No Feelings: Just Sex

il in her hand, her dark curls spilling over one shoulder as she scanned the backyard. The house belonged to Zara's cousin-someone she'd never met before-but that didn't matter. It w

were framed by heels that added inches to her height and danger to her stride. Her makeup was flawless-sharp liner, smudged

g up beside her with a mischievous grin, holding two more drinks. Jade smirked bu

out through the glass doors, flickering with the DJ's setup, casting moving shadows across the grass. A group laughed loudly to their left,

er eyes idly scanning ag

he other hand. His posture was relaxed, casual even, but there was a tension around him, like he was barely tolerating the crowd, like h

ade s

boots that looked like they'd walked through something real. His jaw was sharp, his lips set in a line too ca

" she said, dragging out the wo

ed, not taking

iend's older brother. That man has been

d up slowly. "I l

ailability and daddy issues dressed in goo

ed her he

f confidence that was bred in women who knew they were stunning an

d didn't flinch. Didn't smile

ere allergic to people," she s

rked, barely.

you, I'm

like a game, one he was very good at.

e said, voice like sm

ol

or a handshake. No interest in sma

id, "are you always

ed slowly, then looked at her, really lo

ce her breakup. Slept with a few. Played the game. But none of them had looked at her like that. Like

epped

dance," s

op

drink with

op

come to

etim

hy

d, voice low, "someone

idn't move

mouth w

*. Not anymore. This was supposed to be about fun, about power, about walking away before anything rooted i

time not with seduction but

a brow.

, and you don't look like the kind of

d. "Neith

uc

performing. He wasn't trying to be charming or cool or sexy. H

bbing his hand. His skin was roug

dn't

ere

that isn't surrounded by

her tone, the meaning behind the invitation. Then, finally, he stubbed out t

the

ery brushstrokes. Jade leaned against the wall, arms crossed, suddenly unsure of what she wanted this to be.

He leaned against the opposite wall, eyes still on h

finally, "what

caught off gua

re and that look in your eyes li

blin

e that before," s

just

im. "I got tired of being disappointed. Deci

m pe

d, voice a little qu

. And Jade had the distinct, u

dn't say *not everyone's l

want, when I want, with whoever I want

r for a long be

ightened, just

myself

stood there, letting the weight of h

rried, deliberate. When he reached her, he didn't touch her. J

t scare m

eath c

her ear, barely touching

ee you

d walked away, disappearing

ring, pulse flickering wildly

know what j

ew one thi

as dan

e want