Jess
Nik and Shane’s Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
His eyes fall down my body, drinking in every inch of exposed skin. It feels like being thrown into the fire, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t kind of like it. How is it my sister and Nik just failed to mention this man all these years?
Have you ever seen a man that stops women in their tracks?
A man with so much presence that you can’t help but stare?
It’s not even entirely sexual. It’s like when you see a bear in the wild and instead of getting the hell out of there, you become frozen, unable to take your eyes off of it. Afraid but also completely mesmerized.
For one, he’s tall. Like abnormally tall. Over six foot five, at least. He’s broad, causing the buttons on his dress shirt to pull just a little. Tattoos decorate his neck and hands. His messy brown hair is just long enough to look like he needs a haircut.
He’s dancing with my sister, saying something in her ear, but I can’t hear them over the blaring music. As he speaks and she laughs, his eyes don’t leave me.
He glides toward me and fucking smiles. That’s what does it, I’m snared. How can someone so big and intimidating have just an inviting smile? It’s a trap. It’s like how dangerous animals and insects will have really beautiful colors but are deadly.
“Dance with me?” he asks in a voice deeper than most.
Say no. Walk away.
I nod, and he snakes an arm around my waist, his big hand splayed across my stomach. I’ve had just enough to drink that I don’t really care all that much what anyone around me thinks. Not that I should anyway in this Podunk town.
“Now, how is it possible that Shane has another drop-dead-gorgeous sister he never told us about?”
I shoot him an unimpressed look over my shoulder. “That shit usually work for you, Casanova?”
“Everything works for me, Darlin’.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Jesus, cocky, are we?”
He shrugs. “If I had to guess, I bet you don’t have to try real hard to get attention yourself.”
“I got yours, didn’t I?”
“You’ve got all of mine, sweetheart.”
My cheeks flush under the weight of those chestnut eyes. It’s the intensity in them, I think. It doesn’t match the rest of his relaxed, playful persona. Like there’s something a little deeper, a little darker lurking just beneath.
“Hmmm…” I spin in his hold to face him and run my finger across his chest, the black nail catching on the fabric of his shirt. “What do you propose I do with all that attention.”
He bites his bottom lip, and I catch myself staring at his mouth, getting lost in what it might feel like against my skin. I could use a night of attention if I’m being honest.
“I could think of a few options.” He leans in, his lips just ghosting the shell of my ear. “But I’m not sure you’d be up for all the ways I’d like to pay attention to you.”
My breath hitches as he just barely nips my ear. I feel like my insides have turned molten, and I’m pretty sure I’d be up for anything he wants to do.
“And if I was?” I ask, just as he pulls away from me.
The smile that unravels across his lips is devastating in the most dangerous way, and I think I may very well be in over my head with him.
And I don’t think I give a damn.