In Just One Night

Chapter 1

“Cheers to becoming vice president,” my best friend, Torryn, said as she held her glass up to mine.

“Cheers. I wish I could have been there with y’all.” Hannah pouted as she looked at us through my phone’s screen.

It was the day after I was promoted to vice president of human resources, and my friends wanted to celebrate me. Unfortunately, Hannah’s husband had a last-minute work trip that he wanted her to go on, so she couldn’t join us.

“Aww, I know. We’ll have time when you come back,” I told her as I picked up another shot glass.

“Okay. I’ll let y’all go. Dean is on his way back to the truck. Love y’all.”

We returned the sentiments, and I hung up the phone before putting it back in my purse.

“I didn’t expect that many people to be here tonight,” Torryn said as she looked around.

Neither of us wanted to go to a club, especially since Hannah couldn’t go with us, so we decided on going to a restaurant to have dinner and drinks.

It had been a long week, so I wasn’t in the mood to do too much anyway. I was just glad the weekend had finally come, and I had time to rest before I stepped into my new role.

I had been in the human resources department at Sunrise Valley Hospital since I’d graduated high school.

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do.

I applied at the hospital and got in right away.

I figured maybe it helped that my grandmother was a nurse there before she retired, and my mom worked in the X-ray department before she retired.

I guess it was destined for me to work there as well, but I knew I didn’t want to do patient care.

“At least it’s not as bad as it would have been in a club,” I told Torryn right before we clinked glasses again.

Torryn, Hannah, and I had been friends since middle school. I met Hannah first in our homeroom, then later the same day, I met Torryn when we had the same science class. The three of us had been inseparable since. We even attended the same college.

Hannah was the only one of us that was married, but Torryn had just recently met a guy that she started dating, so I was the only single one.

I wouldn’t say I was lonely, but sometimes I didn’t like being alone.

Sex had been off the table for the last couple of months, and at times, I felt the effects of it.

The last guy I dealt with, Marshall, moved away to another state, and I hadn’t met anyone worth talking to since.

“Let’s take one more shot, then it’s fruity drinks and water for the rest of the night,” Torryn suggested.

“Sounds good to me.”

Torryn waved the waitress down and ordered another round of shots, as well as a strawberry daiquiri for the both of us, and a pitcher of water. We’d already placed our food orders, and I hoped it would come before I ended up drunk.

A couple of minutes later, the waitress returned with our drinks.

“I just want to say that I’m so proud of you, London. I couldn’t have asked for better friends in you and Hannah.” Torryn’s eyes watered as she spoke.

“Aw, hell. You are drunk already,” I teased.

Torryn patted her eyes with a napkin, then held up her thumb and pointer finger close together. “Maybe a little, but I’m still so proud of you. To you.” She held her glass up to mine.

We toasted, then took our shots back.

I had just slammed my glass onto the table when I heard, “What are we celebrating?”

The deep voice that came from behind me made the hair on my arms rise.

When his muscular frame came into view, my tongue got stuck to the roof of my mouth.

Heat crept up my spine when our eyes met.

Since I was sitting, he had to look down at me.

My temperature rose even higher as his dark brown eyes drank in my appearance.

I was in a trance as his tongue slowly trailed his heart-shaped lips, which caused me to lick my own lips.

Damn, he is fine.

“Well, since she isn’t going to answer, I will. We are celebrating her getting a promotion at work,” Torryn informed him since I had yet to find my voice.

He hadn’t taken his eyes off me, even when Torryn spoke to him.

“Congratulations. Let me get you another drink.”

“No, it’s okay. I probably shouldn’t,” I said after I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Come on. Just one more. It doesn’t even have to be liquor. Hell, it could be water, if you want. I just want to share a celebratory drink with you. No pressure, though.” He held up his hands in surrender.

I glanced at Torryn, and she had a stupid grin on her face as she nodded her head.

I only had a few shots; one more wouldn’t hurt.

I took a rideshare to the restaurant, so it wasn’t like I had to drive.

I was off the next day, and I figured, why not.

It wasn’t every day a man this fine asked to have a drink with me.

I hadn’t had much time to go out in the last few months, so I deserved to let my hair down.

“Sure. Just one more,” I said as I held up my finger.

“It’s whatever you want, sweetheart. I’m Gary.” He held out his hand. The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, and I noticed multiple tattoos on his chocolate skin.

I placed my hand in his and shook it. “Lisa.” I gave him the fake name I always used when I was out. His hand was softer than I expected, but not in a girly way. If I had to guess, he had some sort of office job or something.

If a man didn’t make it past the second date, he wasn’t getting my real name. I didn’t need anyone to try to look me up and find me or something. People were crazy as hell these days.

Gary waved down the waitress and ordered more drinks. Torryn claimed she suddenly had to go because her boo thing had called her. I didn’t believe her, but I didn’t protest. She and Hannah both had my location in case I went missing.

Once Torryn left, Gary took the seat across from me.

“I’ve never seen you in here before. Are you from around here?”

“Something like that,” he said as the waitress returned with our drinks.

His response was evasive, but we were strangers, so I understood it.

“Your friend said you just got a promotion. Do you mind sharing exactly what it was for?”

“Sure. I just got promoted to vice president of my department.”

A smile spread across his face like he was genuinely happy for me.

“That’s definitely a reason to celebrate.” He picked up his glass and held it up. “Cheers to you, madam president.” He chuckled.

“I don’t know about all of that, but thank you.” We clinked glasses, and his gaze on me made me nervous as he took his shot back. I felt a little awkward because it had been a while since I was in the company of a man who looked at me the way he did.

“The music here is trash. Do you want to go to this little spot down the street? I passed it on my way here, and a friend of mine said they play good music. It’s close enough to walk.”

“Sure, why not.” Since it wasn’t far, I would walk there and talk to him a little more because something about his presence had me interested in learning more about him. If I ended up not liking him, I would just leave.

He stood, tossed a few twenties on the table, which was more than enough to cover the tab, then reached for my hand. I grabbed my bag from the back of my chair, then placed my hand in his. He helped me out of the chair and put his hand on the small of my back.

“So, what brought you out tonight?” I asked as we walked down the street.

Once we left the restaurant, his hand went from my back to my hand.

“Just wanted to catch up with my boys, and I needed to eat.” He chuckled, and the sound made my stomach flutter.

“Food is always a reason to be outside.”

The spot we went to was right down the street, like he said, so it only took us a few minutes to get there.

Gary let go of my hand to open the door, and as soon as we stepped through, he reached for it again. The atmosphere was a lot different from the restaurant, as music played loudly over the speakers. There were people on the dance floor and some sitting at the tables surrounding the dance area.

“I know we don’t know each other, but while we are together, you are my responsibility,” he whispered.

A shiver ran up my spine as his breath brushed against my ear.

I turned to face him. “Is that right?” I asked in a low tone.

“For sure. I’m sure you already gave your friends your location, and your homegirl knew I was the last person you were with. You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m trying to catch a vibe with you.”

As soon as he said that, one of my favorite songs came on, and I dragged him to the dance floor. The multiple drinks I consumed made me feel carefree, but still aware of my surroundings. I deserved this night, and I was going to enjoy it to the fullest.

When we reached the dance floor, I turned to my back, so it faced Gary.

His hands slid around my waist, and he pulled me close as my hips wound to the beat.

The more my hips moved, the more I could feel his dick poking me.

Any other time, it would have been a turnoff, but something about being in Gary’s arms with his dick against me, turned me on.

Gary leaned down and lightly pressed his lips against my ear. “You keep shaking that ass on me like that, I’m going to see if you could move like that on my dick,” he whispered.

I closed my eyes and imagined it. From what I felt, he was packing something heavy, and potentially lethal. My panties were wet, and I wanted to show him what I could do.

I turned my head to look at him. With a smile, I said, “Maybe I will show you.” I winked and turned around.

I noticed people were watching us, but we danced like nobody else was around.

Gary’s grip on my waist tightened, and I giggled when he kissed my neck. The drinks made me feel silly.

“I’m on whatever you’re on, sweetheart.” He released me and led me over to an empty table. “Maybe we should drink some water. I know you probably had a couple of drinks before I offered you any, and I need you sober for the things I want to do to you.”

The tables had booth-style seating, so I sat down and slid over, then he slid in right next to me. He draped his arm on the back of the seat behind me. His spicy cologne reminded me of cinnamon as it wafted through my nose. He smelled so good.

Drinking some water was probably a good idea, because I would have hated to be dehydrated.

“Can I help you two?” the waitress asked when she reached our table.

Gary looked at her for a second, then pinned his eyes on me.

“Yeah, we’ll just take some water. Unless you want something different,” he said to me.

“I’m good.”

“The water is fine then,” Gary told her.

She nodded and walked away.

“So, tell me a little about yourself, Lisa.” His thumb lightly rubbed my exposed shoulder.

I was feeling him, but I kept things simple.

“I usually always have socks on my feet when I’m home or even at work. I keep a pair of slippers under my work desk. I also like to keep my house at seventy-seven degrees.”

“Damn. You gonna burn somebody up in there,” he joked.

“Well, it’s just me.”

The waitress returned with our water, and we were quiet for a few minutes as we both drank some water and bobbed our heads to the music.

“Your friend wasn’t lying when he said they play good music,” I mentioned.

“Not at all. I’d like to see some more of your moves if you are up to it.”

The circles he continued to rub on my shoulder were relaxing and turning me on even more.

“Let’s go then.” I took one last swig of water and slid out the other side of the booth.

Gary joined me, and we returned to the dance floor and danced over the next couple of hours.

“I don’t think I’m ready to let you go yet,” Gary whispered as the DJ made the announcement for the last call for alcohol.

“You don’t have to.”

“I got the perfect place.”

He grabbed my hand and led me out of the spot. As we walked down the street back toward the restaurant, I texted the girls that I was still with the stranger and that I would let them know when I got home.

Oddly enough, he didn’t feel like a complete stranger. We arrived at the hotel that was located across from the restaurant.