by Melody Anne
Guys like that hit something deep in my gut. Maybe it was the whole good-girl, bad-boy cliché. Maybe it was a character flaw. Whatever it was, this guy did it for me.
Hard edges and strong features made him seem almost dangerous. I took another sip of my drink and hoped no one noticed the way my hand shook. Was I really considering this? Maybe it was the freedom of possibility swirling around inside me that gave me this uncontrolled feeling.
Maybe it was the fact that Grant screwed me over without so much as an I’m sorry. If he could throw away four years like it was nothing, then I could hook up with some guy I just met. A huge middle finger to Grant and his skanky whore.
If he didn’t want me, then I’d damned well find someone who did.
So lost in myself, I didn’t realize that the guy was staring right back at me.
Shit.
The problem was, I couldn’t look away.
His eyes got darker, and a slow smile curled one side of his lips up. His gaze lowered, running down over my body, and I swear I could feel it. He took a small step closer, and his hand rested on my hip. His thumb stroked a lazy circle along the bare flesh just above my jeans.
Nothing a dozen other guys hadn’t done, thinking they had a chance.
This time, though, instead of moving his hand away, I took a small step closer. Because I could. My heart pounded against my ribs.
“Hi.” The low timbre of his voice sank down and fed the ache between my legs. God, this instant attraction thing was new. I’d always laughed at those insta-lust scenes in movies where the girl saw stars when she looked at some guy she didn’t even know.
Yeah, not so funny anymore.
“Hi.” My voice did this whispery thing I had no idea about.
“Hey, you ready, man?” a new voice asked. A face peeked over hot guy’s shoulder, and his eyes widened when he saw me. A grin turned his lips up. “Well, hello.”
“Hi,” I answered with a smile.
“Seth, man, aren’t you gonna introduce me?”
Seth. It fit him perfectly.
Seth raised his eyebrow at me. It took him a second to realize that he didn’t know my name.
Reluctance swelled in my chest. I didn’t want to give him my fake name. Something about his eyes, the interest that almost but not quite masked a sadness I saw deeply hidden away, made me want to tell him my real name.
“She’s Fancy, and I’m Bambi,” Shari said from behind me. Seth looked at me like he was going to laugh. I looked away before he could. I suddenly felt ridiculous. Like the phony I was. “And we know that is Seth, so you are . . . ?”
“Ryan.” His eyes widened with interest when he took all of Shari in. “You ladies want to join us?”
I glanced over my shoulder and caught sight of the frowning bartender. Shari pushed me along behind Ryan and Seth. So much for our free drinks. Ryan found a booth in a quieter corner and slid into one of the seats. Before Seth could move next to him, Shari darted around him and slid in next.
“I guess we’re sitting here,” I said with a shake of my head.
“Do you mind?” Seth asked.
I looked up at him. There was hesitation in his eyes. Like he was worried it might bother me. Weird.
“Not at all.” I slid into the seat, then took his hand and tugged him down next to me.
His gaze rested on where I touched him, then slid slowly up my arm, over my shoulder, and clashed with mine. For a second, I couldn’t even breathe. The hesitation was gone. Now all I saw was raw desire.
I sucked in a breath and dug my fingernails into his wrist. His eyes grew stormier, and for a second I thought he was going to do me right there on the bench. I think I would have let him.
What the hell?
Single for a few days and this happens. It wasn’t like me, and I knew it had to be Grant’s betrayal that had me thinking that way. Revenge burned in my gut.
“So, Fancy, Bambi just told me you both are dancers?”
Ryan’s voice tugged at me from somewhere inside the fantasy building in my head. I blinked. Seth moved his hand, the one I was still holding on to, and rested his fingers around the top of my thigh.
I felt claimed. Wanted. Grant never touched me with this kind of possessiveness. Every feminist bone in my body screamed that it should feel wrong, but the woman inside loved it too much to make him stop.
My breath hitched, and I fought the insane urge to cover his hand and slide it higher.
After weeks of feeling like the biggest fool on the planet, something else took its place.
I glanced at Shari, who had a strange look on her face. She tilted her head. Everything okay? We might just be playing a game, but if I gave the signal, she’d get up and leave with me in a heartbeat.
I took my drink in my free hand and swallowed a mouthful. I needed to get back into my role. “Yes, we just moved here.”
Seth’s thumb stroked my leg, and electric shocks danced from the spot. My skin felt too tight. I swallowed another mouthful of fruit juice and vodka. He’s doing it because he thinks you’re easy. Strippers always are.
Knowing that didn’t change the way his touch felt on my leg, though.
“So what do you do, Ryan? Something with your hands I’m sure.” Shari ran her fingers up and down Ryan’s arm, and she looked at him from under her eyelashes. It was her go-to move, and it worked every time. Guys ate it up.
“Construction,” he said. He leaned in closer to Shari. “I’m very good with my hands. Would be glad to show you anytime.”
I knew that look in her eyes. “How about right now?”
So much for getting drunk. My horny best friend was skipping out on me already.
Shari batted her eyelashes at Seth. “Would you be a doll and take Fancy here home? We can take my car,” she said to Ryan. Her hand moved under the table and his eyes got very big. “How far is your place?”
His mouth fell open a little. “Seriously?” When Shari nodded, he tossed the keys onto the table and pushed out of the booth. “You don’t mind, do you?” Even I could see the pleading in his eyes as he looked down at Seth.
Seth turned to look at me. “You okay with this?”
“Not a problem at all,” I said. I lifted my glass toward the happy couple and took a large swallow. At least she left me with company tonight.
“See you in the morning,” Shari said, finger waving me over her shoulder.
After they disappeared, the silence between me and Seth stretched.
“Whoa.” He kind of shook his head like he was coming out of a daze.
“That is some kind of record, even for her.” Laughter spilled from me, and I saw Seth smile. God, he had a nice smile. I tried not to stare too much.
“I’d apologize for my friend, but . . . well . . .” He looked so bewildered staring at where Ryan and Shari disappeared.
I leaned a little closer, so he could hear me over the music, or so I told myself. “I think they are a lot alike.”
He chuckled and lifted the glass to his lips.
I watched him swallow and had a crazy urge to press my lips against the spot on his neck. God, I’d never been like this. Shari sometimes talked about being so horny she’d hump a light pole, but I always thought she was kidding.
I eyed Seth’s muscular thigh. Maybe for just a few minutes . . .
“I think you’re right. So, do you come here a lot?” he asked, interrupting my lascivious thoughts.
My mouth dropped open, terrified he’d known what I’d been thinking of doing only a second before, but then his eyes widened and his forehead fell onto his arm. When he peeked up again, his face looked a shade darker.
“That honestly wasn’t a line.” A grin twisted his lips up. “I’m a little rusty with all this.”
Yeah, right. A guy who looked like that probably didn’t have to make any effort at all. I’d already noticed more than one interested glance sliding over him since we sat down. I had to give him credit for his effort. It was boyishly cute. He
even had the self-conscious grin down perfect.
There were worse people I could be spending the evening with.
My mind shifted back to my earlier internal debate. I watched Seth again from the corner of my eye. I hadn’t planned on leaving with anyone tonight, but would it be so very bad if I did?
The music shifted into a slow, sultry beat. I had to clear my head before I did something crazy. “Want to dance?” I asked.
“Love to.” He stood, and when I stepped in front of him to lead the way, his hand came to rest on my lower back again. It stayed there until we were close to the middle of the dance floor.
This wasn’t middle school, and I didn’t even pretend I didn’t want to know what he felt like under the shirt. I slid my hands up his chest and around his neck. Who this bold girl was inhabiting my body was a mystery, but I let her have control.
Seth felt too good not to touch.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me loose enough that I could feel air moving between us. We moved slowly side to side. I glanced up at him through my eyelashes and saw he was watching me.
“So, do you? Come here often?” For all I knew, this was his thing. Pretending to be all innocent while picking up a new girl every week.
He shook his head. “First time.” Then he leaned down until his mouth brushed across my ear. “Looks like I’ve got some incredible beginner’s luck going on.”
Goose bumps exploded over my bare arms when his teeth nipped at the sensitive flesh right under my ear. Before I could react, he straightened as if the floor hadn’t just tilted under us. Sweat beaded on my forehead. I took a tiny step closer, brushing my chest against him.
I felt his shoulders stiffen under my fingers.
Good. I wanted to rock him a little too.
If this was a game, I was going to give him a run for his money. Or try. I had no idea how to seduce a man, but judging by the way Seth’s breath hitched out, I must be doing something right.
And feeling him react to my touch soothed the ache of Grant’s betrayal a little. If that bastard didn’t appreciate what I had to give, then Seth would. Tonight.
His arms tightened and his thigh moved between my legs, so now we were pressed together from shoulder to ankle. There was no way I could miss the stab of excitement that shot through me when I swayed my hips and felt his thigh rub between my legs.
I pushed back a little and wound my fingers behind his neck, then leaned away and let my head fall back. I pressed against his thigh harder and swung my upper body to the left, then back to the right. I was grinding on his leg now, but damn, it felt good.
Buzzed on vodka and excitement and the sweet taste of screw you, Grant, I didn’t want to stop.
When I finally straightened, he tightened his arm around my waist and dropped his mouth to my neck. He growled into the curve of my shoulder and closed his hot mouth over my bare skin. I whimpered and twisted my fingers into his hair, holding him there.
Holy hell. I wanted to climb him right there on the dance floor, the hell with who was watching. The bulge in his jeans grew harder, and it pressed into my stomach.
I drew his head up, enough so that he could kiss along my jaw. The music continued to thump, sensual bass beats that made my insides throb with need. Unable to take it anymore, I tugged his head and turned my face so that our lips finally touched.
I wanted him to kiss me, but he held back, running teasing touches over my lips until I was ready to scream. I yanked at his hair, ground myself against him, but he still didn’t kiss me like I wanted. He did the exact opposite and pulled back enough so that he could look into my eyes.
I saw desire and hesitation. Hunger and sadness.
I wanted to give in and take it all away at the same time. I wanted to ask him why he was so sad, but I had a feeling he would deny it. It was buried very deep. I only saw it because I had a tendency to gravitate toward people who were hurt. To those who needed help.
Seth shifted and drew my body closer to his.
“If you’re drunk, just tell me where you live and I’ll make sure you get home safe.” Seth’s lips were very close to my ear, and when he exhaled, his hot breath washed over the sensitive flesh there and made me shiver in a delicious way.
“I had one drink. I’m only slightly buzzed,” I said, pressing my lips against his neck. I was so close I saw him swallow. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”
Okay, maybe I really didn’t have a clue, but he made me feel reckless and turned on and desired. For once in my life, I wanted to give in and let go and just feel.
“Your chivalry is appreciated, but will you please kiss me now?” I asked against his skin.
A low groan vibrated his chest. His arm pulled me closer, held me tighter against his body, if that was possible. Every nerve in my body ignited with need. His hand slid up my back, tangling in the hair at the base of my neck. He tilted my head back with a nudge. His hungry gaze moved over my face, like he was searching for something.
I had no idea what it was, but I wanted to give it to him.
My lips parted and I moved my body against his.
He closed his eyes for a second, as if he was savoring the feel of us together. His hand slid around to cup my jaw. He brushed his thumb over my lips. He had me pulled tighter than violin strings at that moment.
“Fucking kiss me already,” I growled. The foreign sound grated out of my throat.
I darted my tongue out and ran it over his thumb, then nipped it between my teeth. His eyes flew open, and the hunger in them turned my bones to jelly. I heard him curse, and then his lips crashed down over mine and I forgot my own name.
I expected roughness, maybe even overzealous teeth bumping, but that didn’t happen at all. His touch was demanding and in control, but not forceful. His hand at the back of my neck guided my head to the right angle, and his tongue slid between my lips.
It was molten and sensual, and I moaned into his mouth.
Holy hell, he could kiss.
I stopped moving in the middle of the dance floor. All that mattered was Seth and the way his hot tongue worked me over. I rocked against his thigh, oblivious of anyone around us.
“Do you want to get out of here?” he asked against my lips.
“Yes.”
I didn’t know where this girl came from. I’d never had a one-night stand in my life. I’d never had this uncontrollable urge to go home with anyone. Well, before right this second. If I didn’t find out what Seth looked like under his shirt, I might die. Actually die right there.
I heard his rough inhale, and he dragged his fingers up my arm, entwined around his neck, and tugged on it.
As we walked out of the bar, the fire in my veins grew hotter with each step.
I was leaving.
With a guy.
A few envious stares followed our path, and I wanted to grin like an idiot. This felt . . . amazing.
Shari went home with guys a lot. She told me freshman year that she wanted to experience everything before she had to settle down and become the trophy wife of some rich businessman.
And she had done just that.
I, on the other hand, had known Grant all my life, and we’d gotten together officially the summer before college. That had been it. It felt like I had already settled down and lost the opportunity to do something crazy stupid.
I shoved Grant and his cheating ass out of my mind.
This was my night.
If I wanted to doing something crazy now, I damned well could.
And oh, my God, I wanted to.
Seth led me to an old truck parked on the street. It was dented and rusted out in places and had a different-colored door. I expected Seth to open the door for me, but instead he leaned back against the metal and tugged on my hand. I took a few wobbly steps closer, standing between his slightly spread legs.
His free hand snaked around my waist and he pulled me closer, until my body pressed up against his. I had to tilt my head back a little to look
at him.
I ran my tongue over my kiss-swollen lips.
That seemed to ignite something in him because he slid both hands down my sides and wrapped them around the back of my thighs. In one swift movement, he lifted me, and my legs wrapped around his waist.
He spun, and now I was pressed up against the cold metal door.
I grabbed at the hair on his neck and moved my hips, rocked back and forth against the hardness in his jeans. Need burned in my veins. With every pulse it drove deeper into my body, twisted and writhed under my skin.
I had never felt this desperate for release.
Every noise we made just fed the flames of desire raging between us.
Screw going back to the apartment. I pulled my head back enough so that I could see his eyes. “I want you. Now.”
He fumbled behind me and stepped back, opening the door to the truck. His lips were back on mine as he lifted me up onto the seat. He slid his hands under the excuse for a shirt I had on and skimmed up over my ribs.
Seth easily slid his thumbs under the gap in my shirt and grazed them over my nipples. I arched back, a loud moan ripping from my chest. Cool air washed over my heated skin as he lifted my shirt.
He moved off my lips, dragging his mouth over my chin, down my neck. I tangled my hands in his hair, urging him on. He teased one tip, then the other, with tiny flicks of his tongue.
I growled, arching my back and pulling at his head.
He nipped and kissed all around my breasts, avoiding the spot where I ached to be touched. The need grew so strong it buzzed in my ears. I whimpered, begged, but he kept teasing me.
Tears burned the back of my eyes.
“Please,” I choked out.
He lifted his head, kissed along my jaw, the corner of my lips, then sank his tongue into my mouth. He stroked slower this time, fanning the flames just enough to keep me teetering on the edge.
I cried out when he pulled away again and rested his forehead against mine.
His eyes were almost black with desire.
I couldn’t look away.
