Before I Loved You

Prologue

God, I need a fucking distraction.

Hmm.Come to think of it, a fucking could be just the kind of distraction I need.

The bartender slides a second drink my way, winking, while I thank him with my best attempt at a flirty smile. Bringing the glass to my lips, I let my eyes gaze around the dimly lit room, searching for the one who will spend tonight making me forget everything.

And maybe if I’m lucky, he’ll make me forget what day it is, too.

Let’s see…

Too preppy.

Too old.

Too not my type.

Just my luck, I think, letting out a defeated sigh. Taking a sip of my drink, I close my eyes, enjoying the burn coating my throat, but when my eyes blink open, I see him.

My stomach flutters, my core instinctively pulses, and my lips part just from the mere sight of him.

He’s the one—my distraction.

Inhaling deeply, I remind myself that I’ll be the one in control tonight.

Not him.

Me.

Throwing back the rest of the liquid in my clear glass, I let my eyes drift over him from head to toe, and I can’t help but wonder how freaking tall this man is as he ducks down under the arch of the entryway inside the bar.

God, he’s gorgeous. From his muscular biceps, short dark hair that’s faded on the sides, light brown skin, perfectly hypnotizing smile, and tall, lean frame, reminding me of an Olympic god, he seems to be the whole damn package, ready to be my…one-night distraction.

Yeah, I like the sound of that.

One-night distraction.

Nothing more than that.

Three guys surround him, tall too, but nowhere near as tall as him, and head toward the back of the bar for an empty booth.

But for whatever reason, the mystery man doesn’t go with them. Instead, his eyes wander around the space. And as though he can read my every thought pertaining to him and the wild, sweaty night I have planned for us, his eyes land on me. They subtly glance up and down my body as I rest against the counter and purposefully stick out my ass, hoping to gain his interest.

And it works like a charm.

He saunters over to me—all ten feet of him. Okay, maybe he’s not ten feet tall, but the closer he gets to me, the more my eyes have to look up, and my head has to tilt back.

“Hi,” he says smoothly, leaning his hip against the counter.

He keeps a comfortable distance between us, which I appreciate. Still, at the same time, I find myself wishing he was closer.

My index finger glides around the edge of my glass as I smile at him. “Hi.”

His eyes glimpse down at the empty glass in front of me. “Let me buy you a drink.”

“Well, it’s the least you can do, seeing that it’s my birthday,” I tease.

He smiles, and I swear I’m about to pass out.

Either that or jump on him, wrapping my legs around that torso that I’m certain contains a perfectly sculpted six-pack.

“Your birthday, huh?” He signals to the bartender, who begins fixing us drinks.

“Yup.” Not a day that I very much care for, and honestly, I don’t even know why I admitted that to him so easily. No one knows when my birthday is. And I keep it that way on purpose. I brazenly take a step closer to him, feeling his warmth radiate over me, and inhale his masculine scent.

It might be the two drinks talking, but this man feels like he was made for me. Even if just for one night only.

“Is it the big twenty-one?” he asks.

“Mm-hmm.”

He glances around the room before his eyes land back on me where I want them to stay. “Are you celebrating with anyone?”

I shake my head.

“Well, happy birthday…”

He waits for me to say my name, but I won’t.

Giving names will only make things complicated. Messy. But this can only happen once.

“Nope.” I shake my head. “No names.”

“No names? You on the run or something? Should I alert the authorities?” he asks, grinning.

I laugh, and it feels unfamiliar but pleasant. It makes me realize I can’t remember the last time I genuinely laughed.

Pathetic.

I shrug. “You can. But then that would probably spoil my plans for tonight.”

He licks his thick bottom lip, and I clench my thighs together in response.

I’m the one in control. Not him.

“And what would those plans have you doing?” he asks.

“You,” I say very matter-of-factly.

The bartender slides two drinks towards us, and I reach for mine without a second thought, gulping down the liquid courage.

His eyes watch me, darkening with each sip I take. As I place my glass back on the counter, I purposefully stick my finger in my mouth, sucking off the contents that spilled on my skin.

“Fuck,” he whispers, giving me satisfaction in knowing how much I’m affecting him.

“As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what I hope we’ll be doing tonight.”

He takes a single step, closing all of the distance between us. “Don’t you at least want to know my name?” He leans into me, his lips lightly brushing over my ear. “You know, before I give you your birthday present.”

My birthday present.

No one has given me a birthday present in years. Granted, what he’ll give me won’t be wrapped in fancy paper and tied with a big, pretty bow. But somehow, I think it will be the best birthday present I’ve ever received.

I smile but shake my head. “No. It’s better this way.”

“Better for whom?” he asks softly. His large hand splays over my hip, his thumb gently stroking my bare skin, which is not covered by my black crop top, emitting a pleasurable surge throughout my body.

I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do this. I was worried his touch would make me feel suffocated. Make my skin crawl. Make my body cringe and my feet want to run.

It’s what has happened every time I’ve tried doing this with a man since that night.

But all I know right now, in my tipsy haze, is that I want this man more than I’ve wanted anything in my entire life.

But just for tonight.

One night only.

I look straight into his chocolate brown eyes when I say, “For me.”

He nods, gently pulling me closer to his body. “And what else can I do for you?” he asks, searching my face for an answer he’ll never get. At least not the honest answer, anyway.

“Make me forget.”