Page 89 of The Replay

I hope he means lots of sex with me.

"Including interfering in your business," he adds, "if you're going to interfere with mine."

People laugh, including me.

Saint's eyebrows go up his forehead. "Okay, then. My bad. I still need to wrap my head around you not dating anymore. And I really meant dancing."

"It's unnerving to see our playboys changing their ways." Damián turns to Rafa. "First Saint, Now Dom. You should have seen them before. It's definitely an adjustment."

Evie shakes her head like she doesn't fully get the mood. "Where did this go wrong?"

"If that's the case…" Dom sighs. "Maybe I should go dance with someone. Just so you all leave me alone."

I pull my lips to the side. He raises an eyebrow, right as his hands open another button. And another. To tease me. To give me a single chance to godance with him. To tempt me or throw his friends off the scent, depending on my choice.

Bear sniggers. "Keep undressing and you'll have no problem finding someone to dance with."

"Striptease!" Nat exclaims.

People from nearby booths and sitting areas start clapping too. Of course they've been paying attention. A group of well-known, sexy people gathering in public? It will always draw the eye.

Especially when the hottest of them all plays with the button placket of his shirt, teasing the garment open, like he's edging us before undoing the next one.

Dom's grin is slow and arrogant. His sight locks with mine. He opens another button. That brown shirt is now open two-thirds of the way down, allowing tattoos and tan light brown skin to peek. I return the look with a smug smile. I'm sure some people notice that our eyes hold for once.

I raise an eyebrow and fake disinterest by getting my phone out. Like the view of him doesn't warm me up from the inside. As if it doesn't make me want to scream at him to stop undressing, because everything he's showing off is supposed to be mine and only mine… for a few weeks.

I cross my legs as though I'm relaxing and type a text that gets sent to Dom's number. My screen is a good excuse not to gaze at him, and I stay on it a bit longer. I add a bored tilt to my mouth. It's the final touch in this performance, designed to convince people that the tight end's display does nothing for me. Meanwhile, I feel all the things I pretend I don't. Including eagerness for his response to my message.

"Nah," Dom finally says, and he closes a couple of buttons. "I'm good. I have plans for the week."

Discontented noises erupt from nearby tables. Dom pats his chest as an apology, letting everyone know he's sorry to disappoint them, and goes back to his seat. He relaxes into it like he's at the beach.

Saint points at him with an accusing finger. "What a show, Dominic. Just you wait."

Dom shrugs.

Saint holds Ames' hand. "Time to dance, Bella."

They leave. Some people tease Dom, the ribbing coming from the friend group and other witnesses alike. I keep my eye on him. He laughs and dismisses everyone when they ask about his plans.

"You've never asked before." Dom frowns. "I don't know what's different this time."

"I'm trying to get my bearings," Rafa says. "I hadn't seen the night edition of this group before."

"And this break from dating is unexpected," Damián says. "We don't know what to think."

"You'll survive the mystery." Dom finally takes his phone out of his pocket and gets on it while answering everyone else. The picture of an unaffected man, checking his notifications. "Turns out, I have a private life that I don't have to share with you all…"

The sentence dies a slow death through his parted lips. His eyes open wide.

I know what he's reading.

Mariana: You're such a tease. What would you do if I played the same game? Because I'm wearing red lipstick and I'm sure you'd love my mouth on your cock. So imagine me on my knees, sucking you off, smearing your beautiful dick in red. Tell me where that nook is and I'll let you fuck me until it mixes with your cum inside me. Bend me over and crack my back, Dominic.

"Everything okay?" Evie asks him.

"Yeah—" Dom croaks and clears his throat. "Yeah. Just—nevermind."