Chapter 1 #2
“Yes…thanks. Here, let me—” I start to unzip my purse, which is at my hip on a strap across my chest.
“My treat.”
“Um…thanks, but no…you don’t have to—”
“It’s fine. I’ll get the drink.” He turns before I can argue.
“Thank you,” I shout at his retreating back. My voice is swallowed by the music, but I’m sure he’ll hear me since he is a shifter.
I watch him go, because he looks just as good from behind. His thighs look like they’re made from steel. His ass in those jeans is something to behold. I note that every female eye turns his way…and maybe one or two males, as well.
Before he makes it to the bar, a redhead in a very short dress steps into his path. She puts a hand on his forearm and says something, smiling up at him.
He says something back, and she laughs, standing taller when she speaks to him again.
She is gorgeous and wearing a sexy little number that showcases…everything.
Looks like I’m going to have to fight my way to the bar to get another drink, because he isn’t coming back…which is fine.
I’m good.
My mouth falls open when Ridge shakes his head, making her frown. Then he carries on to the bar…alone.
Okay, then.
The redhead stares after him for a moment, then shrugs at her friend and laughs it off.
I finish my drink and put the glass down.
Someone shouts on the dance floor, and I turn to see Carla laughing. Flint has both his hands on her waist and his mouth to her ear. He says something else, and she laughs again.
I look back at the bar.
A blonde is now leaning her hip against it right next to Ridge. He has an empty beer bottle in one hand and is waiting for the bartender. The blonde is angled into his space and smiling. He doesn’t even look at her. He accepts our drinks from the barman, then he pushes off the bar and walks away.
Maybe he isn’t into women. That’s probably it.
He’s so pretty and yet so masculine. Ridge is going to make some male very happy one of these days.
I watch Carla and Flint. They’re talking and laughing. He has a hand on her waist or her arm. She clutches his shoulder and giggles.
It’s really cute watching them flirt.
Ridge comes back with my Cosmo in one big hand and a fresh beer in the other. He puts mine down in front of me.
“Thanks,” I say. “I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.” He takes a swig of his beer.
“Um…listen. You don’t have to hang out with me if you’d rather be somewhere else. I won’t be offended. You can go and do whatever you’d normally be doing.”
I’m thinking he might have turned those women down because Flint asked him to keep me company. The last thing I want is to be anyone’s handbrake.
“I’m good.”
“Oh. Um…okay then. As long as you’re sure.”
“I don’t feel obliged.” He takes another pull from his beer. “Same applies to you.”
“Right.” I nod. “Good…okay.” I shrug.
I look down at my drink. He looks at his.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to come here tonight,” I blurt. “This isn’t really my thing. Crowded bars. Loud music. All of it.” I widen my eyes. “I’d rather be home.”
“Same. It’s not my thing. Flint dragged me out and insisted we come here after dinner.”
“Really?”
“I was quite happy with a beer and some wings, but… Flint said I was being boring.”
I laugh. “Carla did the same thing. She told me I needed to live a little.”
He leans in a fraction because the music has swelled, and I get a good old waft of him right up the nostrils. My olfactory senses are loving it. He smells clean and warm, soapy and manly. It makes me want to groan.
“It’s not you at all, but I will be leaving after this beer. I told Flint I’d stay for two.”
I laugh. It comes out with a little snort I wish I could take back. “I told Carla two as well.” I hold up my drink. “We could be twins.”
Twins?
Really?
“Not twins because…um…you know…we don’t really look alike or anything. Not that twins can’t be different…they can. We could be fraternal twins…only you’re a shifter, and I’m human, so that wouldn’t work either.”
I wish the floor would open and suck me right in because I am dying.
My cheeks heat.
His mouth twitches. “I’m not sure we could be twins, but I know what you mean.”
He sips his beer and manages to make it look sexy.
I glug my cocktail, downing a third of it, which makes me splutter a little.
“You good?”
“Fine. Never better,” I lie through my teeth.
We drink in silence for a while.
Carla and Flint get more and more handsy. I’m pretty sure they’re going to kiss soon. It’s leading up to that.
“So what do you do?” I blurt.
He gives me an actual smile this time. It’s small and lasts all of two glorious seconds.
Shit, but he’s gorgeous.
“I’m not one for small talk, Robyn,” he says. “You’ll have to excuse me.”
“Oh…um…I see…of course. That’s fine.” I sip my cocktail, feeling like an idiot.
He’s totally hanging out with me as a favor to Flint.
“Do you want to dance?” I ask, not even knowing where the question came from.
“I’m not much of a dancer.”
“Oh, thank god. Me neither.” I sigh.
His mouth twitches.
“I was genuinely hoping you’d say no.”
“Glad I could be of service.”
I want to leave, but I still have half a drink, and it would be rude. Besides, I can’t leave Carla, even though she and Flint are no longer really dancing. They’re sucking face. Her hand is buried in his hair. His hand is on her ass, and his arm is wrapped around her waist, holding her tight.
If they grind any harder, the manager might have to break them up. It’s like a scene from Dirty Dancing.
“Looks like they’re hitting it off,” I say.
He makes a low sound of agreement and nods.
A song ends. Another one starts. Carla and Flint take no notice. It’s only when the next song starts that they break apart…just enough to have a whispered conversation, her arms looped around his neck, his mouth at her ear. Then they turn and make their way to us.
Flint arrives first, hand in Carla’s.
“We’re getting out of here,” he tells Ridge.
Carla puts her free hand on my arm. “Are you okay? I can stay. I should stay. I don’t have to go with—”
“You should go.”
“Are you sure?”
“I live two blocks from here. I’ll walk, and I’ll be fine. Go already…have fun.” I lower my voice to say the last.
“Are you sure? Maybe Flint and I can see you home. We—”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll be absolutely fine.”
“Do you promise?”
“Yes. I swear. I’ll be fine. Go have fun. You have my number if you need me.”
“Ditto.” She glances at Ridge. “You have yourself some fun too.”
I roll my eyes, making sure only she can see. “Not going to happen. I’m finishing my drink, and then I’m going.”
She searches my face. Whatever she finds there must satisfy her, because she leans in and hugs me hard.
“Have fun,” I tell her again. “Be careful.”
“I plan to have a lot of fun.” She grins as she releases me.
Then they are gone and headed toward the door.
I turn back to the bar.
“So,” I say.
“So.” Ridge puts his beer down on the counter. He turns to face me fully. Holy shit! I want to take a step back, but I don’t.
“Are you leaving?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Okay…well, I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Probably not.”
“No…probably not. Take care of yourself.”
“Do you want to leave with me?”
“Oh…as in share a cab?” I ask him. I shake my head. “I live two blocks away. I had planned to walk, but I’ll share, if you want.”
He smiles. “I wasn’t talking about sharing a cab.”
“Oh! Look, you don’t have to watch over me.
I’m fine. I’m a grown woman. I’ll manage.
Flint might have asked you to keep me company…
or to make sure I get home okay, but I’m relieving you of your duties.
You can go, stay, or take that redhead home.
She’s gorgeous, by the way,” I whisper the last at him.
“Don’t look, but she’s still staring at you. ”
He gives the smallest of laughs. It’s gone almost before it starts. His smile lingers for a good few seconds, and my breath actually hitches.
Damn, but he’s cute.
“I’m clearly really bad at this.” He rubs the back of his neck.
“No, you’re a great chaperone…wingman…whatever the hell you are. You’ve done a good job. I’m giving you full marks.”
He laughs again, and I’m not so sure what’s funny, only that I like it when he laughs. I really, really like it. This time, he pulls his full bottom lip between his teeth as he sobers, holding it there as his eyes move to mine.
They’re definitely more green than gray.
“I’m clearly really bad at picking someone up.”
“No, you’re not. If you go over there again and she approaches you—”
“I’m trying to pick you up, Robyn. Not the redhead.”
I frown. “No, you are not.” I shake my head. I snicker, rolling my eyes.
“I really am.” He nods. “I clearly suck at it, but I’m trying hard not to scare you off.”
“Why would you scare me off?”
My heart is hammering in my chest.
“I’m a straight talker.”
“I can handle that.”
“I’m not so sure you can.” He shakes his head. “Maybe this was a mistake.” He puts down what’s left of his beer.
“Wait a second. Give it a try.” I shrug. “Give it to me straight.”
He licks his lips. He looks unsure.
“Try me.”
He steps right into my space, and I have to really crane my head to keep my eyes on his. His nostrils flare. He looks angry, but I think he’s just really serious and really intense, and I like it.
“Should we go back to your place, Robyn?”
“That wasn’t so hard.” I smile.
“I’d like to strip you, lick you out until you come, and then fuck you until you can’t remember your own name.”
I swallow so thickly that I’m sure the person on the other side of the bar hears. I think I might go a little pale. My heart picks up to the point where I can hear it beating.
My panties get a little wet, even though I am slightly terrified.
His nostrils flare again. “You’re turned on.” His voice is gruff. “And a little afraid.”
“I’ve never had a one-night stand. Is that what this would be?”
He nods. “If it helps, I don’t make a habit of this. I like the way you smell, and I find you attractive.”
“How would it work?”
He grins.
“I know how it works,” I push out. “I don’t mean the sex part. The part that comes after. Do you sleep over? Leave when I fall asleep? Leave right away? Do we kiss?”
“You’re overthinking it. Do you want to kiss?”
“Yes…I like kissing.”
“Me too.” His eyes drop to my mouth. “Can I kiss you now?”
I make a noise that I hope he interprets as yes because I can’t speak.
I can’t wait for the kiss.
I want to be at my house now already.
I want to be naked.
I want to dry hump him and wet hump him.
I want all of it.