Chapter 5 #2
"We're not cool on that level? You just had your dick in me, Sao.
I'd say that's pretty damn cool." Her voice was louder than he appreciated but the bass from the song playing drowned her out.
Not even those inches away could likely make out what they were discussing unless watching their faces to read lips.
"Go home, Tee. Or at least get the fuck away from me before this ends badly."
"Sao?" Her pleading eyes met his. She wanted to make a scene. That possibly meant someone capturing the moment and giving Tori exactly what she wanted. Attention. A connection to him. He refused to hand it over, no matter how pissed he was.
"How did you even know I was here? I didn't post shit."
"I didn't. I just came out and…"
"Cut the shit." He knew Tori better than she knew herself and she was lying.
Her eyes moved around too much as her leg bounced.
Laughing lightly while shaking his head, Asao lifted a finger, moving it close to her face.
"You stay on that stalker shit. Do I need to handle that legally?
" His brows lifted before inching in closer, causing Tori's mouth to fly open.
"What? No. Why would you even say that?"
"Go home, Tori. I'm not fucking with you like that. Don't force me to switch up on you. Don't be so caught up in who you see now that you forget who I was." Without needing a response, he walked away.
Asao swept the area one last time but the woman he had been in pursuit of was gone. It didn't matter at this point because his mood was shot. He headed back up top to have a few drinks before it was time to pull out. He promised Dom and Niles he would kick it with them and he was a man of his word.
Regardless of his run-in with Tori, the night was eventful.
No one really fucked with him and he got the chance to catch a little buzz and kick it with his people.
They were currently on the last leg of the night which was food that would likely have all of them praying for forgiveness in the morning.
"Ay, I'm about to take a piss. Order me a number three," Dom tossed out, brushing past Asao and Niles as they stepped inside Phat Fish. It was a nice little spot they hit up often because they were open late and the food was decent.
"Shit, let me get a number eight but extra fries." Niles didn't bother waiting for Asao’s response. Instead he turned toward the back and wasn’t far behind Dom, leaving Asao responsible for feeding the three of them. He was cool with it because they were his people and had returned the favor a million times over. Not that either of them were keeping score because that wasn’t how family worked.
Regardless, they all knew they were covered.
When he reached the counter to place their orders, those damn legs, thin material, and exposed skin got his attention. He wasn't sure if he was tipsy or just glad as fuck to see her again, but he took full advantage in a bold way.
His body pressed against hers and his palms met with the counter. Her posture straightened and stiffened. He was pretty sure her breath hitched as well but his reflexes weren't quite on point enough with the alcohol in his system.
When he leaned toward the side of her face, he caught the light scent of something sweet. He couldn't place it exactly but the tease of it dancing off her skin had him inhaling deeply before he spoke. "Rule of threes?"
"What?" She stuttered over her words before her chin moved over her shoulder and their eyes met.
Hers were still low but the muscles around them were tight.
He was a stranger who had not only entered her personal space but was also preventing her from rejecting the closeness by pinning her between his body and the counter.
"Rule of threes. This is my third time seeing you. I believe in coincidences, but right now I have to believe it's the universe's way of telling me I need to take advantage of the opportunity."
"Twice. The club and now here." She pushed off him and he allowed her space, barely enough to make a difference, but she was able to turn and face him. Damn. This woman was so fucking pretty.
His left brow inched up while her eyes scanned his face then looked past him. He assumed she was looking for her girl. He was sure she was on babysitting duty. Or maybe she’d met someone at the club. If she had, he didn't care. Whoever it was would be officially canceled.
"Carver’s, the club, and now here. That's three, pretty."
Her lips parted, slightly closing seconds later. She was a little tipsy because she took too long processing. He was sure it had to do with the need to make sure she said or did the right thing. "That was you?"
His laugh was low and he pushed his tongue against the back of his teeth before he answered. "Wasn't it?"
Her eyes passed him again and this time he turned his head to see where she was looking. Her girl was at a booth, her back to them and her head positioned atop her folded arms. She was alone.
"How much did she have to drink?"
"Enough." Those low eyes of hers rolled. "I'm about to order so I can get her home."
"You're driving?" Where the hell was he going with this? He didn't know this damn woman, yet he wanted to.
"iDrive." Her face tensed.
Yeah, creepy ass muthafucker, she doesn't know you.
"It's just the two of you?"
Again that damn hard stare. "Why?"
"Let me take you. You're tipsy, she's drunk, and that's a bad combination to be in a car this late with a stranger." Even me, but I have restraint and I'll only accept what you give. I'm damn sure not gonna take anything from you.
"And you're not exactly what you're warning me about?"
His smile crept in slowly. "Nah, not the way you're insinuating. Rule of threes. We have a familiarity," he said coolly.
"I've seen you three times but I still don't know shit about you."
"But you trust me. Let me take you home so you can explore why that’s so. I'm safe, pretty. All I want is to make sure you don't end up on the news and a little conversation. Is that so bad?" Asao returned arrogantly.
"You ordered?" Dom was the first to reach him. When Asao looked up, he noticed Niles not far behind.
"Nah, not yet. I got sidetracked." A heated stare landed on her but Dom eventually smiled.
"Ahh shit. You skipped all that prime ass at the club and got the hook up in Phat Fish. Your ass always gotta be the exception."
"What I miss?" Niles's eyes jumped from Asao to Dom before they landed on her. Instead of speaking, he pieced it together and stepped around them, closer to the counter.
"Well?"
She stared a little too long for his liking. He didn't employ a lot of patience, not for things he wanted, and he wanted her. He had no idea why. The physical part was a given. She was pretty as fuck and her body…
But it was deeper than the physical. He was the type of man who knew right away if he wanted to be with a woman just sexually or if there was something more. This was definitely something more.
"Sao, you eating?" Dom tossed the words his way with a quick glance then faced the register again.
"Nah, I'm about to get into something else." Asao wasn't giving the woman an out. He refused to. He would be taking her home or following the damn person who did. That was how strong this pull was with him and this woman he didn't know shit about.
"Let me talk to my girl. It's not just me."
"Order one thirteen?" A bag was pushed across the counter which she turned and grabbed. He peeped her tattoo again. Asao’s curiosity kicked in and he made a mental note to ask her about it.
Instead of addressing him once more, her body brushed against his as she passed him.
He watched until she reached her girl and Niles stepped up beside him.
"You on the prowl?" Niles questioned.
"She's more than that," Asao mumbled, more to himself than in response to his boy’s statement.
Niles chuckled as they watched her lean down and stroke her friend's hair. After she whispered something to her girl, the woman lazily lifted her head and turned to look their way. The drunk smile that surfaced gave him her answer. She approved.
"You just sniffed her pussy and you’re making that claim already?" Asao could feel his eyes on him but he didn't turn to face Niles.
"Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." He motioned toward where Dom was now standing among a group of women who obviously recognized him from the way they were grinning lustfully and hanging on his every word. Either that or he’d made a point of telling them who he was. He would never single Asao out, which he appreciated, but that was likely why the women’s attention hadn't moved to him.
"You're sexy. Much better up close." When Niles and Asao reached the women, that was the first thing out of her friend's mouth.
"Mari said you offered us a ride?" Mari! Ol’ girl grinned hard, trying to keep her hooded eyes open.
"We saw you tonight. And him. There was one more too.
" She motioned toward Niles whose face tensed a little more, like he wasn't already wearing the expression of someone nobody wanted to fuck with.
"I told Mari she should be offering you a ride.
" A lazy giggle poured through her lips and Mari sucked in an annoyed breath.
"Ree, would you shut the hell up? You know what, this is a bad idea…" Niles laughed again, cutting her off, then offering Asao a nod before extending a fist toward him.
"Be easy. You got your hands full with these two."
Mari's face went rigid as she watched him walk away. Right after, she was speaking to Asao. "She's drunk and speaking crazy. I think I'm going to go with my original plan, but thank—"
"No! He offered and you accepted. Look how sexy he is.
" The friend paused and tried to whisper while her eyes moved from the top of his head to the floor where he stood.
"He's so damn sexy, Mari." Just like that, the decision was made and she moved on, addressing him.
"Let’s go. Take me home so I can screw my husband and you can screw—"
"Sheree!" Mari shrieked before her eyes shot over to him and her face fell. He was too amused to care and simply shrugged it off, offering her what little solace he could.
"She's good. It's not shit I haven't heard before. Come on."
"Seeeeee…." her girl dragged out.
This was about to get interesting, but if it meant keeping her in his personal space, he was down.
Never in his life had he checked for a woman so quickly that he was willing to do just about anything to keep her around.
It was necessary for him to figure out who she was and why he had this pull to express insight about who he was.
He didn't know what the hell this thing happening could be but he had to take in more of it.
..of her… Maybe it was just the liquor, but right now, he was feeling a little needy behind a stranger.