The One That I Want (Scorned Women Society Book 3)

by Piper Sheldon

  I brought her back so I could keep studying her face. I couldn’t get enough of it. She was gorgeous and hypnotic. Pouty and dark, and completely intriguing. My arm was wrapped tight around her core, her breasts pushed up against me as the tempo changed to more of a samba. Her arms wrapped around my neck and her scent engulfed me.

  “What’s your name?” I shouted close to her ear but her head shook without understanding. Now wasn’t the time for talking anyway.

  I slid my thigh in between hers and hefted her up onto me. I was lost in the way we were dirty dancing. The bass pumped with the rhythm of our bodies. Her shirt stuck to her damp skin. As I pulled her higher up my leg, her skirt rode up. Her skin was smooth and soft under my palm.

  My hands splayed out across her rib cage. The edge of my thumb grazed the bottom of her breast and she shivered, dropping her head back. Her arms lifted to run through my certainly sweaty hair but she didn’t seem to care. Her eyes burned as she brought me closer so that our faces were almost touching. The heat of her gaze was unbearable and amazing.

  Her arms gripped my biceps, maybe for balance, but maybe not. Her gaze followed to where I had been memorizing where she rode my leg. Her blink seemed to slow down as she bit down on her lip.

  I took a risk. My mouth lowered to hers while our bodies still rocked. It wasn’t a deep kiss, more a grazing of lips. To test the waters. To see if she felt everything I was. There was no trace of alcohol and there was no haziness in her gaze save the heavy-lidded blink of longing after I pulled back to study her.

  I felt more than heard her gasp of pleasure. The flare of interest in her big brown eyes told me this definitely wasn’t one-sided. Our mouths met again. There was no hesitation this time. I kissed her, she kissed me back. I pushed forward and she pushed back. Every action, she met me fully. Our bodies stopped dancing, still entangled.

  I couldn’t believe we were making out like this on the dance floor like teenagers at a high school dance. Maybe I should be worried about it but all I could think was … well, I couldn’t think and that’s what made it so fucking fantastic.

  When we pulled apart, I took a steadying breath in. If the cost of this perfect kiss was my shitty day, then I’d pay it every day for the rest of my life. She was looking at me with eyes wide and her mouth slightly parted. I wanted to lick those lips until she moaned my name. But first, I’d probably have to tell her my name.

  Dancing was no longer enough. I glanced around to see if there were any open booths but she must have had the same idea. I found myself being dragged toward the hallway, next to the bar, that led to the kitchen. There was a small alcove that looked like it might have held a pay phone years ago. We tucked into it as a server passed.

  My mouth was on hers again as soon as we stopped. This time I delved deeper, exploring her with my tongue and she opened up for me, exploring in return. I held her waist, thumbs grazing up and down, greedy for more but recognizing that we were still very much in public. She gripped my arms, pulling me closer. I pressed her against the wall and my need for her brushed her thigh. We pulled apart, both panting and sweating.

  “Holy shit.” She blinked up at me.

  “You’re amazing,” I said with a laugh at her bluntness. “I’ve never done this before.” I wasn’t sure why I said that. It was the first thing that popped out of my mouth. I needed her to understand I’d never felt such extreme and immediate electricity from a touch. Kissing someone had never felt this frustrating and rewarding at the same time.

  Her eyes grew wide. Maybe I had been too forward.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You have an accent. Australian?” she asked in a thick accent of her own. I’d lived in the US long enough to know it was Southern but not able to pinpoint it exactly.

  I nodded with a cheeky grin. “So do you.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Fair point.”

  “Though usually people know this about me before we reach this point.”

  “You just said you’ve never done this before?” she asked, with a hint of teasing behind her sarcasm.

  “No,” I said. I forced the seriousness into the word. I lowered my head close to her. “It’s never felt like this.” There must have been an unspoken message to my tone, because the furrow in her brow melted away.

  Her chest heaved. Her long eyelashes almost touched her eyebrows. Her lips shone as her mouth formed an O. Those lips were handcrafted to drive me crazy.

  “Me neither,” she whispered.

  My hands cupped her head and I brought her to me again. This time when we kissed, it was less fevered and more luxurious.

  A small part of me was already worrying about what came next. I needed more. I didn’t want to come on too strong but I couldn’t let this go. What if I couldn’t ever let this go? This was something. I broke our kiss. My thumb brushed along her bottom lip. Her eyes fluttered and her body shivered.

  “You want to get out of here?” I asked.

  But where could we go? I wasn’t ready to go home and face reality. This perfect moment was like an umbrella, soon reality would come pouring down. Soaking me to the bones. Making me icy.

  “I’m at the hotel. Across the street.” After she said it, she made a face like she couldn’t believe herself.

  Her gaze flickered over my own stare. Were we doing this?

  She misinterpreted my delay in responding. She shook her head. “Shit, er, sorry. We just said we never do this—”

  “I want to.” I searched her face for any sign that she may not want it but everything about her languid lean against the wall, the flush in her cheeks, and the heaving of her chest told me she was right there with me.

  “Let me just go to the bathroom,” she said. “And then we can go.”

  I dropped my head to kiss her again. It was absurd but my chest already ached at the thought of her walking away. I gripped her hands in mine, intertwining our fingers as we kissed once more. I could deal with the worst of what life had to offer. Because whenever there was darkness, there were also bits of sunshine like this to balance it out.

  I pulled back and she straightened. She smoothed her skirt and touched her lips in a daze. “Give me two shakes,” she said and I loved the twang of her sweet voice.

  I watched her the whole time as she crossed the bar and moved toward the bathrooms. She turned around to glance back at me. I grinned and she bit back a smile.

  I definitely didn’t deserve this woman, but I wasn’t about to let her go without getting to know her more.

  Chapter 3

  Roxy

  I took a steadying breath as I pushed into the bathroom unable to help the smile that pulled at the side of my mouth. My goodness. Who was I? Who was this man?

  I halted. Wait. Seriously, who? I hadn’t gotten his name yet.

  “Lord, help me.” I looked to the ceiling. I’d lost my damn mind and I didn’t care. I was giddy with lust. I hadn’t wanted anybody like that … well, I honestly don’t know that I ever had wanted somebody so bad. So instantly. I thought that was a made-up thing, but the second we started dancing, I felt it. Hormones? Pheromones? Whatever it was called, I was all for it.

  I did my business and replayed some of my favorite memories of the night. So far. I wanted to burn them into my brain, so I could pull them up at any time like a slideshow for my lady spankbank. His calloused hand sliding up my thigh. His hip as it pushed and pulled mine on the dance floor. His grumbly hum as my booty shoved against his arousal.

  My goodness, I was hotter than a jalapeño on a campfire. I was in over my head and I needed a second opinion.

  I opened my group conversation with the SWS. My thumbs hesitated over the screen. What’s the best way to ask what to do when you meet a crazy hot Australian that makes you feel like you tripped and fell in ecstasy and that you want to take him back to the hotel and do bad things with him that feel very, very good?

  Roxy: Met a hot guy. Brain is broke.

  Roxy: Tell me to pump the brakes.


  I waited for a response, unsure who I’d hear from. Blithe had all but stopped hanging out with the SWS for reasons unknown. Kim was off all the time with some new mysterious conductor guy. I met him once when he invited us to his house. That part was cool and his house was amazing. Who was I to hate on a moody masked man, but I knew he was hiding himself from Kim and that was not cool. Even Suzie was with Ford more often than not. That left Gretchen, who was always there at least. Everything else was changing.

  Kim responded immediately.

  Kim: What’s his name?

  Suzie: Drive faster!

  Gretchen: SEND A PIC

  I shook my head at my friends but felt some of the tension relax out of me. I wouldn’t be doing anything I might regret later.

  Roxy: Don’t know his name. He’s HOT and sweet. Not pushy.

  I chewed on my lip and thought more.

  Roxy: I’m not taking a pic, you freak.

  Gretchen: It was worth a shot.

  Gretchen: You don’t know his name, you ho! ;)

  We teased each other mercilessly but this was exactly why I had texted them. What was I doing? I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know anything about him.

  Not entirely true. I knew that his scent grew intoxicating when he sweat, pumped full of some sort of magic that shot straight to my ovaries. I knew that when creeps started to move up on me, he gently danced me away without making a scene but clearly marking me as taken. I knew that his accent was sexy as fuck. Oh, and most importantly I knew that he kissed like he was giving life. That his hands stayed respectful but hot enough to know he was as close to losing control as I was. I knew that he was well endowed. Sorry, but I am so not sorry. I knew when he focused on me, I felt like I was the most interesting person in a club full of attractive people. That was heady stuff.

  My phone pinged.

  Kim: If you want us to talk you out of going home with him, we will. Have you been drinking?

  Roxy: No.

  I responded instantly. Kim didn’t mess around with drinking anymore because of her short time with the Wraiths. I didn’t blame her at all. I saved my drinking for special occasions.

  Suzie: Leave if you aren’t comfortable.

  I frowned. I was very comfortable with him. That was part of the problem. He made me feel so good. I was ready to jump in headfirst like I used to, before I had been saved from the Iron Wraiths.

  Roxy: I leave in the morning. I should cut this short.

  Gretchen: You can always just talk.

  Her words surprised me. I thought she’d be the first to tell me to get away from him without looking back. She had trust issues with men. Honestly, most of the SWS did. My gaze snagged on my reflection in the full-length mirror.

  My shirt had come untucked during my encounter with the mysterious stranger, revealing a hint of one of the tattoos on my hip. As I tucked the material in again and smoothed my skirt down, I shivered. All the delicious heat generated by our short encounter swiftly left my body in an inexplicable draft of icy dread.

  “What am I doing?” I asked the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

  Like two lenses trying to focus down to one image, a mixed-up sight wobbled in front of me. The Roxy I was now overlay the Roxy of my past. Bleary eyes from drinking too much, too fast. Hair wild with curls and added volume. Eyeliner smeared. Lips swollen and smudged from making out. That Old Roxy stacked on top of the image of who I was now. Roxy who had gotten her life in order. Who had a good job and good friends. My mind flashed back to nights at the Dragon Bar when I’d drunkenly check myself out in the mirror. I remembered how it felt as a wave of depression crashed over me. How I swallowed it down, before going back out to dance with another biker I didn’t like.

  My breaths came shallow and fast, but in that chest-seizing way that made me feel like I might die.

  All the work I’d done these last few years to change my life and what was I doing? What would the new manager of Donner Lodge think if he saw me now? I’d been sent to Denver to attend a hospitality convention and, after one night alone, I’d slipped right back into old habits. My goal tonight was only to go out and have fun with myself. Men were never on the schedule. I let myself get so caught up in one charming man.

  I was supposed to be a professional. William from Outside the Box told me earlier that a lot of people from his company came to this bar. That he might even stop by. This wasn’t Green Valley, but the industry was still small. Too small. I had cut it too close.

  “Oh my God,” I wheezed out and tried to steady my breath. I’d been such an idiot.

  My phone vibrated again but I didn’t check it. I had to leave. I didn’t like myself like this. I had to be better than what I used to be: out of control. It would be okay. This was a blip in the radar. A relapse. I was still on track.

  I’d sneak out of here and I’d never see him again.

  The mature thing would be to go and tell him I changed my mind. Recalling the way he’d asked me to dance, my gut told me he wouldn’t pressure me or make me feel guilty. He wasn’t a man that felt that his attraction to me meant I owed him something.

  But it wasn’t him I was worried about. It was me. What if the second I saw him again or smelled him, or touched or tasted him, I’d be lost to my initial desire for him? All of my senses were out to get me. I have always been too good at making excuses to do bad things.

  With a final bracing breath, I pushed out the door and beelined it to the side exit just past the kitchen. I pushed out into the dry, summer night, making it all the way across the street, almost to the hotel, when my feet stopped.

  I couldn’t leave like that. There was no way I’d ever see him again, but I could picture his face, frowning as he waited for me. The hurt he would feel with each passing second. No. I couldn’t leave it like that. I had to woman up. I turned back to the club.

  I smacked into him. Again.

  “Oof,” he grunted as I said, “Oh shit, sorry.”

  He steadied me again but quickly dropped his hands, making me feel even worse about glaring at him the first time.

  He took a step back on the sidewalk. He couldn’t quite meet my gaze, the hurt was written all over his puppy dog face. “You forgot your coat. It’s nice. I thought you’d miss it.”

  “Thanks,” was all I could manage, the words catching in my throat. He was too kind and sweet.

  He ran a hand over his mouth, as though debating what to do next.

  “I’m sorry if I came on too strong. I didn’t mean to imply anything,” he said.

  With his head down and bathed in the soft halo of light from the streetlight above, he looked up at me with scrunched-up eyebrows. Good Lord, this man was the emotional equivalent of a fireman holding a puppy. My body couldn’t handle it.

  I like you too much; it freaked me out. I come with a ton of baggage. This was just one night …

  “No,” I said. “I have an early flight and lost track of time.”

  He looked me up and down quickly. He nodded once but I got the impression he hadn’t fallen for my bullshit excuse.

  I shrugged into my coat, the cool mountain air chilled me. Or my shitty behavior. I fixed my bangs back in place.

  “Well, have a safe flight.” He turned to go.

  I gnawed my thumbnail as he retreated. Panic grew with every step he took away from me.

  “Wait,” I called completely surprising myself.

  He was back in front of me in less than a second. “Yes?” His expression was open wide and a smile teased his mouth.

  “It doesn’t leave until six a.m.,” I said.

  I had hurt him. I didn’t deserve another shot but I just wasn’t ready to end this night. I fought to keep still as his smile grew.

  “Plenty of time to get ice cream, hey?” he suggested.

  I loved his accent even more every time her spoke. “Ice cream?”

  “A sweet treat couldn’t hurt? Maybe chat a bit and get to know each other.”

  I smiled at the
ground and let my hair fall to cover my face. He didn’t insist on my hotel room. He didn’t ask for more explanations. He just wanted to go get ice cream. With me. The innocence of it made my heart swell. Had a man ever wanted to just talk with me? Sure, I had to leave in a few hours and would never talk to him again. But I could have tonight. We could have a few hours of talking. Talking. I could handle this.

  I looked left and right, not sure what I had expected. “Ice cream actually sounds really good.”

  Chapter 4

  Sanders

  I fought to keep from punching the air in victory. It was just ice cream but it felt like so much more. Another chance to explore why meeting this woman felt so right. I’d never felt a physical connection so strong, so fast. If touching her felt like a gift from the universe, imagine what good conversation would be like.

  I laced my fingers through hers, desperate for contact again but keeping my touch light like capturing a baby bird. “Is this okay?” I asked.

  Blush pinkened her cheeks as she glanced around the busy sidewalk. “Um, yeah.” She lightly squeezed my hand back.

  Not to put the horse before the cart, but I wracked my brain for things to ask her. I wanted to know anything and everything she’d share with me. And the way she called me back after returning her jacket, told me she wasn’t ready to end the night yet either.

  “I was thinking,” I started as we maneuvered through the nighttime crowds, toward the 16th Street Mall area, “it’s going to be difficult to have a conversation with you without knowing your name. I can’t keep referring to you as The Beautiful Woman Who Stole My Heart On the Dance Floor.”

  She scoffed loudly. I was laying it on a little thick but I liked making her blush. You’d think she’d never been praised for her astounding beauty before.

  “You’re too much.” She glanced away.

  “I’m just looking out for you. It’ll be easier to remember than Good-Looking Stranger With The Sweet Dance Moves.”