Poke Checking

by Kristen Echo

  “Screw that. Don’t let Brody win.”

  “Never mind him. How am I supposed to get this guy’s attention when he’s surrounded by girls?” The more she thought about this, the more she wanted to kiss this man. Not just to win a game. Not to prove to her new band mates that she fit in. She wanted to feel his beard against her face. Touch the contours of his lips. She wanted to see the color of his eyes. She suspected they were dark like his demeanor. More than anything she wanted to end the year with a bang. It had been ages since she’d kissed someone.

  He sat across the bar from them. Caroline watched him, transfixed by his every move. He downed three shots and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His presence commanded attention, looking slightly out of place. He hadn’t removed his jacket, and she wondered if he planned to stay. The two other girls tried to get his attention, rubbing their breasts along his side.

  Two things gave Caroline pause: this man was gay or taken, because those women were sexy and he ignored them. He didn’t even spare a glance in their direction which made her pulse race. This challenge would be even more rewarding.

  As she watched from her perch across the bar, she sensed the young women were getting annoyed. They weren’t used to being neglected. It made her smile for some reason. He chose that moment to look up and his eyes locked onto her. It lasted a second, but long enough for her to want him that much more. She couldn’t see the color, but it didn’t matter. In their depths she saw heat, passion and so much angst. It took her breath away.

  “Leave that to me,” Maddy said, taking her hand.

  That could mean anything. Caroline mashed her gum and followed behind her friend like a lost puppy. She clung to her water like it was her life preserver.

  As they took their last steps, her friend grabbed her drink from her hand. “Duck!”

  Acting on instinct, she dropped down just as the contents of her glass splattered over the two girl’s faces and the man. OMG!

  “What the fuck!” A voice smoother than baby’s skin rang out. The angry inflection in his voice made her think of rough, hard sex. Foreplay that involved hair pulling, scratches that left marks days later.

  “Oh no, my hair!” One girl screamed as the other shrieked. Maddy dropped the glass. It shattered as it contacted the floor. Glass shards scattered in all directions.

  Maddy played it up big time and threw her hands up in theatrics. “Damn it. This chick bumped into me.” She pushed Caroline towards the man. “I’m sorry ladies, the washrooms down the hall to clean up and fix your runny mascara. Don’t want to look like a raccoon at the stroke of midnight.” She tossed a sly smirk at Caroline as she escorted the wet chicks away.

  She leaned against the bar, practically plastered to his side. The man didn’t stand, but he grabbed a napkin from the bar and dabbed his wet cheeks. He slicked his hair back from his face and looked up from his soaked shirt right into her eyes. Once again, he took her breath away. She wasn’t expecting the light blue with silver swirls. Thanks to her heels, they were face to face. Their lips so close, his breath caressed the side of her mouth.

  The heat did funny things to her brain. Like make her think this was destiny, and she’d found a kindred spirit. The void she saw in his eyes looked familiar. “Um… hi. Sorry about that.” Her voice had a natural rasp, but it took on an even deeper tone than usual. She glanced back at her motley crew and they were all watching. She could either make this happen or kiss Brody. The latter sent shivers of unease down her spine.

  Then he laughed and her attention was back on him. His half smile was disarming, making him seem less intimidating and more handsome. “Don’t apologize. I probably needed that wake-up call. Time to slow down.” He stood up, shook off the lingering drops of water and stepped away from the puddle at his feet.

  “Or speed up. There’s nothing wrong with going fast and having a little fun, right?” Her heart was beating a mile a minute in his presence.

  His gaze traveled the length of her and her tiny thong disintegrated. If ever a man could make panties drop, one heated look from this guy would do it. “Are you looking to have fun?” The way he said fun brought all sorts of naughty things to mind.

  “Yes, and I will be very soon.” She licked her lips and prayed he didn’t shoot her down.

  “And why is that?” His tone was playful, almost flirty. It still made her think of crazy wild foreplay. He was definitely flirting with her.

  She grabbed his hand, and stepped closer, not caring if her father and everyone else saw them. The heat from his hand spread across her body. “Because I’m going to kiss you.”

  Caroline planned to win this game because she knew without a doubt this man could kiss. He oozed sex from every pore. The wicked gleam in his eyes told her, he knew his way around a woman’s body.

  “You’re pretty sure of yourself. What if I say no?” He chewed on his bottom lip and her thighs quivered. His straight teeth dug into the flesh and she swore she’d never been so turned on.

  It was hard to focus on his words. That wasn’t a no. He didn’t let go of her hand, but he also didn’t lean down and make it easier. In her heels she was nearly six feet, but he still towered over her.

  “Are you gay?” The question burst from her mouth before she could rephrase. “Or married. I mean, not that it’s my business, but I should know before I rock your world.”

  His laughter rang out loud and rich like a cape of velvet wrapped around them. “You don’t already know the answer?” His eyebrow arched in the most sinful way. He cocked his head to the side and a few dirty blond waves covered his eyes.

  “I don’t ask questions I already know the answer to, and you didn’t answer.” She leaned into him, but instead of pulling her closer, he took a step towards the exit, careful not to step on the broken glass. The distance caused her arm to stretch to stay connected.

  “I’m neither. What’s your name?” He tucked the loose strands behind his ear, giving her a full view of his ruggedly handsome face. This guy was all man.

  Oh boy. “I’m Caroline. And what’s your name, Mr. Man?” Again, the words came out before she’d vetted them. Mr. Man seemed fitting because he was so damn manly. No other description came to her empty, lust filled to mind.

  Again, his blond brow arched and her arousal skyrocketed. He assessed her, and his lip twitched in the corner. “Call me interested. Follow me.” He pulled her away from the stools, putting some distance between them and the bar.

  Leading the way, he tossed open the doors, and she followed him into the hall. The lights were still dim, but she could make out the flecks of gold in his dirty blond hair. The color was much darker than her own blond, and she liked it. A lot. She wondered what it would feel like. One second she was staring at the back of his head and the next her back was against the wall. His large body pressed against her, caging her in the most delicious way. Her breath hitched.

  “So, you want to kiss me?” He leaned his forearm against the wall by her head. His face inched towards her. He was so hot. It felt like the room was on fire and he was still holding her hand. His lips hovered, so close she almost tasted him. But he didn’t kiss her.

  “Y… yes,” she said no louder than a whisper.

  “Then do it.” He dropped her hand, which had been sandwiched between them.

  Her purse fell to the floor. She wasted no time grabbing his face between her hands and pressing her lips against his. It was like she had jumped off a building and landed on a mountain of marshmallows. His lips were so soft and wet. She licked across the seam and he opened. His facial hair was soft like his lips and she liked the rub of it against her cheeks. When his tongue wrapped around hers, her entire body quivered.

  She may have kissed him, but he took the lead and she loved every second. Like in those cheesy movies she loved so much, her foot lifted off the ground. Her knees were weak and Caroline would have fallen if his body wasn’t holding her up. His hands dove into the curls alongside her face. He wrapped them
around his fist, guiding her face where he wanted. In that moment, nothing else mattered but him and her. She didn’t even know his name. Did it matter? Nope, not even a little.

  Her hands wandered into his mid-length wavy hair. The softness was such a contrast from his vibe. He looked like a Viking. The kind of guy who pillaged and took what he wanted. She was more than willing to give him everything. He sucked on her tongue and she moaned.

  His growl of approval shot right between her legs. She ground against his leg like a cat in heat. Every move he made was purposeful. As though, every lick and tug was designed to evoke the maximum amount of pleasure. He kept one hand wrapped around her hair as the other grazed along her side. She whimpered when it lowered and he gripped her ass. Hard. His fingers bruising her flesh and she couldn’t get enough. She melted into him; lost and completely under his command.

  More. She wanted so much more and she was about to suggest leaving when someone cleared their throat and tapped her shoulder. She recognized Maddy’s cough and gentle touch. She’d never been so pissed off to see her friend. Caroline tore her lips away and looked over at her friend. “Not now.”

  Her friend giggled, covering her face. “Girl, we’re on. It’s show time.”

  Right. Her first set with the band. How had she forgotten? She’d been looking forward to this moment for the past month. Her entire adult life in fact. This was her big night. Time for her debut set. Caroline wasn’t here to make out with a Norse god; she was here to sing.

  But how could she walk away from something like that unaffected?

  “I need to leave.” Her lips felt puffy and swollen and no doubt her carefully crafted curls looked a mess. His eyes stayed locked on hers. The light silver took over, making her lose track of her next set of words. She was usually never tongue tied. “Um, I… gotta go.”

  Repeating herself was not the plan. He’d rendered her into a useless rag-doll; straw brains and all. His devilish grin didn’t help the situation. Nor did his silence.

  The gum she’d been chewing was no longer there. Instead, she noticed his jaw chomping on her stolen gum. That was all kinds of sexy. Caroline didn’t trust her legs, so she linked arms with her friend and headed for the door.

  “See you around, Mr. Man.” She wished she had left without a word. Or thought of some witty remark; been cool and aloof. That’s how she should have played it, but she couldn’t even pretend that kiss didn’t rock her world.

  Her lips tingled and so did something else. As she glanced over her shoulder, she noticed him adjusting his pants. Oh yeah. She wasn’t the only one affected. Whether she saw him again or not, that was the best way to end a crappy year.

  CHAPTER THREE

  H er heart had never pumped so fast in her life; not even her freshman year when she stepped on stage for her first open mic night. Never. She could have used a couple of minutes to regain her composure. Heck, she needed days to recover from that kiss. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a chance to dwell on a newly developed crush. Odds were good she’d never see Mr. Man ever again. That feeling sank like a rock in her stomach.

  “Well, that kiss scored a ten from my viewpoint.” Maddy slapped Caroline on the back, causing her to stumble forward. For such a small package, Maddison Albright packed a punch.

  Caroline regained her footing before slamming into the wall. The backstage room wasn’t much bigger than a closet. Their gear scattered around, waiting to be put to good use. “Felt like an eleven,” she whispered, not loud enough for the others to hear, but needing to voice her thoughts. Her lips still tingled. So, did her ass. Damn, those hands. She wondered what other parts he might have sent ablaze if given the chance.

  “That was hot! Hands down the best kiss I’ve seen this year,” Nathan announced. Coming from him that meant a lot.

  Caroline beamed at the compliment. Her cheeks ached from the silly ear to ear grin plastered on her face. She’d known he would be able to kiss, but she never expected him to make her weak at the knees. Seriously, he was the best kisser ever. Part of her hoped he’d stick around for the show, but then she wasn’t exactly sure what she would say to him. “Thanks for the kiss, want to get naked and sweaty?” There’s no way she could ever be that forward. But her thighs flexed at the thought of being wrapped around that big body. Her fingers danced along her bottom lip as she contemplated her options.

  “I’ve never seen you so wrapped up in a kiss before. I thought I was the actress in our relationship?”

  “You are; I wasn’t acting. That… oh his.” She sighed unable to describe her feeling. She switched tactics. “Thanks for taking those ladies for a walk. You’re a genius.”

  Maddy smiled, but it was short lived. “Girl, you can’t kiss that guy again. I think—”

  Brody wrapped his arm around her shoulder possessively. “Cheap tricks; that kiss wasn’t more than a seven. You looked hot, but he’s a chump.”

  Caroline disagreed with his statement and his closeness. Maddy raised her eyebrows, forming deep lines on her forehead. Caroline wanted to know why she shouldn’t kiss Mr. Man again. It had been months since her last relationship ended, and she was ready to move on. Granted, she wasn’t the love em and leave em type. Caroline liked commitment and being in a relationship. This scared away her ex-boyfriends who felt she was too intense and needy. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with planning and knowing what she wanted.

  She also knew what she didn’t want. “There were no tricks involved. Just two lips and one amazing tongue.” She removed his arm and walked towards her violin case.

  “I’ll show you tongue,” Brody mumbled as he picked up his guitar. “I could do better. Kissing me would be off the charts hot.”

  Her need to keep the peace overruled her need to respond. She didn’t want to argue or start a fight with her new band. While her friend had proven her abilities over a year ago, tonight was her turn. She had a lot to prove to this group, so she bit her tongue. Her eyes landed on Peter as he grabbed his sax, wrapping the strap over his shoulder. She needed one last vote to officially end this conversation. “What did you think, did I win?”

  “That was smoking. You’ve got my vote, Caroline.” He blew a high note for extra emphasis which made her blush. Peter was her new favorite person. His easy charm and vivacious personality made people gravitate to him. “Since no one else will get a turn in before the end of the year, Caroline wins.” Peter fanned his face.

  “Thanks, Pete. Now, we can move on to the next order of business; blowing the roof off this hotel.” She removed her instrument from its case and inspected the strings. It looked good.

  “I think you made that man blow his load and honey, I would have traded places with you in a heartbeat. That guy is fine. The way he manhandled you was perfection. I’d love to get a big set of mitts like that on my ass.”

  Caroline’s cheeks turned redder than Rudolph’s nose. “Peter!” She swatted his arm.

  “What? It’s true. You looked about ready to come and I bet you left woman juice on his slacks. It was epic.” He clapped his hands, and she wanted to die.

  What he said was totally possible. She was damp down there and she had rubbed herself against his thigh. More like humped his leg. She covered her face with her hands to hide the embarrassment.

  “Enough!” Brody’s voice boomed. “We have a show to do. Get your heads out of the clouds.” He opened the doors which lead back into the ballroom. “Let’s get out there and do this. It’s time to see what people think of our new sound.”

  The band had been close to signing a record deal when the rug was pulled from under them. They shifted gears recently, taking her on as a female vocalist and adding some violin riffs. She prayed the crowd would be receptive. The risk had been high, dropping out of school and moving out of her childhood home. But the reward would be life changing. She lacked the desire to follow her father’s footsteps; Caroline wanted to pave her own path. The first steps lead her to this moment.

  Brody was ri
ght. There would be a time to daydream about sinful lips and rough hands, later. “I’m ready.” She gripped her bow and exhaled audibly. Their playlist was memorized and her body vibrated with excitement to step out in front of the crowd and play. She hoped her father would finally understand her talent was better served in front of an audience and not a hockey team.

  Maddy bumped her hip and giggled. “Don’t be nervous. You’re gonna kill it.” She gave her a wink and walked under Brody’s outstretched arm. A look passed between them, and Caroline wondered what that was all about.

  “Of course she will,” he said, holding the door open for them all. The rest of her band members went ahead of her. This was an acoustic set, so there wasn’t much to set up. The drum kit was already in position and Brody had his sticks in his back pocket.

  Before she passed through the door, he squeezed her arm, halting her step. His grip wasn’t tight, but there was determination written all over his face. “When the show’s over, maybe we—”

  “Let’s not keep them waiting. Okay?” She gave him a small smile and pulled her arm free. The last thing she wanted was to talk about hooking up. The way his eyes stared at her cleavage let her know exactly what interested him. She’d suspected he had a crush on her with how he flirted constantly, but now was not the time or place. Never was a better option, but at some point she’d have to address the elephant in the room. She wanted to prove her musical talent first, and then she’d let him down gently.

  “Yeah, we’ll pick this up later.” The hint of irritation in his voice didn’t go unnoticed.

  Letting it go, she walked out into the ballroom. It was packed with people dressed to the nines. Her sister was the first face she saw when she looked out at the crowd. The rocking motion persisted. Caroline had half a mind to leap off the stage and yell at Meagan. But it wasn’t her fault; she was following orders. They all knew better than to cross her father. He could be a tyrant.