Chapter 2 #2
“I’m an EMT,” I shouted over the music. We were so close, I could feel his breath on my face.
I wasn’t complaining, though. He smelled delicious, and being near him felt…good.
“Hardcore.” He nodded. “I respect that. You guys put up with more bullshit than I think I ever could. Do you want another drink?” he asked.
I thought for a moment, biting my lip as I looked back at Alice, happily enjoying herself.
“I’ll take a Jack and Coke. I did order one, but it never seemed to arrive…”
He turned to the bartender with a kind smile, holding up his bottle of beer. “Hey, man, can I get a Jack and Coke and a refill?”
“Sure thing.” He nodded before turning and busying himself with getting our drinks.
“This may be awfully forward of me, but are you spoken for?” Preston locked eyes with me as he asked, his stare intent but almost…shy.
“No. I’m currently unattached,” I admitted, leaning in.
His smile widened as he inched closer to me. Those blue eyes remained locked on me, looking for any sign that I wasn’t welcoming his advances, which I appreciated. Still…
He wouldn’t find any.
I wasn’t sure what exactly his scent was, but I knew it was grabbing my attention. Dark liquor, rich and slightly sweet, with that smoky scent that clung to all firefighters. Was part of that just him, though? I couldn’t tell.
His hand came to gently rest on my thigh, a move that, if done by anyone else, would have given me the creeps, but this man was another story. One I wanted to read a little longer.
I wanted him to touch more of me. His hands were large, firm, and just a little rough with calluses from all that hard work.
I had to admit it. An alpha who was a little rough and ready was my weakness.
Preston leaned in closer, and I didn’t move away, his fingers winding their way up my arm toward my chin. He brushed his thumb across my cheek, and I all but swooned.
“Can I kiss you?”
“I will if you don’t.” I laughed, shifting to the side as I joked, but then his hold on my chin solidified, and he angled it toward him before meeting my lips with his.
Oh…fuck. Yes, please.
Kissing Preston went straight to my core, and considering the extended dry spell I’d been in, I could sense a swift and pointed end to that lack of satisfaction if we kept this up. I had a choice to make; taking him back to my apartment would certainly be a lot of fun.
Then again, could I wait that long?
“Shit, I have somewhere I’m meant to be soon…” The regret was evident in Preston’s voice as he glanced around the bar. His hands lowered and tightened around my waist, and a whine escaped me at the idea of him leaving, a noise that pulled his face back to mine, his brows knitted together.
Well, that made up my mind for me. I wanted this. But I needed to be sure.
“Girlfriend?” I asked before I made a considerable effort to ride this man like a pony before he got away.
“No. No, girlfriend. It’s, umm…work stuff,” he said, smile widening as the tightness in my chest eased.
“How long do you have?” I chewed my lip, making distinct eyes at the back door that was only a few steps across the bar.
He followed my gaze, a groan escaping him as he looked back to me, his fingers pleasantly digging into my hips. “Thirty minutes?”
“Perfect. Follow me.” I grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the bar, through a door, and into the back alley.
Suddenly, we were outside. The fresh air hit us, and my head swam, but not from the booze. Once out of the musty bar, I could smell Preston even more.
He was fucking delicious.
“Holy hell, the way you smell…” My words trailed off as I pulled him against me, my back hitting the rough brick of the exterior wall of the bar.
Preston leaned in, his hips meeting mine, and I could feel how excited he was. Damn, that was more than enough to have me right on the edge. It’d been too long, and this alpha was something else, something that got into my blood stronger than any alcohol could.
I reached up, pulling his lips to me again, and lost everything to the kiss.
Preston’s hands roamed over my skin, finding the hem of this stupidly short dress, and I was downright dripping with need.
I’d never been a back-alley kind of girl, but with an alpha like this, I was going to take it anywhere I could.
“Hailey,” Preston murmured, his lips dancing over the side of my neck. “Goddamn, you smell fucking fantastic.”
“So do you,” I whined, already grinding myself on him. “Please. I can’t stand it. I need you to fuck me.”
He reeled back, his concerned stare meeting my lidded gaze. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to—”
“Would you shut up and fuck me already?” I yanked him to my mouth once more, reaching between us to rub his cock through his jeans.
Groaning, Preston snatched my arm and pressed it back against the wall, doing the same with the other one. His stare burned into mine, making me squirm, and then he dipped his head, hovering his mouth over my breast.
“I’ll fuck you, gorgeous. It’ll be the best damn part of my day.” His mouth clamped down over my dress, finding my nipple through the fabric and biting down. “I just need you to say that you’re all fucking mine.”