Love To Hate Me

Games

The crowd screamed as Craig grabbed the mic, his raspy voice filling the club with that signature energy only he could summon. Juliet leaned into me, shouting over the music, "Don't look so smug! You know he's playing all these songs for you."

I shook my head, laughing, but part of me knew she was right. He locked eyes with me as the beat dropped into one of his band's biggest hits. Allison stayed close to his side, clearly staking her claim, but Craig's eyes didn't stray from me—not for a second.

Juliet whispered, "Let's mess with him."

Before I could stop her, she pulled me to the front of the stage and wrapped an arm around my waist, dancing against me. The look on Craig's face was pure heat—his jaw tightened, and he pulled the mic away mid-verse to grin. I winked back, enjoying the game more than I wanted to admit. I wasn't his. Not anymore. But he sure as hell hadn't let go either.

The set continued, Craig commanding the room like he was born for this. Allison looked increasingly annoyed, probably catching on to the charged glances between him and me. During a quick break, he leaned down and mouthed, "Bathroom. Now."

My stomach flipped. Juliet elbowed me, having clearly read his lips. "You gonna go?" she teased.

I hesitated. "It's a bad idea."

"That's never stopped you before," she smirked.

I didn't even try to deny it. After another minute of pretending to dance, I slipped off the side of the stage and made my way to the back hallway, heart pounding. I turned the corner and there he was—already waiting, arms crossed, body tense.

"Thought you weren't coming," he said, voice low, eyes drinking me in.

"I shouldn't have," I replied breathlessly.

"Didn't ask what you should've done," he said, stepping forward. His hands found my waist, pulling me flush against him. "That dress... fuck, you wore it for me, didn't you?"

"No," I lied, knowing damn well I had.

He smirked, backing me up against the wall. "You're not mine anymore... but you still want me." His hand slid down my thigh, fingers brushing under the hem of my dress. "Don't you?"

"Craig..." I warned, even as my breath hitched.

His lips ghosted over mine, not kissing yet—just hovering, teasing. "Tell me you don't want me and I'll walk away."

I couldn't say it. Wouldn't. My silence was all he needed. He crushed his mouth to mine, hungry and hot, one hand tangled in my hair, the other sliding under my dress to find the heat he knew all too well. I gasped into him, fingers digging into his arms.

His mouth moved to my neck. "No panties?" he growled. "You knew what you were doing, baby."

"I didn't know I'd see you," I managed to say.

He chuckled darkly. "Bullshit. You always feel like mine. You still are."

The sounds of the club were muffled in this dim hallway, the only thing loud being our breaths and the steady pounding of my heart. He hiked my leg up around his hip, pressing against me, his hardness impossible to ignore.

"Last night wasn't enough," he murmured. "I've been thinking about you all day. This—us—it never left me."

He kissed me like he was claiming me, stealing all the air from my lungs as his hips rolled slowly into mine, just enough friction to drive me mad. "You're making me crazy showing up here looking like that," he muttered, breath hot against my cheek. "Dancing with Juliet, acting like you're single."

"You are taken," I reminded him weakly, eyes fluttering shut as he trailed his tongue along my collarbone.

"And I'd drop her if you asked," he whispered.

That broke me a little. "Don't say that."

"Why not?" he growled. "It's true. You still own me. You always did."

His words sent shivers down my spine. He kissed me again, softer this time, lips brushing mine like a question he didn't want answered. I kissed back, unable to stop myself. For that moment, we were all heat, longing, and everything unresolved between us.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, and we quickly pulled apart, both of us breathless. Craig raked a hand through his hair. "Go back out there. I'll find you later."

I nodded and slipped away, cheeks burning as I made my way to the bar again. Juliet spotted me immediately, eyes wide. "Girl, you were gone ten minutes. Tell me you didn't—"

"I can't," I said, cutting her off.

"Oh my God," she laughed, then sobered. "Ash... this is dangerous. He's gonna break your heart again."

"I know," I whispered. "But I can't stop."

We stayed at the bar for a while, watching the rest of the show. Craig avoided Allison, barely interacting with her now. His eyes kept returning to me. Even when he took a picture with a fan, even when he smiled for the cameras—his gaze found mine again and again.

When the set ended, Juliet and I made our way outside to cool off. The air was brisk, and I wrapped my arms around myself. My phone buzzed. "Come backstage. One last time. Please."

Juliet peeked at my screen. "You going?"

I looked at her. "One last time."

She sighed. "Just don't fall harder."

I slipped past security with Craig's name and found him waiting, this time without Allison anywhere in sight. The moment the door shut, he backed me against the wall again. "We need to talk," he said, voice hoarse from singing and desire.

"About what?"

"Everything," he breathed, cupping my cheek. "But not here."

I stared into his eyes. "Then when?"

He kissed my forehead. "Tomorrow. My hotel. Just us."

And I nodded, knowing full well this was anything but