Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
the slip-up
MATTY
“Aren’t you glad you decided to come out tonight?” Cam remarks as he returns from the bar with two fresh beers in hand, clapping a palm against my back as he sets one down in front of me.
I flash him an appreciative grin, reaching for the bottle. “Yeah, for sure,” I reply as I bring it to my lips and take a swig, the carbonation tickling my throat on the way down.
Cam rounds to the high-top table to retake his seat beside Avery, tossing an arm over her shoulders as he sips his beer.
I set my own back down on the table, wiping my mouth off on a forearm.
“Where’d the birthday girl run off to?” I ask, sweeping a glance around the crowded interior of the bar.
This place is typically lively since it’s within walking distance of the squad complex, but I’ve never seen it this busy on a Thursday.
People have been showing up in droves to celebrate Lo Anderson’s birthday.
“Oh, she’s around here somewhere,” Avery sing-songs, smirking to herself. “Probably snuck off with Javi to get some.”
My brows shoot up. Lo doesn’t strike me as the type who would be down for a quickie in a bar bathroom, but I suppose I don’t know her that well outside of the IT projects we’ve tackled together. She’s all business when she’s focused on work.
Speaking of work…
I swing my gaze back over to the bar, where Blair’s been perched on a stool ripping shots all night like it’s her damn job. She’s dressed all in black, per usual, with dark liner rimming her eyes and a vicious smile on those deep red lips.
Not for me, but for the bartender headed her way.
Dropping her chunky black heeled boots down to the footrail, she pushes up to stand on it as he approaches, looking like a damn pinup in her sheer black tights, leather miniskirt, and silk corset top.
She fishes some cash out of her bra, tits spilling from her top as she tosses her hair back and leans forward to hand it to him.
“Is she still giving you a hard time?” Avery asks, picking up on where my attention has shifted.
I quickly look away, reaching for my beer. “Nah, we’re good,” I lie.
She arches a dubious brow, pinning me with a knowing stare as I take a long swig.
“We are,” I insist once I’ve swallowed, setting the bottle back down.
“Mhmm,” Avery hums, folding her arms over her chest with a smirk. “Go talk to her, then.”
My eyes widen, lips popping open.
“What’s wrong?” she teases.
I quickly school my expression, raking a hand through my hair with a low chuckle. “Nothing, I’ve been meaning to go over there and say hey,” I reply smoothly, easing off my stool.
“Good luck,” Cam snorts, tipping his beer bottle toward me in salute.
I wave him off as I turn away, squaring my shoulders and starting across the room with a purposeful stride.
It isn’t until I’m halfway to the bar that I realize I have no idea what I’m even going to say to Blair.
Talking to her is against the rules unless it’s work related, but with the way she looks tonight and the beer buzz rioting through my veins, work is the last thing I want to talk about.
She’s raising a shot glass to her lips when I slide up beside her, leaning an elbow against the bar and flashing her a grin. “Hey, Blair.”
She flickers me a side-eyed glance, then downs her shot, slamming the glass down onto the bar and wiping her mouth off on a wrist. “What do you want, hunter?” she sighs.
“Former hunter,” I correct, winking.
She frowns back at me, ever impervious to my charms. I swear it works on other girls, but Blair is the hardest of the hard to get.
“Can I buy you a drink?” I ask.
“No,” she replies flatly.
“Another tequila shot, then?”
She narrows her eyes on me suspiciously. “Are you stalking me or something?” she scoffs, as if that’s the only way I’d know what she’s been drinking. I may not have the enhanced senses of a shifter, but I can smell the tequila on her from here.
“No, Cam invited me out tonight,” I say, gesturing toward the table I just left.
Sure enough, both Cam and Avery are looking our way. I toss them a wave, then turn back to Blair, her scowl deepening.
“What?”
“Why are you still trying?” she grits out.
I shrug a shoulder, waggling my brows. “Guess I’m just persistent.”
“But why?”
“Because I like you, Blair,” I admit, my beer buzz providing just enough liquid courage to put it all out there. “I think you’re brilliant, and you’re great co-worker– even if you are a little mean– and you’re really beautiful. The prettiest girl in the room by a mile.”
She snorts a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Are you fuckin’ kidding me? You just come in here, swinging your big dick and throwing around compliments, and I’m supposed to, what? Swoon or something?”
My big dick?
I knew she looked in the shower.
I stand a little taller, a smirk pulling at the corner of my mouth. “Well yeah, swooning would be ideal, but I’ll settle for a real conversation. Something that doesn’t have to do with work for a change.”
Blair huffs out a breath, crossing one leg over the other and nearly teetering off her stool in the process. “I need another drink, then,” she mutters.
“Haven’t you had, like, ten shots?”
She frowns. “And you weren’t stalking me?”
“I just don’t want you to get sick or something,” I quip.
She barks a laugh, shaking her head. “Unlike you humans, shifters can handle their alcohol.”
“Never said you couldn’t, I just…”
Blair suddenly hops down off her stool, swaying on her heels and almost losing her balance. I snap an arm out, grabbing ahold of her elbow to steady her.
“Whoa, you alright?” I ask, blinking at her in concern.
She snatches her arm back with a scowl. “Fine,” she huffs, smoothing her glossy dark hair back.
I silently appraise her, concluding that she’s definitely tipsier than she’s letting on. Cam got drunk every night for weeks after Ben died, so I know what it looks like when someone’s three sheets to the wind.
“Why don’t you let me walk you home?” I suggest.
Blair furrows her brow, making a scoffing sound in her throat. “Who says I’m ready to leave?” she challenges, stumbling again.
Once more, I’m quick to catch her. “The fact that you’re having trouble just standing? C’mon, Blair, I’m not fucking around. Let me walk you.”
“Get off me,” she growls, swatting my hands away.
I lift them between us, showing her my palms. “Fine, then let me grab Avery to walk you back.”
“Oh sure, just tattle to our boss about how I’m wasted,” she grumbles.
“Blair…”
“Matty,” she mocks, punching a fist against her hip. The motion throws her off balance again and she giggles to herself as I steady her.
“Come on, I’m taking you,” I say, keeping a firm grip on her elbow as I turn to call out to the bartender. “Is she all settled up?”
He swivels his head in my direction, eyes flitting between me and Blair. “Just gotta pay for those last two,” he provides.
I stuff a hand into my pocket and pull out my wallet, slapping a twenty down on the bar before turning my attention back to Blair.
She scowls at me, but she doesn’t spout off an insult or try to yank her arm out of my grip.
By some miracle, she actually allows me to steer her away from the bar and guide her through the crowd toward the exit.
A rush of cool air hits us in the face as we push through the door and step outside, but we only make it two steps before Blair digs in her heels and bats my hand away.
“Just give me a second,” she mumbles, stepping over to the side of the building and leaning against the wall. She drops her head back, closing her eyes and dragging in a deep breath.
“Cam tried to drink the pain away, too,” I murmur as I move to stand in front of her. “When his best friend died.”
Her eyes pop open, meeting mine as she tips her head forward.
“It didn’t work,” I clarify. “He just was drunk all the time. A real asshole, too.”
“Are you calling me an asshole?” she scoffs.
“I mean, you could be a little nicer when I’m just trying to make sure you get home okay.”
“Why do you care?”
I heave an exasperated sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “Because I like you, Blair.”
She furrows her brow, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “Why?”
My gaze unwittingly flickers down to her cleavage spilling from the top of her corset, pulse kicking up a notch.
She’s not the only one who looked in the shower.
I know exactly how nice her boobs are– along with the rest of her– and having that mental image is the sweetest torment. Because no matter how much she hates me, I still want her.
“I already told you,” I breathe, edging a little closer. “You’re smart, you’re beautiful. You do this thing when you’re concentrating, where you chew on your pen cap or bite your lip, and every time, all I can think about is what it would be like to kiss you.”
Her lashes flutter as she blinks back at me.
“Sorry,” I sigh, shaking my head. “I just…”
Blair suddenly dives forward, grabbing my face in both hands and silencing my apology by slamming her lips against mine. I’m so stunned that I freeze, heart tripping over its valves at the realization that she’s kissing me.
She’s kissing me.
And even though I shouldn’t, I kiss her back.
Blair’s lips part, her tongue sweeping against the seam of my own.
All rational thought flees my brain at the feeling of her body pressed against mine– scorching hot, even through the layers of clothing separating us.
All my blood rushes south, primal instinct taking over as I sink a hand into her hair at her nape, backing her against the building.
I tilt my head to deepen the kiss, and fuck, it’s even better than I imagined it’d be, the tension between us crackling like an electric current as we devour one another.
I taste the tequila on her tongue as it tangles with my own, but I’m so lost in the kiss that it takes a second to register, reminding me why this is wrong.
Because she’s drunk. Letting this continue would be taking advantage.
It takes everything in me to break the kiss and pull away. We stand there blinking at each other breathlessly, like we’re both in shock at what just happened. Blair’s lipstick is smudged, her cheeks flushed. And I swear she’s never looked more beautiful.
“I’m going back in,” she announces, abruptly peeling away from me and turning to head for the door.
I grab for her hand, yanking her back in like a rubberband. “No, you’re not.”
“Yeah, I am,” she huffs, slapping a hand against my chest to push me away. “That sobered me right up, and now I need another drink.”
Her raven hair whips behind her as she spins around, dashing for the entrance to the bar.
“Blair!” I call after her, but she just flips me the bird over her shoulder as she yanks open the door and disappears inside.