Chapter 6 #2
I watch their reflections as they do a double take, exchange a glance, then a pair of hungry smiles spread across their faces.
“Good evening, ladies,” Blake says. “I’m real sorry to barge in like this, but could we please have a moment to ourselves?”
Another glance is exchanged as curiosity and intrigue gives way to disappointment.
“Let me buy you a drink for the inconvenience.” He pulls a wad of cash from his back pocket, peels off two twenties and holds them out.
The girls look from him, to each other and back again. Then, in perfect harmony, they snatch up the bills, grab their purses and dash out of the room.
“Smooth,” I say, like I’m not secretly impressed.
Blake ignores my comment. “Okay, let’s check you’re not hurt.” His hands go to my hips, but I tug away.
“I’m fine,” I mutter.
“Elinor—” His voice is low, commanding.
And a dart of fire and ice runs through me from head to toe.
“Let me check.”
My cheeks warm, and slowly I turn my back to him.
Is Blake Waldgrave really examining my denim-clad ass and thighs?
Apparently, he is. He crouches down, and he takes his time, while I wait, a hand clapped over my mouth to stop myself from blurting out something embarrassing. No guy has ever looked at my ass in such detail before. It’s hella awkward, but mixed with another, much more pleasurable feeling.
Then he touches me, and I almost levitate.
“Hold still. I need to check there’s nothing embedded.” He runs his fingertips—just the nails, really—over my thighs, starting at my knees and moving, up, up.
I bite down on the knuckle of my thumb. I want him to stop.
I want him to keep touching me like that forever.
“Oh—there’s one,” he murmurs. I feel him plucking out a sliver of glass. All my senses are turned up to the max. I hear the tiny tinkle as he drops it on the side of the sink.
He’s at the top of my thighs now, where my flesh is more sensitive.
He sweeps back and forth, every stroke bringing tingles with it.
Oh, god. I work to stay silent. To not allow a sigh or a moan to escape my lips.
Then he slides up, to my ass. If he thinks this is intimate, he gives no sign of it. Instead, he makes more little back-forth motions with his fingernails.
“One more.” He plucks out another shard.
Then he lays both hands flat on my ass.
He’s cupping my ass cheeks.
This can’t be happening.
I hold still, suppressing a whimper, while he strokes them all over, carefully, not missing a bit. It feels like a massage.
It feels like foreplay—
An image bursts into my mind.
Me, facedown on a bed, naked, and those big hands stroking me all over, caressing me, arousing me, until I’m begging for—
I tear myself away from him.
“I’m good,” I mutter. “Thanks.”
But when I turn to face him, I swallow down a gasp.
There’s no mistaking the hunger in his eyes.
He wants me.
I’ve never had that sense from a guy before, but there’s no mistaking it. His werewolf eyes glow with raw hunger. I shudder, my nipples and pussy burning.
“Elinor—” he says, his voice low and throaty. He sweeps me onto the washroom counter, steps close, and—
He’s kissing me.
Blake Waldgrave’s mouth is touching my own.
His stupidly gorgeous lips are sliding back and forth against mine.
Oh, wow. And they feel amazing.
A sigh breaks out of me as I cling to him.
So soft, lush.
Passionate.
He angles his jaw, forcing my lips apart, and we’re French kissing.
I have no idea what I’m doing, but I follow his lead, welcoming the intrusion of his velvety tongue, letting it slide deep into my mouth.
So good.
I feel like he’s eating me alive.
Then his big hands tangle in my hair and he pushes my thighs apart, his big body sliding between them.
Forgetting my shyness, I wrap my legs around him, drawing him closer, and I feel it—
The bulge beneath his zipper, pressing right against my core.
Sweet Jesus.
Another dart of arousal shoots through me, and I let go. I quit thinking. Worrying.
I just go with my instincts.
I’m like a wanton beast, kissing him as hard as he’s kissing me, running my hands up the back of his T-shirt, feeling his powerful, athlete’s muscles.
I want him.
I want him naked.
Inside me.
I want his cock to take my virginity—
Bang!
The bathroom door bursts open and someone tries to come in. Blake draws back for a moment and kicks it shut.
“Let’s go, baby bird,” he growls against my lips. “I’m taking you home.”
Gently, he lifts me down from the counter, kissing me all the time.
Home? To his lair?
Reality crashes back.
I’ve been making out with my bully.
After all I’ve been through.
After all the work I’ve done on myself, fixing my broken wings.
It’s fucked up.
I tear myself away.
Can’t do this to yourself, Elinor.
I grab hold of the bathroom door handle. “I’ve got to go!” My voice comes out too loud and squawky.
“Yes, with me.” Blake catches at my hand, but I rip it away.
“No. I’ve gotta get back to Perdue. I’ve got an early shift.” I yank open the door and charge out.
My heart is hammering. I need to be alone. Need to hide my head under my wing and shut everything out.
Especially Blake Waldgrave.
I keep going all the way through the venue. I barely notice the pounding music, the screaming crowds. My fight-or-flight impulse is activated, big time. If I had real wings that worked, I’d be using them right now to jet off into the night sky.
Instead, I burst through the exit, and I run, all the way to my little car.
Blake is right there, on my shoulder. Every nerve in my body is aware of him.
He calls me, two, three times, but I ignore him.
I snatch my keys out of my purse. Fumble them. Drop them in the dirt.
His hand moves, lightning fast, snatching them up.
“Let me.”
“No, I’ve got it.”
“Elinor—”
I hate the effect his voice has on me, especially when it gets all bossy like that.
I feel a part of myself yielding to him, even as I’m grabbing the keys from his hand.
But now my hands are shaking so bad, I can’t even get the key in my stupid car’s ancient lock.
“I’m just trying to help you.” His voice is gentle now.
A sigh rushes out of me. I go slack and let him unlock the door, and hold it open for me.
I tumble in and collapse into the seat.
He catches the door before I can slam it shut.
“I’m sorry if I freaked you out, or did something wrong tonight.” His eyes are so unguarded, they tug at a place deep inside me.
“I get that you probably hate me. But I swear, I’ll make everything up to you.”
I shake my head, too pent up to speak.
“Come work for me. I’ll pay you whatever you ask. Three times your old salary.”
I shake my head. “Because you feel guilty?” I demand. “You think it’ll ease your guilty conscience?”
“No. Because…” His face kind of lights as he takes me in. “You’re the best.”
I give one of my automatic snorts. “You don’t know that.”
“I’ve been watching you all night. And the night before that. And the night before that. I’ve seen how badass you are.” His voice is like a caress. “I know.”
“No.” My voice is that awful squawk again. “You don’t know me, Blake Waldgrave. You never will. Now, let me go, goddamnit.”
Emotion wells up in my chest, and I tug at the door until he relinquishes his hold on it. I slam it shut, put the car in reverse, and screech backward out of the lot, before he has to see me burst into tears in front of him.