by Evans, Lily
Hailie jumps up and down. “Awesome!”
“She’s right.” My spine stiffens at the deep, gravelly voice behind me. No. No. No. “Fuckin’ amazing.” Right then and there I swear I’m going to kill them.
My belly flutters. I close my eyes and count to ten. I’m practically naked and the only thought going through my mind right now is I really, really, really want my big Titans sweatshirt that hangs almost to my knees and to be wrapped in a big blanket on my comfortable couch. I don’t want to be dressed this way in front of this guy. He’s too sexy. Too…whatever…He makes me giggly. He makes me shaky. He makes my knees feel like jelly. He makes my body hot and liquidy. Did I say hot and liquidy? And he is making me feel all tongue-tied like a total idiot.
With my arms crossed over my chest in the best defensive gesture I can think of at the moment, I spin as gracefully as possible on the five inch platforms and look up, up, and yes, up some more. Yep, the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen and at this moment, I want the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
He looks at me with a flat out smile that accentuates his dimples. They are deep, gorgeous craters on either side of his full, yummy, undeniably kissable lips.
“Daredevil.” I don’t know how it’s possible, but his dimples seem to deepen a little more as his voice rumbles. Somehow his voice permeates every nerve ending in my body, shooting sparks to places I didn’t even know could tingle. Standing with his hands deep in the pockets of his faded jeans, his legs are planted wide with his head slightly cocked.
I take a deep breath. “Uh…hi.” My brows furrow. I lift my hand in a small gesture of greeting. I know who he is. My best friends know I know who he is. And I want to know why he’s here. Why he’s in this particular club on this particular night? Why he’s watching me work a pole like my rent depends on it? I know the look on my face has to be one of immense confusion.
“Hi.” His look intense, his eyes flare molten hot and they’re definitely blue which I love the combination with his black hair. A very sexy contrast. Together we’re like dark and darker.
My eyes move back and forth from Hailie to Georgia and back again. They have the biggest I’m-most-definitely-up-to-something grins on their faces.
Dead.
Going to kill them dead.
Just as soon as I’m out of these mini torture chambers called shoes.
Dead. Dead. Dead.
“Umm…do I know you?” Smooth Ashley. Act like you don’t know who the hell this man is. Real smooth.
“Not really.” He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair off my perspiring forehead.
His touch arrests me, stops me cold, speechless. Looking back at Hailie and Georgia again the confusion etches even deeper between my brows. One look at my friends and I know they have conspired against me. They knew my deepest, darkest fantasies and they knew he was one of them. I turn my head and stare right into his eyes nearly losing myself in the process. “Have I seen you before?”
We stare at each other. I can tell by the sparkle in his eyes that he knows I’m prevaricating. My eyes glance off every angle of his chiseled features pretending as if I’m trying to place him. Like I’d ever forget some guy this smoking hot? Hailie and Georgia aren’t idiots.
“Oh, yeah.” His blue eyes darken to an almost midnight blue with those words and I know he knows I’m trying to pretend I don’t know who the hell he is. He’s obviously not a stupid man, which is good. I’m not for sure why this surprises me. I’m obviously not a very good liar.
“I really need to get dressed.” I feel like I’m asking for permission when I really don’t have to. I’m free to do whatever I want, but I can’t seem to make my feet work. I can’t seem to pull my gaze from his desire filled eyes.
His grin grows even sexier. “Not on my account, darlin’.”
I nod. “Most definitely on your account,” I whisper.
“Am I making you feel uncomfortable, darlin’?” He smiles, leaning in real close and my heart begins thumping like crazy again.
I nod again. Completely at his mercy and completely turned on.
He leans into me; his breath hot just beneath my ear. I shiver as I feel his teeth graze my lobe as he speaks, “I’m your neighbor.”
I turn my head bringing my mouth approximately less than a half an inch from his and ask, “You are?”
This time he nods. “You wave at me when you check your mail or get your newspaper.”
“I do?” Sex brownie points I am not making right now. Sexy neighbor I need an orgasm points have been practically flown out the proverbial window.
He nods again. His eyelids lower over his heating eyes, his left hand settles at my waist which just happens to be naked and the heat of his touch is making my belly clench with delicious tingles.
“Oh.” I bite my bottom lip. “Sorry, I’ve been so busy.” I’m going to kick my own ass when I get home.
“I gathered.” His eyes gleam in the darkness. He actually sounds more amused than irritated. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you with your time management skills.” He leans close. “Starting tonight.”
My mouth falls slightly open. If it was me, I would feel hurt if someone didn’t notice me, or in my case pretends to not know me. He actually seems amused which floors me.
He leans down again and speaks for my ears only. “By the way, love that short pink robe.”
I suck in a breath. Heat rises to my cheeks. Scooting around him I mutter, “I’ve got to get dressed.” I race to the dressing room where I had left my bag and change of clothes. As soon as I enter the room I slam the door shut and lock it. I don’t care if Hailie and Georgia want to come in. I’m gonna kill them. They did this on purpose. I look up at the ceiling. I’m gonna kill ‘em. Kill ‘em dead. One hundred percent dead. And then I’m gonna hide their bodies where they’ll never be found.
Ripping open the zipper on my bag, I pull out my faded jeans and even more faded pink T-shirt tossing them to the ground along with my matching pink flip flops. Removing my shoes, I let out a sigh of relief. Spreading my toes, I lean down to massage my arches for about ten seconds before I hear the knob on the door rattle ominously.
“Let me in Ashley.”
“I’m changing my clothes.”
“Let me in Ashley.”
“I don’t even know you.”
“Let me in Ashley and we’ll get to know each other.”
I growl. “What if I don’t want to get to know you?”
“You do.”
“You’re arrogant and too good looking for your own good,” I yell through the door.
“You think I’m good looking?”
“Really?” I growl again. “You’re really standing out there asking me that question?”
“Uh…yeah.” He chuckles. “’Cause I think you’re fucking insanely gorgeous.”
“Really?” I step towards the door.
“Are you fucking blind?”
“No.”
The doorknob jiggles again. “Let me in, sweetheart.”
“I’m not your sweetheart,” I call through the door in a singsongy voice.
“You could be.”
I look up at the ceiling again and say in a mutter, “Why do guys have to be such Neanderthal assholes?”
“Who’re you talking to sweetheart?”
“I said I’m not your sweetheart.”
“Come on baby,” he says really close to the door. “Open up. Can’t we just talk a minute?”
“You’re not going to go away are you?” I didn’t even try to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
“Nope.” I swear I hear a smug smile in his voice and it’s beginning to piss me off.
I stomp over to the door grimacing as my tortured feet pound on the hard yellowing linoleum on the way. Twist the lock and wrench the door open throwing it wide, crossing my arms protectively over my chest. “Five minutes.”
“That’s all I need baby,” he says as he saunters into the dressing room as if he walks in
to strippers dressing rooms every day.
I lift one brow pleased that I’m able to pull it off when I want to. “That’s not giving me much confidence, darlin’.” I mock his endearment.
He doesn’t look offended, he looks amused as hell.
“How ‘bout a drink?” He looks down at the pile of clothes I tossed out of my bag on the floor.
“I don’t know you.” I take everything in about him within thirty seconds of him walking in the room and I would have loved to take a bit longer to peruse his killer body. He fills out his faded jeans deliciously. “You could be a freaking serial killer for all I know. I’ve not watched America’s Most Wanted in a while.”
“Cute.” There goes that fucking cocky grin again. “And I like me some cute.”
“Of course you do.” My voice chock-full of sarcasm and there is no way in hell it could hold any more.
“My name’s Gage.” He steps further into the room.
“What kinda name is Gage?” I ask, tucking a strand of long black hair behind my ear.
“Don’t ask.” He’s so gorgeous it nearly takes my breath away.
“I’m asking.” I bite my lower lip, waiting.
“My dad hunts.” He prowls towards me, his eyes gleaming like banked flames as he watches my teeth play with my red glossed mouth.
My brow rises even higher. An erotic sensation swoops through my sex as he finally raises his hooded blue eyes back to mine. His eyes speak volumes to what he would like to do with me, or at least with my mouth.
“As in twelve-gauge Shotgun.”
“So, G-a-u-g-e?”
“No, thank God, my mom stepped up.” He smirks. “G-a-g-e.”
“Gage,” I repeat the name. “I like it. Very manly.”
“Glad you like it.”
“What do you do, Gage?”
“I’m a detective for the NPD.”
“Oh,” I try to hide my grimace. “Do you come to strip clubs often?” My brows lift in question.
He shrugs. “Not really my thing.” I can see he’s studying me with the type of concentration that must be required for a police detective. “A few of my buddy’s bachelor parties. Stuff like that.” He closes the distance between us. “But I don’t need it to get my rocks off if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
“You can do whatever you want.” One shoulder lifting.
“Good to know.” He bends down picking up my jeans by one of the belt loops and holds them out to me. “Put these on and come have one drink with me.” He keeps his gaze focused on mine as he holds out a piece of my clothing only managing to remind me that I’m standing in a small room practically naked with him.
“Are you asking or telling, Gage?” I tilt my head back studying his reaction to my question. I really needed to know his answer.
“Whatever gets your ass in these jeans, your ass in my car, and your fuckin’ hot lips wrapped around a drink that I’ve bought you.” It’s a statement, not a question which is really hot. Decisive, demanding, powerful. Hot.
“Good answer.” Damn. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you always this persistent?” I cross my arms under my breasts and they push up precariously over the top of my bra.
His eyes follow their movement. I look down realizing the globes of my breasts are in imminent danger of spilling which looks to be the precise direction Gage would like them to go. I lower my arms in a manner I hope doesn’t reflect that I know what he’s looking at and know what he wants. He grins at my movements and I know I’m fucked. He must be a damn good detective.
“When what I want is being difficult.”
Thinking about his offer for a moment, I look him up and down and shake my head from side to side as if resigned to his offer. “Fine.” I reach for my jeans and yank them out of his hand and take a step closer poking him in the ribs with my blood red tipped nail, if you wanted to call it that. I have a bad habit of biting my nails when I’m nervous. Even right at this moment I’m resisting the urge to stick my finger in my mouth and gnaw on the ragged edge. “But you can’t stay in here while I’m changing.” With my finger still digging into his rib, I push him to the door and reach around him to twist the knob. He puts out his hand, his palm lands flat stopping me from opening the door further.
“Ya sure?” He lifts his hand and sets it at the crook of my neck and shoulder with his thumb rubbing delicious circles over my jaw and my nipples harden.
My heart skitters and nearly stops as I think about it. Contemplating whether I’m truly sure or not. “Don’t push your luck, buddy.”
He leans in, wraps one arm around my waist bringing me flush against his hard body and with the other tucks that same wayward strand back behind my ear. Cupping my cheek before leaning down, he surprises me with a brush of his lips over mine. A sigh escapes me as I shiver beneath his touch.
He steps through the door right before I slam it shut, calling, “Later darlin’.” An obvious smile in his voice as he walks, no I take that back, saunters arrogantly past Hailie and Georgia whose heads swivel and follow his exit. Who can blame them, his ass is round and taut and delicious looking. Man, I want to take a bite out of that piece of flesh.
I groan, step back in the room and slam the door. As soon as the door is closed tightly, I lean back against it. My belly curls and heats sweetly in anticipation making me grin. So caught up in the delicious tingles that are still floating willy-nilly throughout my body, I jump as loud knocks reverberate at ear level. Stepping away from the door, I slowly open it and peek through the thin crack. “You are not fucking coming in here.” Fuck, I sound breathless.
“OMG!” Georgia cries on a loud whisper. “Let us in, crazy girl.” Both girls push through the door.
I didn’t think Hailie’s smile could be any bigger. “Spill. Spill. Spill.”
Turning my back on my soon to be two ex-best friends, I head to my bag bending over to scoop my T-shirt off the floor and begin to peel myself out of the barely-there lingerie.
“So,” Hailie continues. “What’s up with hotness?”
“Yeah,” Georgia seconds, perching on the edge of the velvet stool that sits in front of the vanity.
First things first, I finish dressing and once I slip my feet into the hot pink flip flops I brought because I knew my feet would be killing me after dancing around in those fuck-me heels. After planting my hands on my cocked hips, I throw a glare at Hailie and not to be partial, I turn it full-force on Georgia as well. “You guys planned this, didn’t you?”
Hailie turns in a half circle to glance at Georgia before either one says a word, then she turns back to me and mumbles, “We invited him.”
“You invited him,” I screech. “I was practically naked, for God’s sake. I don’t even know who the hell he is and I was practically naked sticking my ass in his face!”
“He’s your neighbor,” Georgia cut in. “Has been for over a year.”
“So?” I yell. “I’ve. Never. Really. Met. Him.”
“You met him tonight,” Georgia reminds with a smile.
I shoot daggers her way and her mock-innocent, which I really know as her shit-eating grin grows. “You fucking set me up!” Hailie wrinkles her nose but doesn’t say a word so I continue, “When have you two talked with him?”
Hailie shrugs. “Here and there.” She rolls her eyes. “We see him jogging and checking his mail and getting home from work…”
“Yeah, all the time,” Georgia cuts in. “He’s had a crush on you for a while now.”
My brow lifts at her choice of words. “What are we in, junior high?”
“Quit being difficult,” Hailie says.
I blink at them both. “He doesn’t even know me.” I know I sound super frustrated.
“Duh, but that’s what he’s been trying to do for months,” Georgia reiterates.
My breath freezes in my lungs. “Months?”
“Yes months.” Hailie’s mouth turns up in a grin. “He said it was as if you didn’t even see him even whe
n he was standing right in front of you.”
“I’ve seen him.” I grimace. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”
“We know,” both say at the same time.
“It’s time to let it go.” Hailie’s head tilts as she watches my reaction.
I lower myself to one of the chairs placed opposite the vanity, my head falls against the back. “You guys are driving me crazy.”
“Go get some,” Hailie says. “He’s super fuckin’ hot!”
“Go for it girl,” Georgia encourages. “You deserve it. You work hard, you need to play harder.”
“I told him I would have one drink with him.”
Hailie bounces on her toes at my words and does fist pumps in the air.
“In that?” Georgia asks.
I stand up crossing my arms over my chest. “Yes, in this.” I raise my eyebrows. “Had I known you were allowing him to tag along, and that he was going to ask me to go and have a drink, perhaps I would have brought my LBD.”
Hailie moves to me and wraps me in her arms. “Go have fun girl.”
Georgia lifts my bag off the floor and hands me my purse.
Hailie opens the door to the dressing room and Georgia shoves me out right into a brick wall. I blink and look right into a wide chest, up past a tanned, muscular throat, the square chin, high cheek bones and laughing bright blue eyes of Gage.
Hot sex, fantasy man, Gage.
His arms immediately wrap around my waist as his fingers dig into the flesh that’s exposed above my low-rise jeans. I open my mouth to speak but he beats me to it.
“Right where I wanted you to be, darlin’.”
I look at him with annoyance in my eyes. My hands press against his muscular chest even though his arms feel spectacular holding me. The heat of his body makes me forget what I wanted to argue about in the first place.
As his expression softens, his eyes darken in a way that makes me suck in a breath. “In my arms.”
“I don’t get it?” I whisper and roll my eyes childishly once again, but he smells so good, so I stop fighting.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For you to notice me.”
I stare at him.
