Chapter Three – Cullen #2
I say it with such finality that Verity sucks in a stuttering breath. There is a moment of complete silence between us as the air buzzes, with my words humming at the center.
“This might be the alcohol talking, but this was a way better night than I would’ve had if Mike had shown up.” Verity leans back in her chair and smiles wistfully at the bar.
I’m going to venture that Mike is the dickhead who stood her up. Part of me wonders what company he works for, if we’ve ever crossed paths before, but he doesn’t sound like he’d be a memorable person anyway.
“I mean, look at me.” She tosses out a crooked smile. “I got to go to an underground speakeasy with a mysterious, hot guy and eat what are probably the best wings in the city while rambling about my love life.”
“You think I’m hot?”
Her smile cracks. “I think I need to sew my mouth shut.”
“I can think of other ways to keep your mouth busy.”
A flush crawls over her cheeks as her lips part slightly.
There’s no mistaking the way her eyes dart to my mouth and then my crotch and then back up to my mouth.
The very same mouth that now curves into a wolfish smirk as I reach forward and pick up one of the complimentary hard melon candies that sit in a small ceramic bowl on the table and hold it out to her.
“I was talking about the candies. Why? What were you thinking of that got you blushing?”
“Nothing.” She snatches the sweet from my hand, focusing all her attention on unwrapping it and popping it into her mouth. “Absolutely nothing.”
Fuck, she’s adorable.
I want her.
The thought comes out of left field, hitting me in the jaw like a curveball.
“Hi, can I get you anything else?” Our server is back and she picks up the two empty plates from our table. “Last call for the kitchen is in thirty.”
“Last call?” Verity swipes her purse and digs out her phone. Her temporary frown morphs into shock. “It’s one a.m.?”
“Yes, but the bar will still be open until four. So no rush.”
“That’s not—” She blinks over at me and then her phone, repeating the game a few times until she sticks on me. “How did it get so late?”
“I’m a riveting conversationalist.”
“Ha ha,” she deadpans.
I’ll admit, even I didn’t realize it had gotten that late.
My plan had been to just grab an after-work drink and head back to the hotel and get a good night’s rest before the meeting in the morning.
I didn’t expect to find myself swept up with the stunning blonde, discussing soulmates and whatnot.
Our conversation was deep, but it didn’t feel like there was any pressure to it–it was almost natural.
Verity pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, worrying her jaw slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
She lets out a huff through her button nose. “I should head back.”
“Are you sure?” I rest my elbows on my knees and lean forward. “The night’s still young.”
“Don’t you have a meeting in the morning?”
“I do. I should head back as well. Doesn’t mean I want to. What about you, Verity? Do you want to head home?”
“I…”
Her gaze gets lost in mine, those swirling blue oceans turning a shade darker as her chest rises.
My fingers twitch, and before I can stop myself, I’m reaching forward. My finger traces the edge of her jaw before stopping at her chin. Using the slightest amount of pressure, I tilt her head up.
“What will it be, angel?”
Her features melt as she leans into my touch, lips parting slightly with an open invitation.
A tray clatters to the ground, the clanking metal ripping through our bubble. The spell breaks, and Verity pulls back with a sharp inhale. Within seconds, she has gathered her phone, coat, and purse and shot to her feet.
“I should go before…” Her attention falls to my lips again, and that hunger passes over her features for a millisecond before she shuts it down. “Just before. Thank you, for the drinks, and the food, and the everything.” She rummages around in her purse and pulls out a credit card.
I stand up and place my hand on hers.
“Sonny was serious when he said it’s on the house. He won’t take the money.”
“Okay, well, still. Thank you, Cullen. I had a great night.” She gives me an awkward bow of her head and then twists to snake her way back through the speakeasy.
The whiplash muddles my brain, but I take the time to slip a fifty out of my wallet and leave it on the table. Sonny might not let me pay, but I’ll still leave a tip.
By the time I catch up to Verity, the elevator doors are opening and she’s stepping inside. She stands stiffly as I come to rest next to her, and a nervous energy fills the metal box as we ascend.
When we make it up to ground level, she barely takes two steps out before swaying slightly to the side. My hand shoots out to grip her elbow, helping her stay upright.
“You good?”
She pauses, raising a hand to her temple with a frown. “I think those drinks are all starting to hit me at once.”
“Come on.”
I readjust my grip, and she doesn’t shrug me off, letting me lead her back through the restaurant and out to the street. The sky is pitch black, but the neon lights from the restaurant and the typical city lights chase away the darkness that should be present at this time of night.
“Here, let me grab us a cab.”
I let her go and step forward, raising my hand to hail the taxi rounding the corner.
“Oh, no, it’s all good. I got it.”
I look back over my shoulder to see her face illuminated by her phone.
“There’s a train coming in like five.”
“The subway?”
“Yeah.” She throws a thumb over her shoulder. “The ACE is a block away.”
“You’re not taking the subway.”
“Yes. I am.”
“I’m not letting you take the train alone in the middle of the night half-drunk.”
“Half-drunk is a stretch.”
“Verity.”
“Really. A little tipsy but perfectly functioning.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Yes. Tipsy is only one-third drunk. Maybe even one-quarter.”
“Seriously, we can share a car.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
Verity purses her lips and slides her gaze to the side, a slight pinkish hue to her cheeks as she quietly mutters, “I don’t sleep with men on the first date.”
Oh.
I tilt my head to the side. It’s not like the thought hadn’t crossed my mind while we’d been chatting earlier.
She’s fucking gorgeous, and I would give anything to see what she looks like under that dress, what her skin would feel like on my skin.
I wonder how different her moans of pleasure are and if she would get that same blush from a little dirty talk?
But that’s not my intention—not tonight, anyway.
“So, you admit it was a date.”
Her lips part as she realizes her mistake. I use her momentary freeze to close the distance between us.
“What about a kiss? Do you kiss on the first date, Verity?”
I lean forward, shortening the space inch by inch until mere centimeters separate our lips. The air becomes thick and heavy as we both stay in this tempting state.
Verity breaks, taking a hasty step back.
“I need to go home.”
I reach out and lightly grab her shoulder. “Not on the subway. Please.”
She stares at my hand for a second before giving me a resigned sigh. “Fine. I’ll take a car. Alone.”
“Here.” I hand her my phone so she can use the rideshare app on my account.
She’s quick to get her address in, and the car she calls is less than a minute away.
Of all the times, of course tonight there has to be a driver readily available.
I don’t want this night to end. I want more time with her, more conversations and hidden smiles.
I want to hold onto this feeling that she’s reignited within me.
But I’m not brutish; I was raised better than that.
So, I’ll let her go for now and use whatever means necessary to see her again.
The white SUV pulls up next to us. I open the door and hold my other hand out to help her into the car. She slips inside, but before she has a chance to pull out of my grip, I tug her slightly toward me.
She blinks as I raise her hand to my lips and drop a kiss to her knuckles.
“Until next time, angel.”