to be with Vivian.

Vivian closed her eyes, her brows furrowing. I didn’t like the look on her face. It confused me. I didn’t like to be confused. I liked to live my life with minimal thinking.

I slept. I woke up. I ate. I sang. I f**ked.

That was my life.

And Vivian provided just enough complication to keep things interesting.

I didn’t want anything more than that.

I certainly didn’t want to examine why Vivian looked like that.

Or why I felt suddenly panicked.

“Vivian?” I said her name like a question. I ran my hands up and down her back, trying like hell to ignore Maysie’s crusty attitude that was funking up the room.

“I’ll catch up with you later,” Vivian said to Maysie over her shoulder, after what felt like an incredibly long time.

“Vivian,” Maysie started and I knew an epic scolding was on its way. If she started on Vivian, I would be forced to intervene. I wouldn’t let her make Viv feel bad for spending time with me.

I didn’t care if it would cause more tension between Jordan and me. I didn’t care if I would be labeled the bad guy. What else was new? But I’d be damned if I’d let Maysie or anybody else make this woman in my arms feel badly about anything.

Where did this sudden protectiveness come from?

Vivian beat me to the punch.

“Just go, Mays. I’ll call you later,” Vivian said shortly and I could tell she was annoyed. I just didn’t know if it was with Maysie or me.

Maysie didn’t say anything else. And I didn’t give a shit what she thought. I was just happy when I heard the dressing room door slam shut.

Vivian shook her head. “I’m such an idiot.”

I turned her around so that we were chest to chest. I leaned down and took her bottom lip between my teeth, sucking it into my mouth and moaned when I heard her sharp intake of breath. She was just tall enough that I didn’t have to bend too much to taste her mouth.

Her curves fit against my body perfectly. I loved knowing what this girl felt like inside and out. It made me feel territorial and proprietary.

Vivian Baily was mine.

“Shut up,” I told her, biting down on her lip with a bit more strength.

Vivian slithered her fingers up into my hair and gave it a vicious yank. I winced.

“Don’t ever tell me to shut up,” she warned, her fingers digging into the back of my skull painfully. Her eyes flashed with a heat I recognized and brought my flagging erection back to life.

“I’ll say whatever the hell I want to,” I volleyed back, tearing my mouth from hers and attacking the side of her neck. I sucked and licked and bit hard enough to break the skin.